Future for Nepal is a dedicated charity organization founded by British volunteer Thomas Wells in collaboration with Basanta Adventure Treks and Expeditions. The initiative began in 2003 after Wells completed a gap year volunteer program in Nepal organized by Oyster Worldwide. Deeply moved by the daily lives of local families, Wells returned to the United Kingdom and established the charity to fund education for poverty stricken Nepali children.
Working directly with Basanta Adventure, the organization identifies deserving candidates from various ethnic backgrounds and provides them with full board educational sponsorships. Today, the charity has successfully sponsored over 30 children, empowering them to become certified nurses, dentists, bankers, and entrepreneurs. This initiative perfectly embodies our core business philosophy of doing business with a purpose, combining responsible travel with direct community empowerment across the Himalayan region.
The Beginning of Our Responsible Travel Journey
The year 2001 marked a significant turning point in the history of Basanta Adventure. We proudly partnered with Oyster Worldwide, a respected gap year and responsible travel specialist founded by Roger Salway, to extend their volunteer programs into Nepal. The gap year program allows individuals from the UK to visit Nepal as active volunteers. During their stay, these volunteers live with traditional Nepali host families. They learn about the local cultural scenario, contribute directly to the educational sector, and provide vital financial aid to their host families.
The Inspiring Story of Thomas Wells
In 2003, a young man named Thomas Wells arrived in Nepal. At first, he seemed like any other gap year volunteer eager to experience ordinary Nepali life. As his four month program drew to a close, the daily realities of his simple Nepali household deeply moved him. Thomas expressed a strong desire to sponsor the education of one of the children he taught. Initially, we hesitated to entertain the idea because Thomas was very young and the financial commitment appeared overwhelming. However, this was certainly not the last time we would hear from Thomas Wells.
Founding the Future for Nepal Charity
Several months after returning to the UK, Thomas contacted our office. With the support of his family back home, he had officially founded a charity named Future for Nepal to help poverty stricken Nepali families. We celebrated this incredible news and immediately agreed to assist him with all local logistics here in Nepal. This agreement marked the beginning of a massive task for both Thomas and Basanta Adventure.
Thomas arrived in Nepal once again with his family and tackled the mission head on. Together with Basanta Adventure, Thomas traveled around the country to find the most deserving candidates for educational sponsorship. We focused our objective on providing the neediest families from diverse ethnic backgrounds with a genuine opportunity to achieve a better life through proper education and healthy lifestyle support.
Celebrating Student Success Stories
Today, the Future for Nepal organization proudly provides more than 30 children with full board education sponsorships. It brings us immense pride to say that most of these students have already graduated, and several more will graduate next year. Basanta Adventure willingly participated in this journey to nurture these children and provide them with opportunities to enhance their professional skills while celebrating the little joys of life.
- Healthcare Professionals: Lalita, Asmita, and Siska became certified nurses and now pursue their careers overseas. Sunil Shrestha will soon qualify as a licensed dentist.
- Business and Finance: Pasang Sherpa completed an internship with Basanta Adventure and now works for a reputed bank. Rahul operates as a highly successful entrepreneur.
- Agriculture and Trade: Ram Tamang embraced his local roots and became a successful farmer.
Community Support During National Crises
Beyond the achievements of the gap year program, Basanta Adventure Treks and Expeditions actively supports the community during times of extreme crisis. During the devastating earthquake of 2015, we raised funds to rebuild houses and delivered financial help to numerous affected families and organizations. More recently, during the global Covid pandemic, our company raised funds to pay the living expenses of our field and office staff for more than two years. We extend our deepest gratitude to our friends around the world who made this relief possible. We continue to work hard to make a meaningful difference in the social and economic life of our country.
Empowering Himalayan Communities Through Responsible Travel
The Future for Nepal Charity transforms lives across the Himalayan region by pairing responsible tourism with long-term educational sponsorships. Founded in 2003 by British gap-year volunteer Thomas Wells and local tour operator Basanta Adventure Treks and Expeditions, the grassroots organization provides full-board funding to children from vulnerable ethnic communities. To date, this targeted initiative has successfully empowered over 30 underprivileged students to break the cycle of poverty and graduate into essential professional roles, including certified nurses, licensed dentists, local bankers, and self-sufficient agricultural entrepreneurs.
A Personal Note of Gratitude
Thank you, Thomas Wells, from the bottom of my heart for your massive contribution and for changing the lives of so many Nepalese people. Let us also not forget Roger Salway, the founder of Oyster Worldwide, for running their impactful responsible travel projects in Nepal and making a lasting difference in our society.
Written by Basant Bajracharya
Founder, Basanta Adventure Treks & Expeditions
Kathmandu, Nepal
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