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Shaping Forms Shifting Futures by Sarah Burack |
During May 3-21, Student Researcher and Visiting Artist Sarah Burack organized an exhibition titled "Shaping Forms, Shifting Futures" at Taragaon Next at the conclusion of her Fulbright fellowship in collaboration with Social Science Baha. She also hosted a talk program where she presented her ethnographic research on Nepali metalsmiths and discussed how artisans share knowledge within their culture in the context of declining numbers of metalsmiths and shifting economic conditions in Nepal. Prominent members of the Nepal metalsmithing community attended and shared their distinct approaches to innovation in this dwindling sector. |
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Sarah Burack and event participants |
Defining the Hazards of Fires and Burn Injuries in Slum, Urban and Rural Communities in Nepal by Dinasha Dahanayake |
On May 6, Fulbright-Fogarty Fellow Dinasha Dahanayake hosted a Fulbright Forum at Kirtipur Hospital where she provided insights into burn injuries and the development of evidence-based prevention strategies that promote fire safety in urban, slum, and rural areas of Nepal, as well as in similar communities around the world. From August 2023, Dinasha worked alongside Kirtipur Hospital’s Department of Burns, Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery to address the elevated incidence of burn injuries in Nepal by examining existing hazards. |
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Dinasha Dahanayake on left |
Environmental Change and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Nepal's Chitwan Tharu Community by Maria Bossert |
On May 10, Student Researcher Maria Bossert conducted a Fulbright Forum at the USEF-N office on “Environmental Change and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Nepal’s Chitwan Tharu Community.” During the past year, Maria collaborated with the Tharu Cultural Museum and Research Center and Nepal’s National Trust for Nature Conservation to understand how the Indigenous Tharu community of Chitwan has responded to rapid environmental changes in their traditional territory. Following the U.S.-backed chemical eradication of malaria in the 1950s, the region has witnessed the establishment of Nepal’s first national park, the rapid industrialization of traditional agricultural systems, and the growing effects of climate change on a vulnerable population and ecosystem. Maria described this history and showcased narrative accounts from ethnographic interviews with members of Chitwan’s Tharu community who have lived through these changes. |
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Maria Bossert (third from left) with Forum participants |
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USEF-N hosted several outreach events for the Humphrey Program during May, including a virtual information session for potential applicants on May 21, followed by in-person sessions in Chitwan on May 27 and Kathmandu on May 28. The events provided details about the current 2025-2026 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, helped guide attendees through the application process for the upcoming program, and answered their inquiries. |
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Program Administrator Tina Lama briefs interested applicants in Kathmandu |
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Educational Advising Center |
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On May 22, USEF-N's EducationUSA advisers conducted a briefing on the “Five Steps to U.S. Study” for +2 students and parents at Deerwalk Sifal School. They provided information about the application process and answered students’ questions. |
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Students at Deerwalk Sifal School |
On May 13, Dr. Samrat Thapa, Department Chair, Associate Professor of Chemistry, and Director of Asia Initiatives at the University of Lynchburg, conducted a session on Academic Expectations at U.S. institutions for students gearing up to start classes during the coming fall. Adjusting to a new country's academic system and classroom dynamics can be challenging. Dr. Samrat's interactive session helped students feel more prepared and confident as they embark on their educational journey.
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Dr. Samrat Thapa presenting at USEF |
Congratulations to all the Opportunity Funds Program alumni who have recently graduated from college! Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance have paid off, and we are incredibly proud of your achievements. As you embark on this new chapter of your life, we wish you continued success in all your future endeavors. May you continue to inspire others with your accomplishments.
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Clockwise from top left: Subrat Pandey, Krishna Chaudhary, Nischal Bhandari, Sriyans Rauniyar and Asmod Khakurel |
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Fulbright and Gilman Scholar alumna Dinasha Dahanayake has been honored with a grant from the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund. With the grant, she will embark on her project titled "Equipping and Educating: Building Fire Safety and First Aid Resilience in Slums of Kathmandu, Nepal," which will serve as a continuation of her research on burn injuries conducted during her Fulbright tenure. |
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