News

The Nepal Seattle Society (NSS) recently held its annual General Assembly on February 18th, 2024, at the VFW Mercer Island, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s journey. The event was not just a meeting but a celebration of community unity, vision, and the collective spirit of the Nepali diaspora in Seattle.

The gathering was a testament to the enduring legacy and founding pillars of the NSS. From founder members to lifetime members and general members, everyone came together to participate in meaningful discussions and shape the future direction of the organization.

The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with camaraderie and goodwill, complemented by light refreshments and snacks sponsored by Mayuri that added to the specialty of the occasion. As participants engaged in dialogue, they reflected on past achievements, charted a course for the future, and explored avenues to further enhance the NSS’s mission of serving the Nepali community.

One of the highlights of the assembly was the open floor for feedback and a Q&A session, where attendees had the opportunity to share their thoughts, ask questions, and provide valuable insights. The outpouring of positive feedback and encouragement served as a source of inspiration, reaffirming the NSS’s commitment to its mission and energizing its members to continue their work with renewed determination.

In his address, the NSS President highlighted the importance of community engagement and collaboration, emphasizing that the success of the organization is a collective effort that relies on the support and involvement of its members, partners, and volunteers. He expressed gratitude to everyone who attended the assembly, recognizing their contributions and dedication to the NSS’s cause.

Looking ahead, the NSS is poised to embark on a new chapter filled with exciting initiatives aimed at furthering its impact and reach within the Nepali community. From educational programs to cultural events and community outreach initiatives, the organization is committed to serving the needs of its members and fostering unity and empowerment.

As the NSS continues its journey, it invites all members of the community to join hands and work together towards a common goal of progress and prosperity. Whether through active participation, volunteerism, or support, every contribution makes a difference and helps strengthen the fabric of the Nepali diaspora in Seattle.

In conclusion, the General Assembly was not just a meeting but a celebration of community unity, vision, and the collective spirit of the Nepali diaspora in Seattle. It reaffirmed the NSS’s commitment to its mission and provided a platform for members to come together, share ideas, and shape the future of the organization. As the NSS looks ahead, it is confident that with the continued support and involvement of its members, partners, and volunteers, it will achieve its goals and continue to make a positive impact in the lives of those it serves.

For a deeper dive into what we do as an organization, see below our slides presented at the General Assembly…

Nepal-Seattle-Society-General-Assembly-4

If you participated in our General Assembly on February 18, 2024, please provide us feedback and suggestions using the form down below! We would love to hear from you!

Namaste, we appreciate your interest in joining this year’s Seattle Nepali School. Please fill in the form below to register your child for the classes. The registration will be closed on the 3rd of February 2024. We will follow up by email with more details before the beginning of the classes. 

In a momentous ceremony, Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha, a distinguished figure in environmental and sanitation fields, was honored with the prestigious ‘Bill Gates Senior Award 2023’ by Bill and Melinda Gates’ This recognition sets him apart among all employees of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. “The Bill Gates Sr. Award was created within the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to honor the legacy and values of Bill Gates Sr., as Bill and Melinda Gates envisioned. It aims to perpetuate his inspiring influence within the foundation by recognizing the behaviors he exemplified. This award highlights the importance of integrity, hard work, kindness, and dedication to inclusive and impactful actions. Recipients of this award are those who not only exceed expectations but also actively engage in community building and embody the foundation’s values of optimism, collaboration, rigor, innovation, and inclusion.

With over 35 years of expertise on environment, water, and sanitation sector Dr. Shrestha has been engaged at the Gates Foundation since 2012. The award, accompanied by charitable hundred-thousand-dollar prize, not only applauds Dr. Shrestha’s past achievements but also highlights his ongoing commitment in the sector that he is working on. The entire award money will be donated to an organization who carries some brilliant ideas embedded with human values and behavior.

About Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha: A Leader in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Dr. Shrestha, currently Deputy Director at the Gates Foundation, has significantly impacted water, sanitation, and hygiene (WSH) sectors in the global south. His career includes leadership at UN-Habitat and founding an organization Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) in 1990.

In addition to his impactful global contributions, Dr. Shrestha, who was formerly based in Seattle, played a pivotal role on the board of the Nepal Seattle Society from 2019 to 2022. His noteworthy leadership within the Health Committee stands out, as he spearheaded a groundbreaking initiative aimed at raising COVID-19 awareness in underserved minority communities. This significant project was made possible through a government grant, highlighting Dr. Shrestha’s dedication to promoting health equity.

Collaborating closely with Dr. Maya Magarati and receiving wholehearted support from the Board, Dr. Shrestha’s leadership helped bring this project to life. The initiative not only underscored his commitment to public health but also showcased the power of collective action within the Nepal Seattle Society.

The Nepal Seattle Society expresses profound gratitude for Dr. Shrestha’s philanthropic spirit and his unwavering commitment to serving the community, regardless of his geographical location. His contributions have left an indelible mark on our organization, embodying the values of compassion, leadership, and community service.

Tihar, the vibrant five-day festival, unfolds with Kaag Tihar, Kukur Tihar, Gai Tihar, and Lakshmi Puja, followed by Govardhan Puja and Mha Puja, culminating in Bhai Tika. Embraced by all age groups, the heartwarming tradition of deusi-bhailo takes center stage on the third and fourth days of Tihar. This cherished custom involves groups of individuals visiting homes, weaving a tapestry of song and dance to delight residents, and, in return, receiving not just monetary gifts but also delectable treats.

This enchanting practice is deeply rooted in the belief that these spirited melodies bring forth blessings of prosperity to the household. In Nepal, the air is filled with the joyous sounds of children and adults engaging in these lively activities. Even though miles away from Nepal, the Nepal Seattle Society (NSS) endeavored to reconnect us with our cultural roots through a fundraising program centered around deusi-bhailo.

To kick off the festivities, a Google form was circulated on the NSS website, inviting community members to extend invitations for this jubilant occasion. Dedicated NSS volunteers devoted three days to perfecting their performances. The inaugural day, hosted at Buddhi Jung Kunwar’s residence by Buddhi Jung Kunwar, Mitra Dhital, Ujjwal Khadka, Durga Shrestha, Mukunda Bam Malla and Kiran Shrestha, was enriched by the participation of students from the Nepali South School, adding an extra layer of significance by passing down cultural traditions to the younger generation.

@Buddhi Kunwar’s Residence 

@Buddhi Kunwar’s Residence 

The celebration continued the second day with visits to houses in Kirkland and Mukilteo, hosted by Salana Adhikari and Sujan Kumar Shrestha, respectively. The final day unfolded in Seattle, graciously hosted by Prasanna Gautam and Viviane. Throughout these three days, the singing and dancing aimed to replicate the lively atmosphere of celebrations in Nepal. 

@Salana Adhikari’s Residence

@ Sujan Kumar Shrestha’s Residence

@ Prasanna and Viviane’s Residence

The NSS expresses sincere gratitude for the warm hospitality and delicious meals provided by the hosts. Special thanks go out to all hosts, their friends, and families for their support and contributions, acknowledging the time and effort invested to make the program successful and enjoyable. The NSS team is profoundly thankful for the opportunity to keep our cultural flame alive, bridging the 6000-mile gap from our homeland.

A heartfelt acknowledgment is extended to the deusi-bhailo team and performers who generously dedicated their time to make the event a success. Their names, including Shraddha Malla, Buddhi Jung Kunwar, Dasharath Budhathoki, Pramod Devkota, Kajal Sapkota, Pramoj Adhikari, Saurav Kakshapati, Tara Aryal, Soniya Kunwar, Smriti Dahal, Shubhu Shakya, Srijita Gurung, Lhakpa Sherpa, Aajana Aryal Koirala, Anushree Aryal, Aamod Koirala, Srijina Gurung, Aaryav Adhikari, Saraswati Budhathoki, Prabin   Esha Shrestha, Chahat Sharma, Melisha Dhital, Subu Khadka, Kiara Khanal, Christina Tamang, Dristi Dangal, Aashriya Shrestha, Ariel Adhikari, and many others, stand as a testament to their commitment.

The event concluded on a triumphant note, with a total donation of $6717 collected after reimbursing the Nepali South School performers. The students were graciously awarded $20 each for their participation, aligning to impart traditions and culture to the younger generation. The overwhelming support from the community is deeply appreciated, and NSS is humbled by the success of the event, which reaffirms the strength of cultural bonds within the Nepali diaspora.

Please enjoy this short video capturing not all but some of the best memories of our deusi-bhailo program.

NEPAL SEATTLE SOCIETY

COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS

For NEYPVAL/CDCF YEAR II

About Community Ambassadors

Ambassadors for a community are those who serve as advocates and representatives for that community. By fostering cooperation and communication, advancing the interests of the community, and assisting in conflict resolution, they act as a link between the community and organizations.They aim to create connections, encourage collaborations, and make sure that the community’s needs and viewpoints are taken into account during decision-making.

Community ambassadors are vital for supporting and empowering their communities from inside, in addition to these outward-facing duties. They might mentor young people, offer assistance and support to neighborhood organizations, and seek to increase the capacity and resilience of the community.

Community ambassadors are essential to the success of communities because they act as the voice and face of the community, promote its goals and needs, and create alliances and partnerships with outside groups. Community ambassadors contribute to positive change and the promotion of a better future for their communities via their commitment and diligence.

During the project, the ambassadors had shown their interest to help the community by participating in events that were organized by the CDC-NEYPVAL team. Not only that, they also participated in webinars to spread information on vaccinations.

We are very proud of our Community Ambassadors and we hope that they will be interested to be the part of similar projects in the future.

AYUSH POKHREL

KUSHAL DHAKAL

SushilA SHRESTHA

sRIJITA GURUNG

SONIYA KUNWAR

sADIKSHYA UPRETI

NEPAL SEATTLE SOCIETY

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

FOR CDCF/NEYPVAL PROJECT 2022

About Advisory Board Meeting

The NEYPVAL Year II team was in need of advisors from our community with the expertise from their respective field. We were able to connect with 5 expert advisors from the Nepali Community who would be able to guide our team on the right path to top; covering most of the areas in Washington State. 

During our first meeting, the advisory members gave us various ideas on how we can cope with the current situation of triple burden disease: RSV, COVID, and FLU. The virus was common among children but we could not move forward as there was restriction from CDCF to cover only from the age group of 18 and above. 

 Link to First Advisory Board Meeting: Advisory Board Meeting

Our team is very fortunate to have them in our team. They have truly shown their dedication and determination to help the community. Not only that, they have motivated us and made our project seems effortless. Without their support, we could not have gone that extra mile.

Once again a massive thankyou to all the advisory board members.

Namaste, I work as a Hindu Priest. I’m also a yoga teacher. I’m also a provider for an Adult Family home which is related to healthcare.

I’m in touch with every community and everyone in the board. After I joined this project, I was able to interact with others and I was able to able to share health information with others which I’m really proud of. 

ARJUN ADHIKARI

JAGADAMBA ADHIKAREE

Jagadamba Adhikaree is a Senior Medical Social Worker at University Of Washington Medical Center. She received her Masters of Social Work degree from University of Washington. Her expertise are in community resources such as healthcare related services, insurance,  low income housing, Medicare and Medicaid benefits, and other government assistance programs. She advocates for patients, elderly and other vulnerable population. 

Jagadmba is interested in contributing to the community with her expertise and the NEYPVAL project provided this opportunity. This partnership has been inspiring and worthwhile because there are many new immigrants and elderly people of Nepalese origin who truly needed help and would benefit from this program.  Any opportunity to contribute to improve  the health and wellbeing of the community is inspiring moment for Jagadmba and she would participate in the future to help whenever there is a need.

I am a pharmacist with an MBA, currently pursuing MPH in Global Health at the University of Washington, Seattle. I am the co-founder and director at Samartha Nepal, a profit-not-sharing Company working towards equity in the health and education sectors in Nepal. 

I am passionate about the development and implementation of community-oriented health interventions. I have previously worked with different organizations – public, private, and development – to create people-centered healthcare service delivery programs in different parts of Nepal. At present, I am working with the UW Harborview Medical Center and I-TECH on qualitative research to bridge inequities in healthcare access. I hope to bring my knowledge and expertise in the field of Public Health to serve the Nepali community in greater Seattle and address their pressing health needs.
I shall contribute to the best of my ability to create an impact in the community
.

PRIYASHA MAHARJAN

RUBY SHRESTHA

Ruby Shrestha works as Vice President of Scientific Affairs in a premium chocolate company in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.  She earned her engineering degree from Rajasthan, India under Colombo Plan and MBA from the University of Washington in Seattle under Fulbright Program. 

She is very passionate about building community and has been involved in the activities of Nepali community of the Greater Seattle area for over two decades, even before the inception of Nepal Seattle Society.  She has been a community activist, volunteer, mentor, advisor, and a consultant in various professional as well as in non-profit organizations and possesses a deep understanding of civic engagement for community benefit.  She wants to bring the knowledge and expertise to this project and give back to the community.

An avid reader, an occasional poetry writer, a runner, a nature enthusiast, and a passionate yoga practitioner, she says giving back to the community fulfills her.

I am a Registered Nurse currently working at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland. I have always wanted to help the Nepali Community in one way or the other. I am very happy to be working in this project and contributing to the society.

I have worked at the COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic organized by King County in partnership with EvergreenHealth during Covid-19 pandemic and I would like to help NEYPVAL with my knowledge transfer where applicable.

This is my first time with the NEYPVAL project, and I hope to join this project in the future as well. 

 

sINDHU KOIRALA

YUG DABADI

I have been involved with the social organizations over a decade. Primarily, I am trying to build a bridge between available resources and the immigrant community in Greater Seattle Area.

Professionally, I work for Multicare Health System as a technical specialist where I oversee the functions of medical scientists. I am also pursuing MBA from Washington State University.

My goal for joining the advisory team of NEYPVAL is to help the team to connect members of the Nepali speaking community to the available resources related to healthcare.

NEPAL SEATTLE SOCIETY

Events

NEYPVAL YEAR II

NEYPVAL team at Dashain Cup 2022

📆10/29/2022, Saturday

⏲️10:00am

Learn More

Collaboration with Newah Organization of America for promoting vaccination

📆10/26/2022, Wednesday

⏲️5:00pm

Learn More

NEYPVAL TEAM AT NSS DASHAIN-TIHAR EVENT

📆11/05/2022, Saturday

⏲️6:00pm

Learn More

First Social Media Post

This social media post was created to aware Nepali Washington residents about the availability of different types of vaccinations.

823 people reached

909 people reached

Second social Media Post

This post was created to provide information on bivalent booster shots.

872 people reached

Third Social Media Post

This post was created to ensure that people follow COVID-19 health protocols in mass gathering for their safety.

565 people reached

Fourth Social Media Post

This social media post was created to aware people about triple disease burden which were negatively impacting people’s health during the month of Oct-Dec

713 people reached

WEBINARS

NEPAL SEATTLE SOCIETY

Webinar-1

First Webinar Around COVID-19 and FLU

NEYPVAL Year 2 team hosted their first webinar in collaboration with NSS’s health committee lead Dr. Nitin Thapa (Family Practitioner) and Dr. Diwakar Thapa (Pharmacist) as well as Jagadamba Adhikaree (Senior Medical Social Worker). This webinar was insightful as they answered questions about flu and COVID-19 symptoms, available resources, and upcoming boosters. 

This webinar was interactive with various questions from the community.

Watch video

Webinar-2

Second Webinar Around COVID Variant and FLU

NEYPVAL Year 2 team hosted another webinar around COVID and FLU with our Nepali community health experts Shraddha Kakshapati (PharmD, Rph), Soniya Kunwar (RN, BSN), and Jadagamba Adhikaree (Senior Social Worker). This webinar had thorough information regarding COVID and FLU as well as the Triple Burden Disease: RSV, flu, and COVID viruses among kids and adults. Therefore, it was an interactive and informative session with many family members getting sick during that time.

Watch video

What does Dashain and Tihar remind you of? The cold winter nights, streets full of lights, smell of sel roti and long nights with friends and family you haven’t seen for awhile? 

All the varieties of festivals and occasions we celebrate carry their own significance but I’d say that the main festivals of Nepalese are Dashain and Tihar. We choose to celebrate with our close friends, relatives and family. 

Nepal Seattle Society (NSS) hosted the Dashain and Tihar event on Nov 5th at Cascadia College. The food, entertainment, and the attire was just as like in Nepal. Our Center for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation (CDCF)/NEYPVAL year 2 team was also present at the event

The main purpose of this project was to update our community members on COVID and FLU. NSS had the Dashain and Tihar Event 2079 B.S. after 2 long years where the hope of people gathering was possible, but it came to our notice that the COVID cases were rising. Therefore, we had to inform our community members to take precaution in our upcoming event so that everyone involved can enjoy it. The team posted a flyer on social media to take necessary precaution.

We shared informational flyers regarding covid vaccine, flu vaccine and insurance accessibility. We were able to collect surveys from the attendees at the event. We are hoping that the survey we collect will help us understand the vaccine hesitancy among nepali community. We were able to get 36 surveys from this event alone. We are hoping to collect surveys in the near future event being hosted by Nepal Seattle Society (NSS). 

GALLERY

Nepal Seattle Society is one of the most valued nepali organization in Washington state. We have been successful in maintaining good relationship and harmony with our neighboring organizations and assisting eachother in need.

This time of the year NEYPVAL (Nepal Elder-Guided Youth Partnership Vaccination Accessibility Liaison) Team collaborated with Newah Organization of America (NOA) in the occasion MHA puja on 10/26/2022 to provide updated information on flu and covid.

MHA Puja, which in Newari means “worship of the self,” honors one’s inner spirit. The ritual denotes an auspicious start to the New Year and bestows riches and longevity to those who take part. Wherever Nepalese have settled, MHA Puja and Nepal Sambat are also observed.

Executive Director Subekshya Regmi with President of Newah Organization of America Ishwor Lal Khosin

This event was successful with the presence of two team members from the NEYPVAL team, Subekshya Regmi, the Executive Director and Shubhechha Shakya, the community engagement and IT coordinator. Small goodies were distributed to children and adults which included hand sanitizers, lip balm, stationary supplies, and the survey form.

They were also very successful in thanking the President, Ishwor Lal Khosin in person and handing him a thank you certificate which was made by Shraddha KC, the communication and digital content creator. There were about 100 bags of goodies which were made by Shubhechha Shakya with the help of two community ambassadors Aakarshan Simkhada and Soniya Kunwar.

The team also provided 2 trays of sweets to NOA to represent the culture of celebrating festivals within the Nepali community. The team was successful in collecting enough surveys for the data collection. Most people were amazed to find the role of Nepal Seattle Society in a good cause like this. The team received good spotlight in the event. As a token of appreciation NOA gifted two bags of “Masi poh” to the team members.

Thankyou Newah Organization of America for this wonderful opportunity

GALLERY

Nepal Rising Seattle is bringing an amazing Nepali movie “The Secrets of Radha” to Carco Theatre in Renton. If you are interested, this is a great opportunity to enjoy an amazing Nepali movie while supporting the initiatives of Nepal Rising, a non-profit organization. 

Here is a message from Nepal Rising Seattle :

Greater Seattle area friends,
Nepal Rising Seattle (NRS) in partnership with 3E Entertainment, is bringing a newly released must-see Nepali movie, The Secrets of Radha to premiere in the Seattle area. The movie will be screened at Carco Theater in Renton on Saturday September 17, 2022. The door opens at 4:30pm and the movie starts at 5:00pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance online for $15 and at the door for $25. Come join us in unveiling of the secrets on the 17th.

The Secrets of Radha
Nepali feature film starring superstars of Nepali movie industry
Shristi Shrestha, Saugat Malla, Nischal Basnet et al.

Venue
Carco Theatre
1717 Maple Valley Highway
Renton, WA 98057

Time
Door Opens: 4:30pm
Movie Starts: 5pm (sharp)

Tickets
Online/Advance: $15
At the Door: $25
Rating/CC
Universal w/ English subtitles

Link to Purchase Tickets Online

Link to Trailer

This movie event is to raise funds for our initiatives in Nepal. NRS will share the net profit with 3E Entertainment and every dollar that NRS receives will go towards funding our initiatives in Nepal. We are confident in our community’s support in making this event a grand success. You get to enjoy your evening with a quality Nepali movie while making it possible to help the underserved population across Nepal. Nepal Rising is a voluntary-run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working for relief, rebuilding and resilience of communities in need. Find more information about our projects, partners, and open book at https://nepalrising.org

Movie Excerpt

RADHA, a young pregnant woman from a village in Nepal, embarks on a journey to join her husband, a migrant worker hospitalized in Doha, who’s gone missing, but discovers instead an intriguing web of lies, deceit and fraud behind his disappearance and of many others… Many of the finest actors from Nepali movie industry are part of this movie and it would no doubt surpass your expectations. Main cast includes- SHRISTI SHRESTHA, SAUGAT MALLA, KHAGENDRA LAMICHHANE, MENUKA PRADHAN, DIVYA DEV PANT, DAYAHANG RAI, NISHCHAL BASNET, BUDDHI TAMANG, LOKENDRA LEKHAK, PASHUPATI RAI, SUNIL POKHAREL, ASHANT SHARMA, SHARADA GIRI…

Seats are limited! Get your tickets early to save $$ and secure your spot!!

This initiative was spearheaded by Photographer, Videographer, Rachit Raj Shrestha. Also special mentions to our Vice President, Saurav Kakshapati as well as Sierra Cvech for their help in creating and executing content.

Enjoy these wonderful and educational Videos:

1. Fight COVID | Corona Bhagau

This video features and is Directed/ Edited by Rachit Raj Shrestha who shares the importance of masks and vaccines.

“Let’s keep ourselves and our community safe!”

2. Teej B.S. 2078

A wonderful performance by NSS Youth Committee and the beautiful ladies of our community celebrating Teej while showcasing importance of safety and being proactive to fight COVID.

3. Dashain PSA by Dr. Arjun Adhikari

A video requesting our members to be safe while celebrating dashain.

4. Tribute to Dashain

A video showcasing festivities of Dashain and reminding members to continue being safe.

5. To many more Dashain and Tihar in the future

Another short video with montages of Tihar festivities and Dashain while reminding members to prioritize their health by being vaccinated and masking on.

6. Yomari Puni 2021

A video in collaboration with Newah Organization celebrating a delicious Newari Nepali delicacy, Yomari with a reminder that COVID is still out there and how to combat it.

7. COVID 19 Home Test Kit

Featuring Reena Subba, Ms Asia Washington 2020, Miss Infinity America 2021 among many other things we learn how to use COVID Tests in Nepali.

8. Mental Health Webinar

Era Budhathoki and Palpasa Manandhar in guidance with NSS Health Committee helped organized a Mental Health Webinar and they went over the stigma and resources around brown communities’ mental health.

Panelists:

  • Sudikshya Baskota, ND
  • Mitra Dhital, Clinical Case Manager
  • Jagadamba Adhikaree, MSW
  • Utsav Bajgain, Certified TM Teacher
  • Nitin Thapa, ND

9. Message from NSS President, Dasharath Budhathoki

Announcing a lot of initiatives such as our first ever vaccination camps and tech-literacy events, our President shares a PSA.

10. Tech Literacy Videos

How to use My Chart- Nepali Version

A video teaching how to navigate my chart in this increasingly digitized world. Thank you to our Narrator Shubheccha Shakya who is also our Financial and Administrative Assistant.

Also check out, zoom instructions created by our volunteers, Samek Mulapati and Jyoti Lama.

Zoom Instructions in Nepali (Computer Version):

Zoom Instructions in Nepali (Mobile Version):

This initiative was spearheaded by Photographer, Videographer, Rachit Raj Shrestha. Also special mentions to our Vice President, Saurav Kakshapati as well as Sierra Cvech for their help in creating and executing content.

Enjoy these wonderful and educational Videos:

1. Requesting COVID-19 Vaccine Intake | कोविद-१९ को खोप लगाउन को लागि हाम्रो अनुरॊध ।

This video features our Nepali provider and one of the chairs of the NSS Health Committee, Dr. Nitin Thapa.

2. COVID Talks | Corona Ka KuraKani

Our lives have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic started. In this video, we talked to our community members from different walks of life and listened to their struggles, fears, and hopes with the onset of the COVID-19 vaccines. We also talked to some health professionals about the effect of COVID-19 vaccines, how it affects us, and what we should do even after being vaccinated. 

Shout out to Mingma Tashi Sherpa, Rewati Raman Bhandari, Sanjeev Yonzon, Saraswati Bhandari, Dr. Shraddha Kakshapati, and Sushila Shiwakoti for sharing their stories. We also would like to thank Abhibandu Kafle and Samita Parajuli for narrating this so well! 

Lastly, we would like to provide our thanks to our talented team, Rachit Raj Shrestha for capturing this video, Shubhechha Shakya for writing this wonderful article, and Saurav Kakshapati (Our VP) for handling and coordinating all the behind-the-scenes action. 

3. Let’s Talk About Mental Health | Kura Manasik Swasthya Ko

Our mental health is as important as our physical health and this pandemic has made it more apparent. This video explains what resources we have available for our Nepali Community members and why it is important to manage our mental health concerns. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge. The PHQ-9 is a screening tool, an aid in the diagnosis, and helps track a patient’s overall depression severity as well as track improvement. For more info about available mental health resources, please visit the link below: https://nepalseattle.org/coronavirus/health-and-wellness/

Our Communication Officer, Rachit Raj Shrestha has spearheaded the creation of these amazing videos sharing our culture, awareness about COVID and encouraging community engagement.

Priest Arjun Adhikari’s PSA

Dashain Tihar Video

With CDC Foundation’s grants not only were we able to provide important community service such as Nepali-Speaking volunteers and easy access to the COVID-19 Vaccine but we were also able to partner with different organizational stakeholders and community based organizations such as ours.

October 30th, 2021: In collaboration with Pacific Northwest Black Business Coalition we hosted this initiative. Our whole team went to Kent to provide not only the COVID vaccine and booster but also chili and hot cocoa to the community. Kent Library’s staff came to greet us while providing free library books to the people walking by and greeting us. This was during the Halloween weekend so we appreciated the creative costumes of people visiting our campsite.


December 8th, 2021: For this event, we partnered with Columbia Basin College. Our Program Manager, Leema Pradhan drove down to Pasco to receive her booster too. We were able to vaccinate a Nepali father and son!

Special shoutout to our NSS Health Committee leaders Dr. Maya Magarati, PHD and Dr. Nitin Thapa, ND who also participated to help out another DOH Care-a-Van event and representing NSS(see pictures below).


December 26th, 2021: This event was hosted in Northgate where our Public Health Officer, Shraddha Malla went to participate, support, and volunteer. Idris Mosque’s leadership teams have been great collaborators and partners with NSS and this event helped strengthen the relationship.

Two of our UW students were there to get their boosters too. They received their shots in Nepal and they were still able to receive boosters here after talking to the representative of DOH and the Somali Health Board.

NSS has conducted multiple virtual workshops during pandemic to increase awareness on
mental health in the Nepali community. With this DOH Project Spring Forward grant, we planned to invest in our community’s health and well being with a focus on nutrition pertaining to the Nepali diet to bridge the gap of easily accessible, easy-to-understand resources.

With these initiatives, we planned to advocate for healthy nutrition and healthy eating habits, including maternal and child nutrition, with frequent informational sessions on the Nepali diet with subject matter experts. A recent 2020 study shows that South Asians are four times more likely than the U.S. general population to have heart disease or diabetes (Hussain M, Qureshi S, Suryanarayanan S, Sridaran L, Howard R. Unequal Consequences: The Disparate Impact of COVID-19 Across South Asian Americans. SAALT; September 29, 2020.)

Maternal and Child Nutrition:

It is very important to take steps towards a healthy body through healthy nutrition
and exercise. Since a majority of our elders live in multi-generational homes, and not in
nursing homes or adult care homes, our elders will benefit greatly from health classes.

Thank You to Nima Sherpa, a Bachelor Undergrad in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health from the University of Washington shared with us some basic information about Maternal and Child Nutrition. Following that we had experts as our panelists: Dr. Nitin Thapa, Pramoj Adhikari studying DNP, and Dr. Seema Prasai, MBBS ECFMG Certified Physician who answered our questions along with Nima.

For more details visit: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

In this initiative, we also included Hypertension Awareness as it is prevalent in our Nepali community. Dr. Seema Prasai ( MBBS, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduate Certified) graciously volunteered to share her expertise with the help of Nepali Health Board volunteers such as Dr. Nitin Thapa.

Diet Associated with Hypertension:


Included in this initiative was also a webinar about the Nepali Diet with Pramoj Adhikari, an active community member of NSS and Doctor of Nursing Practitioner who talked about Culturally Tailored Diabetes Dietary Education Among Nepali and Bhutanese Community.

If you have any further questions about these issues or our project please email us at [email protected].

Stay safe, stay healthy.