ANSWER is comprised of a team of dedicated and caring people in Nepal and the United States who coordinate efforts to provide quality education for disadvantaged students in Nepal.
Bal started working with ANSWER in September 2005 as the Accounting Assistant. He worked his way up through various positions and was appointed to Director in 2011. He has a Master’s degree in Business Investment. Bal manages the ANSWER Nepal staff and ensures the organization runs smoothly. He selects deserving students to be sponsored, and helps to make sure each student is guided toward their best career option.
Sanoj has been working with ANSWER since 2010. He started as an assistant accountant, and now is the associate in-country director. He has a Master’s degree in Business Studies. He coordinates various special programs and assists Bal in the overall management of ANSWER-Nepal.
Rupa is studying in a bachelors of Business Studies (BBS) program. She has been working as an accountant with ANSWER since 2017. She performs financial functions related to collection, recording, analysis, and presentation of organizational financial operations.
Kabita is from Ramechhap (central eastern part of Nepal). She is currently studying in a Bachelors of Business Studies program. She started working as an assistant accountant with ANSWER in March of 2022. Her responsibilities include preparation of banking deposit vouchers, student payment information, and assists our head accountant, Rupa, in various office tasks.
Rajin is from Chautara, Sindhupalchok. He is currently studying Bachelor’s in Social work and is also one of the ANSWER’S students. He started working in ANSWER Nepal as an office assistant on 1st March 2023. He handles work in the office related to managing mark sheets, letters, and other documentation works.
Kalyan is one of ANSWER’s first student graduates. He now serves as volunteer President of the ANSWER Board of Directors in Nepal. Kalyan runs a tourist company in Kathmandu and is paying it forward by sponsoring two Nepali ANSWER students
Subash Timilsina has been associated with ANSWER NEPAL since 2010. He became a board member of ANSWER NEPAL in 2021. Subash’s journey with ANSWER NEPAL began when he received sponsorship from ANSWER Nepal during his eighth-grade education.
Currently, Subash is pursuing a professional career in Chartered Accountancy through Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN) and holds the position of Senior Audit Executive at Subash Acharya & Associates, Chartered Accountants where he is actively engaged in contributing his expertise.
Pujan Gajurel practices Architecture as a profession after he graduated as an architect in 2021. Recently he has initiated a mushroom farm as a side hustle. He has been in the ANSWER family since 2012 and has done a lot of community service, and developed Leadership skills and teamwork experiences through opportunities provided by ANSWER Nepal.
Earle Canfield majored in Tibetan Studies, became a physician’s assistant and merged his two interests by coming to Nepal in 1994 to volunteer in a children’s hospital. What sprung up was an opportunity to fight injustice by educating those who are most severely impacted. These strands: Himalaya, Medicine, Education, and Injustice are what had led to the founding of ANSWER and his unceasing passion to help.
Lisa began sponsoring her first student in 2004 and started working for ANSWER in 2010. Lisa coordinates all administrative oversight in the USA, works closely with the ANSWER board and Nepal staff, and maintains regular communication with sponsors. Lisa is both the contracted Administrator and the Board Treasurer.
Michael is passionate about education and its ability to improve the lives of those most marginalized. He has spent time teaching and volunteering in Alaska, Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, and now Nepal. In 2018, he joined ANSWER’s staff and is assisting in areas of need in Nepal and the U.S. He sponsors two students Riya and Smriti.
Doug Donnell has been the president of the ANSWER Board for 7 years and has sponsored four students including ANSWER’s first law school student. Doug has traveled to Nepal and spent time with our staff there, both at ANSWER’s office and in the field at several schools. Doug is a commercial litigation and environmental attorney.
Fred Stella has been familiar with Nepali culture for years. His history with ANSWER dates back to its very beginnings, sponsoring one of the 1st generation of children. As the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) of the West Michigan Hindu Temple, he has aided in the settlement of Nepali refugees from Bhutan.
Bruce was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal from 1982-84. He is one of the original founding ANSWER board members. He and his wife, Carolyn, sponsored a boy in Nepal through High School. He has worked as a Data Analyst at Grand Rapids Community College since 2002.
Barry has been an ANSWER board member since 2012. He became interested in ANSWER several years ago when he and his wife, Vicki sponsored two young Nepalese students. With a love of travel, they spent two weeks in Nepal visiting schools and got to see both of their sponsored children. He co-owns a manufactures rep firm in Michigan. Outside interests are hiking, golf and reading books.
Wally joined the ANSWER board in 2017. He is a retired lawyer. He is past president of EGR Board of Ed, GR Symphony, GR Civic Theater and World Affairs Council. He and his wife, Becky, visited Rupa Thami, their ANSWER Nepalese “daughter” in 2014.
Dick joined the ANSWER board in 2019. He is a fully retired forensic psychologist, social worker, counselor, consultant and college educator. Before retirement Dick was Vice President for Treatment Services & Corporate Finance at Integrated Management & Treat-ment Services (IMTS) – a small private consulting partnership in West Michigan specializing in criminal justice services. Dick has also worked for the State of Michigan and Aquinas College. Dick and his wife, Mary Ellen, have sponsored three students through ANSWER.
Laura joined the ANSWER board in 2019. She majored in international development and has been working with populations from around the world for the last 8 years. A prior refugee resettlement caseworker, she now works as an academic counselor with international students at Calvin University. Laura spent 3 months in Nepal in 2018, volunteering with ANSWER in Kathmandu and trekking the Annapurna Circuit. She is passionate about ANSWER’s organization and is now sponsoring a young student with her partner, Isaac Hoekstra.
Isaac joined the ANSWER board in 2019. His grandparents have been ANSWER sponsors since he was young. In 2018, while traveling in Nepal, he was able to meet one of the students who is now a successful graduate of the program. Isaac volunteered with ANSWER, conducting first-aid workshops and English tutoring with AAA students. He is currently continuing his studies in Biomedical Sciences and is eager to return to Nepal to visit the student he is now sponsoring.
Kilee King is a clinical social worker at the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital who enjoys reading and learning guitar. Kilee also enjoys volunteering with the West Michigan Hispanic Center, tutoring immigrants in receiving their GEDs in Spanish. Additionally, Kilee is working to become a certified psychodramatist. Kilee joined ANSWER as she likes learning about different cultures and trying to make the world a better place.
John has worked and volunteered as a teacher and community organizer. His family has sponsored ANSWER students for years and now his son is sponsoring one on his own. John visited ANSWER Nepal projects in 2016 and saw first-hand how ANSWER is making a difference.
Arman is from Parbat, Nepal(Western part of Nepal). He was an ANSWER’s student since grade 10 and graduated as Computer Engineer in 2022. He volunteered on designing and developing this website alongside Chris.
Chris is a product designer in healthcare technology and based in Grand Rapids, MI. He helped ANSWER to remake this new site, volunteering most of his time. Apart from his professional endeavors, Chris is passionate about volunteering and giving back to the community. He also enjoys engaging in creative projects and exploring the world through travel.