By Sabina Bisunke
Program Officer, Rukmini Foundation (Nepal)

April 22, 2026

Namaste friends,

I’m Sabina. I work as a Program Officer here in Nepal, right alongside our amazing team and our Bahinis. Every day, I see the same heartbreak and hope: bright young students finishing their SEE exams, then sitting at home for months with nothing to do. Waiting for results. Waiting for the next step. Waiting.

And too often, that waiting turns into giving up.

You see, in Nepal, even after you pass your exams, finding meaningful work is hard. Really hard. So many of our best and brightest end up leaving—going to the Gulf, to Malaysia, to Japan—looking for jobs that don’t honor their skills or their dreams. We call it brain drain, and it’s emptying our villages of exactly the young people who could build a better Nepal.

But what if we could give them a reason to stay? What if we could fill those waiting months with skills, not silence?

That’s exactly what we’re trying to do.


Mentors discussing post 10+2 plans with students.

A Shorter Wait, But a Bigger Impact

Every year, Rukmini Foundation organizes computer training for students who have just finished their SEE (Secondary Education Examination). Usually, they wait about three months for results. This year, the gap is shorter—only about one month. Some people might think, “Well, that’s too short for real training.”

I disagree.

We designed a short, powerful, and practical program. No fluff. No outdated lessons. Just the skills students actually need to get ahead—whether they continue their studies or step straight into a job.

On April 21, 2026, we held our orientation program at the Shikharapur Community Learning Center (CLC). 50 participants showed up—40 of them fresh SEE graduates, plus some community members who didn’t want to miss out.

Our friends at CLC, led by Director Niroj Shrestha, helped us explain the rules: be on time, bring a notebook, keep quiet during lessons, and no sleeveless clothing (we keep things professional around here!).

Then our trainer, Bipin Maharjan—a CSIT graduate and former member of Rukubot—took over. Bipin knows his stuff. He told the students: “Office applications and AI tools aren’t just for engineers. They’re for everyone. Learn them, and you’ll never be useless.”


What They’ll Learn (And Why It Matters)

This isn’t your school computer class where you just memorize theory. This is hands on, real world, get-your-hands-dirty learning:

  • Typing in both English and Nepali (yes, speed matters!)

  • Internet & Email – browsing, searching, Gmail, cyber safety

  • MS Word – making documents, formatting, even writing a CV

  • MS Excel – formulas, charts, creating a marksheet

  • MS PowerPoint – designing slides, presenting with confidence

  • Introduction to AI – basic concepts and simple AI tools (because the future is already here)

By the end, each student will complete a final project—their own CV, a marksheet, and a presentation. Things they can show an employer. Things that prove, “I’m ready.”


What Students Are Saying

Hearing the students talk about this program fills me with so much hope.

Agrisha Maharjan (SEE candidate from Aadhinath Secondary School, Chovar) told us:

“The form was filled out using Google Docs, which helped us understand the process of completing online forms. I am excited to learn more about computers and gain practical knowledge, as it is also a productive use of time.”

Siddhartha (SEE candidate from Setidevi Secondary School, Sokhel) said something that broke my heart a little, but also made me determined:

“In school, we mainly acquire theoretical knowledge of computers; therefore, I am excited to learn practical skills that will enhance my understanding and experience.”

Did you catch that? Theoretical knowledge. Schools here often teach computers from a book, without touching a keyboard. That’s not fair to our kids. So we’re fixing it, one class at a time.

We even had a student named Bigit Thapa Magar travel all the way from Hetauda district to join us. That’s dedication. And it tells me: young people are hungry for this.


Our Big, Audacious Goal

This program is wonderful. But one program isn’t enough.

That’s why Rukmini Foundation has set a goal to provide this kind of computer training to more than 500 students and community members in the coming years. Not just SEE graduates. But mothers, fathers, young adults who never had a chance to learn. Because digital skills shouldn’t be a luxury. They should be a right.

When we train 500 people, we’re not just teaching them to type. We’re giving them the tools to find work here, in Nepal. To start small businesses. To help their children with homework. To stop thinking that the only path forward is a plane ticket out of the country.


A Word About Brain Drain

I have to be honest with you. Nepal’s job market is tough. Many of our college graduates end up driving taxis or working in foreign factories. It’s not because they’re not smart. It’s because they don’t have the specific skills employers are looking for.

That’s why this training focuses on practical, employment-ready skills. MS Excel alone can get you an office job. AI literacy can make you stand out from hundreds of other applicants.

We’re not pretending this is magic. We’re not saying everyone will find a perfect job tomorrow. But we are saying: if we don’t start somewhere, nothing will change.

I want our Bahinis and their brothers to stay in Nepal. I want them to build businesses here, teach here, lead here. Because if all the smart people leave, who will be left to make things better?

So yes, this computer training is about keyboards and screens. But underneath it all, it’s about keeping our family together.


Will You Help Us Reach 500?

We can’t do this alone. Running quality training with experienced trainers, computers, and materials costs money. And we want to scale up—from 50 students this year to 500+ in the coming years.

Will you consider making a donation today? Every dollar goes directly to keeping a student engaged, skilled, and hopeful. You’re not just funding a class. You’re funding a reason to stay in Nepal.

➡️ [Donate here] ⬅️

Or share this post. Tell a friend. Because the more people who know about what we’re doing, the closer we get to 500.


Looking Ahead

The regular classes started on April 22. For 45 days, these students will show up, type, calculate, design, and dream. And when they finish, they won’t be the same kids who walked in.

They’ll be future-ready. They’ll be employment-ready. And maybe a few of them will decide that Nepal is big enough for their dreams.

Sabina Bisunke
Program Officer, Rukmini Foundation (Nepal)


🌐 Learn more or donate: www.rukminifoundation.org

About Sabina Bisunke

Sabina Bisunke is a graduate of Shikharapur Campus and is currently a student at PadmaKanya Campus pursuing a MA in Rural Development. Being a local from Dakshinkali, an area very close to Pharping, she has great understanding of our work in Pharping. She joined Rukmini Foundation as our new Head Mentor (Didi) and is working closely with all Rukmini scholars. Sabina supports the operations of the foundation by helping out with the day to day activities of the Rukmini Foundation and will assist our Program Officers to ensure that the foundation programs are running smoothly and that all scholars are receiving the necessary support to be successful. Sabina also works closely with Foundation Didis and other mentors to provide interesting mentoring programs for the scholars and school students. Sabina is enthusiastic, positive and very active in the community. As a local girl, Sabina is proud to be a role model for other girls and is looking forward to learning as well as mentoring.
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