Social Educational Environmental Development Services in Nepal
KP Kafle, the founder of Nepal SEEDS, runs a very successful trekking company in Nepal. In 1998, his desire to “help me give back to my country” resulted in the formation of Nepal SEEDS.
KP’s tireless energy and commitment to his country have enabled him to personally oversee the growth and development of the foundation’s activities in three primary regions of Nepal.
Equally at home on a dirt floor in a remote village or making a presentation to a standing-room-only audience, KP inspires all who meet him.
He is the father of three sons and lives with his family in Kathmandu. In 2008, K.P. was recognized by REI Adventures as one of their top eight guides in the world. KP continues to lead groups on his unique village treks and to numerous mountain peaks and paths to see the beauty and grandeur of the Himalayas.
See his more in-depth profile.
Keith is the owner of Everest Waterproofing and Restoration in San Francisco. He is proud to include many Tibetans and Nepalis among his dedicated workforce.
Keith is past president of Food Runners and can still be found each Saturday at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market collecting surplus food for delivery to homeless shelters.
He is very active in his local community and serves on the Boards of several community organizations.
Barbara first traveled to Nepal in 2003, after planning such a trip for many years. Seizing the opportunity to take a month away from her business, she signed up for a trek guided by KP Kafle, a chance meeting that has grown into her involvement with Nepal SEEDS.
She immediately was captured not only by the beauty of the country, but more importantly, by the wonderful people that she met during her trip. She has returned to Nepal every year, most recently with her daughter, and has been able to visit many of Nepal SEEDS projects and see first-hand the results of KP’s efforts to improve the lives of families in remote mountain villages.
“In Nepal, I have seen the needs of parents and their families, and have listened to and been compelled by the hopes and dreams of their children.”
Donna lives in San Francisco. Donna is about to embark on her 11th trip to Nepal. She fell in love with the country and the people on her first visit in 1986. Donna is a founding director of Nepal SEEDS.
Donna has been visiting Nepal regularly since the mid-80's. She works as a stenographer. Donna has worked extensively with exile Tibetan communities and volunteers locally for hunger relief programs.
Esther Lev is executive director of The Wetlands Conservancy, a statewide nonprofit based in Tualatin, Oregon. Over the past 18 years, she has worked to restore and preserve Oregon’s wetlands – marshy areas that provide vital wildlife habitat and the potential to forestall climate change. Esther has always followed the water.
Born in Cleveland, off the shores of Lake Erie, she went west and studied ecology and biology at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash. She then took off around the world. In Baja, Calif., she worked as a sea kayak guide and did bird research. In Thailand, she led ecotourism activities. In Nepal, she led elder-hostel programs, worked on bird wetlands projects and volunteered with Bird Conservation Nepal.
Geoff is a professor of anthropology and environmental studies at Washington University in St. Louis who studies demographic processes and socio-cultural changes among Tibetans living throughout Asia. He has conducted research in rural villages of Tibet (China), Tibetan exile communities in India, and the ethnically Tibetan enclave of Nubri, Nepal.
His two current projects investigate the impact that rapid social and economic change has on inter-generational relations in Tibet, and the oral history of a lama lineage in Nubri. To learn more about Nubri, a valley where Nepal SEEDS provides substantial support for health and education projects, see the publications available on Geoff’s website.
Peg has a long interest in traditional livestock-based cultures and a commitment to the highland regions of Nepal. Her involvement in Nepal SEEDS, with a focus on Nubri and Tsum in the areas of health, education, and cultural preservation, dates back to 2000. She lived in Kathmandu for several years as Assistant Director/Anthropology Instructor for Naropa University.
As a writer and photographer Peg has worked extensively with Native Americans (Navajo) in the American Southwest in socio-cultural, educational, and natural resource concerns. She lives in rural northern Arizona, has two grown children, and travels frequently, often to Nepal or northern India. She is an Advisor to the Ladakh Society of Traditional Medicine (LSTM).
Frank has visited Nepal SEEDS projects in Nepal and provides his expertise regarding the medical needs of the Nepalese who are served by Nepal SEEDS.
In addition to his involvement with Nepal SEEDS and Nepal, he has done Ophthalmology overseas work in Papua, New Guinea and El Salvador.
He is also involved with volunteer activities around the United States and helps co-ordinate medical exchange programs between Israel and Canton, Ohio and Boca Raton, FL.
Cris has spent a good part of her life exploring and guiding in the little-known as well as the well-known places around the globe. In addition to co-founding and managing her own adventure travel company for eleven years, she worked as the program manager for REI Adventures focusing primarily on Asia and Africa destinations. Prior to that, she was a tenured faculty member at Green River College and Western Washington University in outdoor education for nearly twelve years.
Cris has known KP Kafle for many years both as a business partner in Nepal and as a good friend. Since her first trek in Nepal with KP, she has always felt that Nepal is a small country with a large heart. The natural scenery is beyond superlatives! But, it is the kindness and warmth of the people of Nepal that captured Cris’ heart and led to her desire to serve as a SEEDS board member.
Chuck met and trekked with KP over 13 years ago. During that trek, he discovered some beautiful Nepali paper stationery products, made from the locally grown Lokta tree.
Upon his return to the U.S. he founded NepalesePaper.com to import and sell Nepali paper items, and continues to run that business today.
Chuck lives in Sonoma County, California with his wife Adora, two dogs and one mean cat.
Linda has worked and volunteered in non-profit service organizations for over 30 years, much of that time with a focus on outdoor adventure programs for people with disabilities. She brings to the board many years of experience in both strategic planning and fundraising.
Linda first visited Nepal in 1973, and returned in the spring of 2011 to trek with KP Kafle, where she learned about SEEDS. Linda has traveled in Africa, Asia, Europe and Scandinavia, sometimes with her partner who works in international public health with a focus on population issues and women’s health.
Both her work and her travels have made her aware of what a delicate proposition it is to "help" in a way that is respectful and empowering; she strongly supports SEEDS cost-effective community partnership project model.
Seth was born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal. He worked as a trekking guide and travelled all over Nepal. In course of his work and travels, he experienced the challenges and daily living requirements of village life and the poverty of his people. Seth has been touched by the lives of those numerous “ordinary” people and is committed to doing all he can to give them an opportunity to raise their living standard. He has been involved with the Nepal SEEDS since its initiation.
In addition, Seth has been a volunteer for Food Runners San Francisco every Saturday since 2000. He is currently the Operation Manager at Everest Waterproofing and Restoration in San Francisco, California. Most recently Seth married and he and his wife, also from Nepal, reside in San Francisco.
Barbara is a co-founder of Nepal SEEDS with a 25 year history of involvement with the people of Nepal. She began trekking in Nepal in 1986, organized cultural and art tours of Nepal, established a Nepali import business and spearheaded the formation of the Nepal SEEDS organization in 1997.
Many thanks to Nick Lederer, one of our founding directors. Nick recently resigned from our Board after many years of dedicated service. He will concentrate on the organization he founded- Golden Gate Senior Services. Nick's insight was always valued and we will miss him!
Sabra inspired all who knew her. She was a compassionate, committed humanitarian who loved Nepal and its people. We will always remember her devotion to Nepal SEEDS.