24/11/2024
Heartfelt Condolence to Dr. Frédéric Perrier
With profound sorrow, we bid farewell to Dr. Frédéric Perrier, a visionary and compassionate soul whose remarkable journey left an indelible mark on countless lives, including ours.
Dr. Perrier first arrived in Nepal in the 1980s, where he fell deeply in love with the country’s culture, especially Tibetan traditions and Buddhism. His journey eventually led him to meet Mrs Nicole Wick from Switzerland who also has dedicated her whole life to NAG in 1992 at Boudhanath Stupa, where he was already feeding breakfast to homeless children. Together, they founded the Nawa Asha Griha (NAG), a home for the hopeless that transformed into a sanctuary of hope for those who had lost all.
We were one of the fortunate children who found a second chance at life through NAG in 1995. At NAG, we were given everything a child needs to grow—clothing, food, education, and most importantly, love and care. From where I got my education till high school and spent my childhood.
Dr. Perrier’s dedication was unmatched. He found sponsors for children, including my own sponsor from France, Mr. Thomas Raphael and other founding members of MEI's sponsors too.
Twice a year, he visited us, carrying letters and gifts from our sponsors despite the challenges of travelling with so much luggage. His actions were a testament to his unwavering love for us.
He made our childhood magical, organizing outings to Boudhanath, the zoo, swimming, and even trips to places like Gorkha, Lumbini, Kolkata where we had an opportunity to travel on train and underground metro and Digha where we had an opportunity to swim in the Indian Ocean. These experiences broadened our horizons, helping us dream beyond our circumstances.
His passion for education extended to science projects, where we could explore the Mars, Saturn more planets and moon through a telescope he brought to our school.
Dr. Perrier’s efforts didn’t stop at providing us with opportunities; he nurtured us with world-class educational resources and endless encouragement. Thanks to him, children from remote villages without basic infrastructure received the same level of education as elite schools in developed nations.
Dr. Perrier’s legacy extends far beyond NAG. The seeds of hope to hopelessness or a second chance in life to those we have lost hopes; his dream with this vision and mission has grown into new initiatives in Nepal. Inspired by his and Mrs Nicole Miss work, some of us have carried forward his initiaves, founding organizations like Maya Education Initiatives, started by Ex-Nagers students and Ex-volunteers of NAG Mrs Sina Tanner (The President Of MEI, and others like Mr. Wangle Lama and Khem Raj Puri are also running the same projects. These endeavors are all rooted back to NAG, the home he, and Nicole Wick built together.
Today, we mourn the loss of a father figure, a mentor, and a beacon of hope. Dr. Perrier, your kindness and love will be remembered for generations to come. Your legacy will live on through the thousands of lives you touched and the projects you inspired.
Rest in eternal peace, dear sir. You will forever remain in our hearts.
Sina Tanner Lars Stettler MEI School Jotsna Tamang Draupati Tamang