The Oda Foundation

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The Oda Foundation

The Oda Foundation, based in Kalikot, Nepal focuses on fostering community empowerment through health, education and livelihood opportunities.

“Oda Foundation is actually life-saving. It is a game-changer. It is rewarding to be here for work that is this important. Change takes a long time, but bringing the community together is the best thing we can do.”
- Aryashree Aryal, Education Manager 2019--2021

OUR VISION
Headquartered in the district of Kalikot, our initiatives in healthcare, education, and community support have become critic

al, lifesaving services. Hand-in-hand with local leaders, private partners, and government offices, we develop community-led solutions, helping Nepal’s most impoverished and remote communities to thrive. Since being founded in 2013, we have taken a long-term approach to building relationships, hiring a 95% local, Nepali team. In 2016, the Kalikot District Development Committee recognized Oda Foundation as Kalikot’s most effective health and education organization. Founded by an Oda native (he lives up in the village, next to where he grew up), we have hired a Nepali team who understand growing up and living in Kalikot. KALIKOT, NEPAL
Kalikot District and the village of Oda are located in Nepal’s Karnali Zone, an area enduring a “Silent Emergency” (UNICEF). The mountainous region is accessible by only one road, with many villages like Oda only accessible by hours on foot. Nepal is the 12th poorest country in the world, and on many measures, Kalikot is its most deprived region. Our communities struggle with malnutrition and extreme poverty, and they have difficulty accessing professional health care and education. Gender and caste discrimination block women’s access to economic opportunity, education, and equal healthcare. WE CHANGE LIVES
- We built a community center and hospital on land contributed by over 15 local families.
- Our clinic provides high-quality healthcare plus emergency care 24/7. We average 600+ patient visits a month.
- In our landmark partnership with the public school, Shree Tila Model School, we are working hand-in-hand with local educators and officials to repair a broken education system.
- Learn more about our life-changing and live-saving work at odafoundation.org

15/05/2026

Education is about exchanging ideas, sharing knowledge, and creating transformation.

This week, we welcome five young volunteers from Nitin Memorial School, Kathmandu, through a meaningful collaboration with NAG. We sincerely thank Nicole and the NAG family for making this journey possible. The volunteers will stay with us for the next two months. During their time here, they will work closely with government schools in our community, support classroom learning, and help run tuition classes. But this journey is not only about teaching, but it is also about learning. By staying in a rural village and living closely with the community, the volunteers will also learn from our culture, daily life, local knowledge, and the strength of our communities.

We believe this exchange will inspire students, strengthen learning, and build lasting connections.

If you would like to be part of this journey, please visit our website: www.odafoundation.org

09/05/2026

In the mountains of Oda Kalikot, Nepal, the rhythm of life is changing with the season.

Our communities have finished harvesting wheat and are now preparing the fields for rice planting in the coming month. The hills are alive with color, flowers are blooming, trees are glowing green, and the songs of birds fill the air each morning.

It is a beautiful reminder of the deep connection between people, land, and hope. At Oda Foundation Nepal, we are grateful to walk alongside these communities as they nurture both the earth and the future.

07/05/2026

Today, we celebrate a very special person, our co-founder, John Christopher’s birthday. 🎉From the hills and villages of ODA to the hearts of the communities we work alongside, your kindness, vision, and dedication continue to inspire us every day. Thank you for believing in communities, for standing with people in rural Nepal, and for helping build ODA with compassion and purpose. Wishing you good health, happiness, and another meaningful year ahead. Happy Birthday, John! 🎂❤️

01/05/2026

Sometimes, meaningful journeys begin by stepping beyond what feels comfortable.

Born and raised in Kathmandu, Sakrina Kunwar grew up distant from the realities of Nepal’s remote rural landscapes. Yet, as an Agricultural Engineer, she found herself increasingly drawn toward the questions that matter most today and that is, how do we build resilient farming systems, support communities on the frontlines of climate change, and make agriculture truly sustainable?
That curiosity led her to agroecology. And that calling led her to Karnali.
We are delighted to welcome Sakrina to ODA Foundation Nepal as our Agroecology Project Coordinator in Kalikot, one of the most remote regions of Nepal. Choosing to work in a place far removed from her comfort zone reflects not just professional commitment, but a deeper purpose: to learn from the land, engage with communities, and contribute where the need is greatest.
At ODA Foundation Nepal, we believe change happens when knowledge meets lived experience. Sakrina brings with her technical expertise, a willingness to listen, and the courage to immerse herself in new realities. As she begins this journey in Karnali, she will be working closely with the local community to strengthen agroecological practices and support more sustainable, resilient livelihoods.
Her story is a reminder that sometimes, impact begins with the simple decision to go where it matters most.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Sakrina to the ODA family 🌱

25/04/2026

Financial Literacy Training at ODA Foundation

Day 1 focused on building the foundations of group saving and loan management—key pillars for strengthening community-led economic resilience.

Day 2 shifted towards the importance of fiscal discipline to ensure project sustainability. The training blended theory with practical application, including hands-on activities such as developing passbook templates and a “bucket and water” team-building exercise, highlighting the shared responsibility in financial management.
Participants are now better equipped with essential knowledge on documentation standards, practical tools for real-life saving groups, and a deeper understanding of accountability practices.
A special thank you to our Finance Officer, Mr. Avinash Gupta, for leading this training with dedication and expertise. We also sincerely appreciate our Agro-Ecology team for coordinating the sessions and bringing together participants from diverse communities.

Would you like to engage with our future training workshopshttps://www.odafoundation.org/

17/04/2026

Career Counselling 👩‍⚕️👨‍🌾 A full-day interactive career counselling program took place. 250 students had the chance to hear from a diverse group of professionals— including the Chief District Officer, police and army representatives, counselors, agriculture experts, local business owners, and education leaders. Students could then ask questions, share their concerns, and learn about these different career paths and opportunities.

Why is this important? After the SEE Education Exam, many local students feel uncertain about their future and are unaware of the career options available to them. Some move to cities for further studies, while others migrate to India for work, following traditional paths. Others continue facing challenges of early marriage and limited access to guidance and support. Career counselling aims to change this, widening students’ knowledge and providing career support.

This program was made possible through the support of Kanthari Foundation, Fastenaktion,
and collaborating with EcoHimal, and the local government of Mahawai Rural Municipalities. Thank you.

We aim to host the career counselling program on a yearly basis. Interested in supporting us? Visit https://www.odafoundation.org/

10/04/2026

Prenatal and Baby Nutrition Training at Oda 🤱🍏

Every month, our team at Oda Foundation organizes training workshops for mothers, focusing on healthy nutrition during and after pregnancy. These sessions are led collaboratively by our Agroecology team and hospital team, ensuring both practical and medical guidance for every mother.

During the training, our hospital staff is present to provide individual consultations and answer questions, while our agroecology team shares knowledge on using locally available, home-grown food. Together, we encourage mothers to move away from packaged and processed foods and instead rely on nutritious local produce to help raise stronger and healthier children.

This initiative is carried out in collaboration with the Mahawai Rural Municipality, strengthening community health through shared effort and local partnership.

And if you feel connected to this work and would like to be part of this journey, we warmly invite you to reach out and join us. https://www.odafoundation.org/

Nepal MahawaiRuralMunicipality

06/04/2026

Under our Alternative Education Program, sir, walked us through the progress and impact of our work, joined by and Andrea from Kanthari.
Grateful for this moment of shared vision and collaboration.

03/04/2026

A visit from Kanthari Foundation 🇨🇭🇮🇳 This week we welcomed Andrea and Tanja, the president and the managing director of Kanthari Foundation from Switzerland. This is a partnership that began in 2023 when Karan, co-founder of Oda, joined their leadership course in India. From then, Kanthari has generously been supporting Oda’s Alternative Education program, SkillHer project, and the ambulance service. We look forward to continued collaboration, impacting the lives of youth and single women. Learn more at https://www.odafoundation.org/

27/03/2026

School material donation with Rotary Club Kathmandu 🎒📓 Last week, Mr Rajendra, president of Rotary Club Kathmandu, visited Oda Foundation to donate school bags and notebooks to students of the local school. These are vital items for local children, whose families often can not afford any school supplies. Oda is grateful to be working with Rotary Club Kathmandu- a successful partnership that began 6 years ago. Past projects include building a girls toilet and distributing school uniforms. Together, we work towards the mission of quality education and collaboration with the government.
Learn more about Oda’s efforts in education at https://www.odafoundation.org/education

Address

Kalikot

Telephone

+19548171446

Website

https://secure.giveworks.net/odafoundation/donate

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