From Student to Teacher: How One Sponsor Helped Khendo Lama Change Her Community
In the rural village of Melamchi Ghyang, Nepal, access to education can be the difference between a life of limited opportunity and one filled with possibility. For Khendo Lama, that difference was made by one person: her sponsor, Kristen.
Khendo grew up in a humble family. Her father is a farmer, her mother a housewife, and together they worked hard to support Khendo and her brother. Like many children in rural communities, continuing education beyond the basics was not guaranteed.
Khendo Lama at Melamchi Ghyang Secondary School
But Kristen’s sponsorship changed that path entirely.
Through her sponsor’s consistent support, Kendo was able to attend and complete her education at Shree Melamchi Ghyang Secondary School—something that might not have been possible otherwise. More than financial assistance, Kristen’s belief in Kendo gave her the confidence to keep going.
With that foundation, Khendo took an extraordinary next step.
She went on to attend Xavier, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in business—a milestone not only for herself, but for her family and her entire community.
And then, she made a remarkable choice.
Khendo returned home.
Khendo with Tseringʻs Fund Founder, Peter Schmieding during a visit in October 2025.
She came back to the very school where her journey began—Shree Melamchi Ghyang Secondary School—and became a teacher. In that moment, the impact of sponsorship came full circle. A student who was once supported by a sponsor was now standing at the front of a classroom, shaping the futures of other children just like her.
Students at Shree Melamchi Ghyang School where Khendo attended school and where she taught.
Her presence in the classroom meant more than lessons—it meant representation, encouragement, and hope. Her students could see what was possible because she was living proof.
A classroom of young students at Shree Melamchi Ghyang school.
With a continued drive to grow, Khendo stepped away from teaching to pursue her Master’s degree. Her journey is still unfolding—but each step continues to create a ripple effect far beyond herself.
This is the power of sponsorship.
And it’s also why programs like our Sponsor a Teacher initiative are so critical.
While student sponsorship opens doors for individual children, the Sponsor a Teacher program ensures that those doors stay open for entire communities. By supporting qualified, dedicated teachers in rural schools, we create consistent, high-quality educational opportunities for hundreds of students year after year.
Khendo’s story shows us what’s possible when both come together:
A student is given the chance to learn
She grows into a leader
She returns to serve her community
And she inspires the next generation
Behind that story is a sponsor who chose to invest not just in one child—but in a future teacher, a role model, and a community changemaker.
You can be part of this impact.
By sponsoring a teacher, you help ensure that students in even the most rural schools have access to the education—and the mentors—they deserve.