The main characters in the background of La Dhoka are two women: Laxmi Dhungel and Simone Moser. The Nepalese and the Swiss met during a stay abroad of Simone in 2008. The friendship resulted in the joint commitment “La Dhoka”.
Since 2009 La Dhoka is organized in Switzerland as an association with the same name. Important decisions are made jointly by Laxmi and the Swiss board. La Dhoka Switzerland is primarily responsible for securing financial resources and the association’s activities in Switzerland, while Laxmi, with the support of her husband BK and Staff plans and implements all administrative and operational activities in Nepal.
Nepal Management
Laxmi Dhungel (born 1984) – Project Manager in Nepal
Laxmi grew up in Lubhoo, Nepal. In the summer of 2009, she completed her Master’s degree in Social Development at Kirtipur University in Kathmandu. Laxmi has been married since 2011 and enjoys the full support of her parents and husband for her commitment. Even before La Dhoka was officially founded in March 2008, Laxmi was active on her own initiative: In 2006, she confidently founded the organization “Isabella Social Kiran Light Foundation”. She started taking in children from poor backgrounds in her parents’ home. She invested almost her entire salary from her teaching job at that time for “her” children and succeeded in inspiring her parents and friends for her unusual plans.
Laxmi is a very remarkable person. Between tradition and modernity, she has selflessly chosen to improve her environment and work for others. Her strong will finds expression in various situations and again and again she meets difficult situations with the sentence: “Don`t worry, we will manage!”
Since 2016, Laxmi, BK and their son Suryansh have been living together with the children under one roof, and the organization of the children’s home and Narighar has since been significantly simplified.
BK Bista – Laxmi`s husband
BK has become more and more a part of La Dhoka since his marriage to Laxmi in 2011. He teaches with heart and soul at a collage mathematics. It is not a matter of course – BK is very committed to the causes of La Dhoka and has become an indispensable part of it. He supports Laxmi with the tedious trips to the offices, helps with the organization of activities, takes care of the bookkeeping and supports our children/teens to the best of his ability.
Swiss Board
Simone Moser (born 1986) – President of the Swiss Association
After graduating, Simone first went out into the wide world. During two years she lived in India, New Zealand and Nepal. During this last trip, Laxmi and Simone founded La Dhoka. Back in Switzerland Simone studied to be a teacher. Since then, she has been teaching full-time at the primary level – as long as she is not living abroad or traveling.
Since the foundation of the project, Simone has traveled to Nepal again and again to evaluate ongoing projects together with Laxmi, to make plans and put them into action, and to get an up-to-date picture.
In the meantime, the project is running so independently that annual visits are no longer necessary. Simone is in constant contact and exchange with Laxmi.
Andreas Mäder – Communications/ Advertising
Soon after the project was founded in Nepal, the long-term scout colleague expressed his interest in actively helping with this project. A little later he founded the association La Dhoka together with Marcel Kessler and Simone Moser. Since then, he has always been readily available when there was something to organize for La Dhoka.
In his main occupation, Andreas works in the Arth Goldau Nature and Animal Park (Tierpark Goldau) in the field of visitor information and education.
„I think the project is brilliant and I admire this commitment. My motivation to support La Dhoka? Quite simply, we should pass on a little of the abundance to the less privileged. Or as Scout founder Baden Powell put it so beautifully: Leave the world a little better than you found it.“
Andreas Mäder
Marcel Kessler – IT Department (Website)
Marcel is also a founding member of the association La Dhoka. During a stay in Nepal in the founding year (2008), he was able to take a look at the beginnings of the project on site and was therefore easily convinced about a commitment to the board. Thanks to Marcel – computer scientist by profession – La Dhoka soon got a respectable website.
„I visited La Dhoka in Nepal and thought, ‘Wow, you have to support these two power women…’ no – not because they can’t do it themselves, but because they’re building up something so good! Now I am looking forward to supporting this small but fine project with passion.“
Marcel Kessler
Patricia Keller – Finance
Since the summer of 2011, Patricia Keller has been combing through La Dhoka’s transaction data, budgets and account statements, and it is thanks to her that we can always present a professional statement of accounts. With a bachelor’s degree in business administration as well as a federal diploma in auditing, Patricia is the ideal person to commit as our accountant/cashier.
„I have always been enthusiastic about the project and am pleased to be able to participate. I find it exciting to see into the project and to learn more about Nepal’s culture. In addition, it is a great life experience for me to participate in this association.“
Patricia Keller