Birthright Nepal
Re-connecting the Nepali Diaspora with their homeland through immersive professional and cultural experiences
Programming
The Birthright Nepal Fellowship is an 8 week fellowship where Nepali Diaspora work in leading Nepali research institutes and non-profit organizations in Kathmandu to develop their professional accumen and contribute to Nepal's future. On the weekends, fellows will participate in cultural excursions as well a comprehesive language course to become closer to their Nepali heritage.
Purpose
We believe that it is every Nepali’s birthright to connect with their homeland through unique and enriching experiences. Birthright Nepal will cultivate these experiences through an 8-week fellowship and immersion program for recent graduates or young professionals from the Nepali Diaspora. These experiences are intended to help fellows achieve their professional goals, expand networks, and create ties with the homeland.
Meet the Team
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CEO and Co-Founder
Anmol Shrestha
Anmol Shrestha is the CEO and Co-Founder of Birthright Nepal. After his family won the Diversity Visa lottery in 2003, he moved from Kathmandu to Southern California where he now attends medical school at the California University of Science and Medicine. Anmol was inspired to create Birthright Nepal after working in rural Nepal for one year. There, his colleague’s 10-month-old baby, who was named after Anmol, died in a house fire. This led Anmol to reflect on the many systems that failed this family, from widespread poverty to the migration of skilled workers out of Nepal, which has further exacerbated health inequities. In creating Birthright Nepal, Anmol hopes to not only reconnect the Nepali Diaspora with their roots, but also return talent back to Nepal in hopes that no more children die from being born into a poor family. In his free time, Anmol enjoys reading, running, and helping save kittens from trees.
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Co-Founder & Policy Director
Deepti Ghimire
Deepti Ghimire is a co-founder and the Policy Director at Birthright Nepal. Born in Pokhara, she came to the US at a young age with her parents, eventually settling in Baltimore, Maryland. Growing up, Deepti always felt a sense of being stuck between two cultures which she later realized was a common phenomenon for many of her Nepali peers and other Diasporan youth. These personal experiences and a chance encounter with CEO Anmol Shrestha at a professional event inspired her to co-found Birthright Nepal so future generations may have unique opportunities to reconnect with their Nepali heritage and culture. In her spare time, Deepti enjoys traveling/spending time in nature, cooking up new recipes and creative writing.
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Co-Founder and Fellowship Recruitment Co-Lead
Hemanta Dhungel
Hemanta Dhungel, a co-founder of Birthright Nepal, was born in Jhapa, Nepal and moved to the United States at age 9. Overtime, she felt a growing disconnect from her homeland, despite her strong desire to give back. A trip back to Nepal in 2023 rekindled her connection and inspired her to join Anmol in helping found Birthright Nepal, aimed at helping Nepali diaspora students reconnect with their heritage. In her spare time, Hemanta enjoys exploring new cities and cuisines, and she has a particular love for mountain adventures. Her commitment to giving back to her community, both in the U.S. and Nepal, drives her mission with Birthright Nepal.
Co-Founder and Branding Director
Pooja Singh
Pooja Singh, co-founder of BirthRight Nepal, was born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, before moving to the U.S. at age 16. A health researcher and artist, she's into seeking truth and turning data into action. She loves exploring and gathering experiences, memories, and stories from the people and places she encounters. She's worked with communities in the field and understands the value of collaboration, and knowledge sharing in development. At a global health meet she'd hosted in LA, she met Anmol and instantly realized a shared vision. She joined the initiative eager to support creating more opportunities for emerging talents and local communities to connect and grow, not to mention the cultural immersion. #Nepalihoni
Co-Founder & Fellowship Recruitment Co-Lead
Rupak Bhandari
Rupak Bhandari, co-founder of Birthright Nepal, was born in Damak, Jhapa, and moved to the US at age 8. Through Birthright Nepal, Rupak hopes to reconnect young Nepali students in the diaspora with their cultural roots and heritage. With a deep passion for medicine and a keen interest in contributing back to Nepal, Rupak joined Anmol in creating potential opportunities that inspire the younger generation belonging to the Nepali diaspora to engage with their background. In his free time, Rupak enjoys playing cricket and perfecting the art of balancing a stethoscope while batting.
Outreach Coordinator
Kala Thapa
Kalasiddhi Thapa was born in Kathmandu, Nepal and moved to the US as a small child. She grew up in the Washington D.C. area and visits Nepal often whenever she can. As a sociologist passionate about global health, her interests lie in the intersections between health, education, and community. She has focused most of her career on investigating the factors of transnational ties between Nepal and the US, and is actively involved in giving back to the community through writing public sociology, participating in international programs, and networking in different settings to expand general knowledge about Nepal. She joined Birthright Nepal in hopes to initiate diasporic relationship building and facilitate a means for reconnecting working professionals to their Nepali roots. Kala is pursuing her Masters in Public Health at Boston University. Some of her interests include watching movies, trying new cuisines, dancing, and spending time with her friends and family.
Fellow Coordinator
Saisha Adhikari
Saisha Adhikari is a public health strategist who cares about how systems, people, and processes come together to improve health. She currently works as a Senior Analyst in Data Modernization & Informatics at a national public health association. Saisha was born in Nepal and grew up in Nebraska, where she became curious about why health outcomes differ so widely from place to place and person to person, whether shaped by culture, identity, neighborhood, or opportunity. She received her MPH from Boston University in 2023 and has worked across health systems, federal programs, university health, and the nonprofit space. In 2025, Saisha returned to Nepal as a Birthright Fellow, working with the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening program at Dhulikhel Hospital. The experience deepened her interest in global public health and gave her a cleaner view of what impactful, community-based work looks like in practice.
Country Coordinator
Anuradha Sharma
Anuradha Sharma is the Country Coordinator for Birthright Nepal, based in Kathmandu. She brings over eight years of professional experience in strategic communication working closely with national programs, international organizations, and diverse stakeholders. She holds a PhD in English Literature, with academic research focused on diaspora studies, identity, and transnational connections. In her role at Birthright Nepal, Anuradha oversees in‑country coordination and supports fellows’ engagement and learning experiences, bridging global perspectives with local contexts.When not coordinating, she is most interested in stories, dialogue, and creating spaces for thoughtful exchange.
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Co-Founder and Past Outreach Coordinator
Prashun Chanda [Alumni Member]
Prashun Chanda, a co-founder of Birthright Nepal, was born in Kathmandu, Nepal, and moved to the US at age 8, eventually graduating from high school in San Diego. Currently a medical student at LSU New Orleans, Prashun is passionate about pediatrics and enjoys running, traveling, and exploring coffee shops and bookstores in new cities. She co-founded Birthright Nepal after realizing a common experience among her peers—a deep desire to reconnect with their Nepali roots, yet uncertainty about how to do so. Inspired by this shared longing and Anmol's vision, Prashun joined Birthright Nepal to help bridge the gap between the diaspora and Nepal, creating opportunities for young people to rediscover their heritage and contribute to the future of their homeland.
Join the Fellowship
If you are passionate about making a difference in the Nepali community and want to immerse yourself in a unique professional development and cultural experience, we encourage you to enroll in our fellowship program.
