World Youth International


Our global partner 


 In 2018, we entered into a five-year agreement with the WYI School in Gokarna, Nepal, after our employees selected it as our primary global project. Since then, Change A Life has funded a range of improvements to the school, including upgrades to classrooms and other facilities, extending the school program into Years 11 and 12, and supporting improvements to the quality of education provided. World Youth International is an Australian-based charity committed to enhancing health, quality of life, strengthening communities and reducing poverty through sustainable development projects.

Our close partnership with WYI was recognised with the Gold Award for Most Innovative Charity and Employer Relationship in the 2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards (convened by Workplace Giving Australia). The judging panel described our relationship with WYI as “an authentic and growing partnership with great engagement.”

Our funding commitment to the WYI school in Gokarna is over AUD 1.3 million through 2022.




Progress at the WYI School during FY21

During the past year or so, the school’s work has, unfortunately, been interrupted by lengthy lockdowns triggered by Covid outbreaks in Nepal. Despite these challenges, the school has continued to support its students through remote learning programs. Computershare has provided additional emergency funding, helping to pay salaries and retain the majority of their skilled teachers. Staff have developed a range of online and at-home study resources to enable students to continue their education. Despite the challenges the school has faced, its enrolment has grown from 508 to 598 during the most recent school intake.

Completion of the new ‘Change A Life’ student boarding home

The construction of the new on-campus student boarding home was completed this year. The new facility will be home to 25 male and 25 female students undertaking Years 11 and 12, a great benefit for students who find it difficult to make the daily trip to and from school, especially during the monsoon season. These boarding students will be supported by on-site staff, have extended access to the computer room and other study resources and benefit from a safe and engaging co-ed community. An official opening date will be confirmed once furnishings have been purchased and operational arrangements have been finalised. Boarding fees and scholarships will help to make the WYI school self-sustainable into the future.



 Meet students and staff at the WYI school
Sumitra Nepali

After losing their parents when she was young, Sumitra and her brother lived in the Sapana Dreaming Children’s Home while studying at the WYI School. Sumitra completed her schooling in 2014 with outstanding results, and continued with her studies after school. She completed higher secondary (the final two years of secondary school) and is now studying a bachelor’s degree at Orient College in Kathmandu. While studying, Sumitra is also working at IAE Global, assisting students with accessing opportunities for studying abroad.

Sumitra is an intelligent, confident and enthusiastic young woman with many opportunities available to her. This can be attributed to the quality of education she received at the WYI School and through the loving home provided to her and her brother at Sapana Children’s Dreaming Home.

Anju

Anju has attended the WYI School since nursery as a sponsored student. Coming from a family of seven, her parents struggle financially, and Anju would not be able to further her studies if it wasn’t for the sponsorship. She is a grade-A student who studies hard to achieve top results as well as a strong athlete who has won many medals. Anju is very appreciative for the support she receives, and is extremely optimistic that she can achieve her desired goals as a result of the continuous sponsorship.

Bina Shrestha

Bina was enrolled at the WYI School as a sponsored child at the age of three. Her family was struggling financially and would not have been able to provide her with an education if she had not been sponsored to attend school. She completed her school leaving certificate in 2013 and achieved 87% in her final exam, which is an exceptional result. Bina’s hard work and dedication to her studies enabled her to enroll in nursing college. She has now completed her studies and is working as a nurse at the Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Gokarna.

Bina has a fantastic outlook on life and through receiving a quality education, now has a much greater quality of life and is able to support herself and her family financially.

Anita

Anita attended the WYI School as a sponsored student from the age of four. Her family was suffering financially and the sponsorship enabled Anita to continue her education. Anita graduated from the school in 2014 with outstanding results and commenced a Bachelor of English at Jaya Multiple College. She is currently working as an English teacher at the WYI School and has a fantastic outlook on life. Through receiving the financial support towards a quality education, she now has a much greater quality of life and is able to support herself and her family financially.


Trek Nepal


In 2018, a team of 33 Computershare employees from the UK, Channel Islands, Europe and South Africa completed an arduous six-day trek through the foothills of the Annapurna range, after raising more than AU$290,000 to begin the construction of a boarding home on the WYI School campus. In 2019, it was the turn of 21 of our employees from Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong to do the same – they raised more than AU$195,000 to complete the boarding home construction.

Both treks finished with visits to the WYI School, a festive day of performances from the students, sporting contests and joyous celebrations. 

Sadly, our planned trek for employees from the US and Canada in 2020 had to be cancelled due to Covid, but we have plans for a virtual trek for all of our employees to participate in during the coming year.