Our Story

When our co-founder Karan Singh's father fell ill with pneumonia, he left Oda for the city in search of treatment. There, he discovered that the treatment he needed was beyond what he could afford. Determined to earn the money that might save his life, he set out for India in search of work - but he lost his life on the way. At fourteen, Karan followed that same road to India, selling his mother's silver bangle to pay for the journey. He worked as a dishwasher, sleeping beneath a restaurant sink at night, and slowly worked his way up, from dishwasher to rafting guide, and eventually manager of an entire rafting company. Yet no matter how far he went, Oda remained home. Every year, he returned carrying medicines and school supplies for the village that had raised him.

In 2013, Karan met John Christopher, who was volunteering in Nepal. Together, they traveled to Oda, where John was welcomed into homes across the village, sharing meals and stories with local families. 

During his visit, he fell ill and experienced firsthand what the community had lived with for generations: lack of healthcare. For Karan, this reality had shaped his childhood. For John, it became a beginning of a long meaningful journey ahead. From there on, together with the community, they transformed Karan's mother's cowshed into Oda's first medical clinic. In 2016, local families, including Karan's own donated land to build a permanent hospital. Today, it operates 24 hours a day, providing essential healthcare and a birthing center for thousands of people across the region. 

But healthcare alone could not transform a community.

Healthy children still needed quality education. Families needed sustainable livelihoods. Women, despite being at the heart of their communities, still faced barriers to economic opportunity and decision-making. As Oda Foundation Nepal grew alongside the community, it became clear that these challenges were deeply connected - and that lasting change meant addressing them together.

Oda Foundation then expanded from healthcare into education, revitalizing schools across Mahawai Rural Municipality. From there, our work grew to address challenges of food security, gender inequality, public health, and economic development. 

Today, Oda Foundation Nepal takes a holistic approach to community development. Our programmes are designed not as separate projects, but as interconnected pathways that improve health, education, economic opportunity, and gender equality together.