Oda foundation, Kalikot, Nepal

The Oda Foundation, established in 2013 in Nepal’s remote Kalikot district, began in a humble cowshed and now provides essential healthcare, education, agriculture, and community empowerment programs. Founded by Karan Singh and John Christopher after a personal loss to pneumonia, the foundation runs a clinic serving over 600 patients monthly, promotes literacy, tackles malnutrition through on-campus farming, and empowers locals by hiring 95% Nepali staff and advancing gender equity. Recently, it launched an agroecology project in partnership with Fastenaktion to improve food security for 600 households—especially marginalized Dalit communities—by promoting sustainable farming practices and reducing dependence on market-bought food.

“My dream in the Oda Foundation’s agroecology project is to empower Kalikot’s communities toward sustainable farming. I want to create spaces for shared learning, promote eco-friendly practices, and help build a future rooted in food sovereignty and self-reliance.”