Som Paneru

Founding President, Ullens Education Foundation

Som Paneru is from Nepal and is a Social Entrepreneur. He has vast experience in charity management as well as in developing educational institution. He is the founding President of Ullens Education Foundation in Kathmandu that established Ullens School in 2006 (www.ullens.edu.np). The Ullens School is well known for its unique financial model, an extraordinary social enterprise and philosophy of inclusiveness. Ullens School is now considered as one of the best independent schools in Nepal in terms of education quality as it offers truly a world class education. It is the first and still the only IB World School in Nepal. The school runs from K-12 and has 800 students, 120 academic faculties and 150 non-teaching staff. Som’s vision and imaginative leadership has made Ullens School an iconic academic institution in Nepal in a very short period of time.

Som is also serving as the President of Nepal Youth Foundation, a public charity registered in California (www.nepalyouthfoundation.org) but has programs only in Nepal. Som joined this organization in 1995, 20 years ago, and climbed the ladder all the way from Social Worker to the President in 2012. The NYF works for the welfare of underprivileged children and youth in Nepal, predominantly in giving access to good education and healthcare. The organization has transformed the lives of over 50,000 Nepalese youngsters. He led the very successful anti-slavery movement in Nepal against a practice of enslaving young girls, named Kamlari Practice, and liberated over 12,000 young girls from slavery and played an instrumental role in its abolition.

Som is a graduate of University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK where he earned his M.A. in International Child Welfare.

Events Som Paneru has attended as a speaker: