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Two Whitman College sophomores have been awarded a $10,000 grant through , a program that supports young peacebuilders and encourages undergraduate students to design innovative, community-centered projects that are scalable to respond to the world’s most pressing issues.

This summer, and major Sunita Nepali ’27 and - major Sol Tran ’27 will travel to Nepal to implement their project titled “Gyanko Pul, Computer Literacy Project for Nepali Students.”

The Nepali phrase “gyanko pul” translates to “a bridge in education,” and the students’ project aims to address education inequality by building a computer literacy program in Nepal. The grant will fund the purchase of 20 computers, which will be donated to in Karaputar, Lamjung, Nepal. The school, which serves more than 500 students from preschool to grade 12, currently has a single computer lab with only eight computers. The two Whitman students will set up the new computers, prepare an instructional booklet on basic software skills (in English and Nepali) and lead an initial computer literacy program.

Making an Impact Close to Home

Growing up in Nepal, Nepali had limited exposure and access to computers due to a lack of resources at the schools she attended—including Kusumakar Secondary School. When she was accepted to a in Norway, she initially found it challenging to adapt to a setting where computer use was standard.

That challenge is shared by many other Nepali students. According to the World Bank, in 2021 only 42% of schools in Nepal provided access to computers, the majority of which were private schools. 

“I am passionate about creating positive changes that foster peace and sustainability,  and this opportunity serves as a milestone for pursuing that mission,” Nepali says. “I am confident that the experience and learning gained from this project will further shape my career by enhancing my collaboration and problem solving skills.”

When Nepali and Tran received the notification of the award, they found the moment surreal and deeply emotional.

“It gave us a profound sense of purpose,” says Tran. “More than anything, I felt immense gratitude for the opportunity to turn an idea we care so much about into something tangible. We hope to create opportunities for young students to explore and bridge the gap in education, just as Whitman has encouraged us to do.”