About ISIS
The ISIS Foundation and The ISIS Foundation (UK) are sister charitable trusts, both based in Bermuda. Their mission is to make a positive difference to the lives of children in the developing world, primarily through health and educational programmes in Nepal and Uganda.
The charity is supported and managed by ISIS Limited, a small Bermuda-based corporate finance and consultancy business. ISIS Limited, and the Bermuda-registered Foundation (#508), were founded by Audette Exel and Sharon Beesley (better known as Bees) around eight years ago. These two women, best friends, established their business so that they could generate revenue to pay some project costs, together with head office and general administrative costs of The ISIS Foundation. The business is the ‘engine’, generating funds for the charity. With a little help from individual donors who have contributed to support some administration costs, all administration and general costs have been covered by ISIS Limited since inception. Since the Foundation was established, ISIS Limited has donated over US$1.2 million to the charity.
The beauty of this model is that donations to the Foundation go directly to activities that support Nepal and Uganda projects, not to Head Office running costs. Costs that ordinarily would be covered in your donation to other charities– like Head Office rent, the salary of the General Manager, postage, electricity – are paid for by Audette and Bees, out of the proceeds of their business. The model is all the more rare in that the charity is a ‘bottom line’ expense of the business – they don’t just fund it out of profits, they fund it first and foremost, before they pay themselves a salary. They are absolutely dedicated to running this charity, and have sweat blood and tears to do it!
The ISIS Foundation (UK) – registration number 1098152 – was established around two years ago to encourage UK residents to become involved in their work, which has expanded to such an extent that help is needed with funding and project management from more than just one jurisdiction.
The ISIS Foundation has undertaken long-term commitments to improving the lives of children in Nepal (Kathmandu and the Humla region, in northwestern Nepal) and Uganda (Kampala and the Luwero district, in central Northern Uganda). The Foundation works with partner organisations in both countries, preferring to employ local staff wherever possible.
Other than Audette and Bees, who work voluntarily and tirelessly for the Foundation, the staff at The ISIS Foundation directly involved in work in Nepal include:
Leonie Exel, General Manager. Leo has been running The ISIS Foundation for around five years, and plans on doing so until she takes her last breath.
Dr. Kimber Haddix-McKay, Humla and Research Manager. She works part-time from Montana, USA, focusing on ISIS projects in Humla, and research projects in both Nepal and Uganda. She is an anthropologist who did her PhD on ‘polyandry’ in Humla, a marriage system where women marry a whole family of brothers.
Deb Lester is a specialist Neonatal ICU Nurse. Deb coordinates ISIS work in Uganda, including running a medical volunteer and advisory programme. While she is largely focussed on ISIS work in Africa, she has also acted as an ISIS medical advisor regarding problems encountered with individual children ISIS support in Kathmandu, referring complex medical issues to a team of experts in the USA.
ISIS Children’s Homes – Management and Administration
Pema Tsering Gurung is the Manager of the ISIS Children’s Homes. He has a degree in psychology, and prior to starting with ISIS, he was the Vice Principal of a boarding school for mountain children in Kathmandu. Pema joined ISIS in December 2005 and is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the ISIS Children’s Homes – ensuring that all the ISIS children have the best possible care and opportunities to realise their potential.
Kailash Khadka joined ISIS in November 2006 as the Field and Residential Staff Manager. Kailash is a licensed lawyer and member of the Nepal Bar Council. Kailash is also a software engineer and has 5 years management and administration experience prior to joining ISIS. Kailash is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the children’s homes and the management of all field and residential staff.
Sonam Tsomo is the ISIS Account Officer in Kathmandu. Sonam’s mother and father escaped from Tibet into Nepal, where Sonam was born. She completed her secondary education at the Tibetan Government Namgyal Higher Secondary School in Kathmandu. Sonam received a full scholarship from the Tibetan Government in Exile, and thus was able to complete her Bachelor in Business Studies, at Everest College in Kathmandu. She came to ISIS from a background in charity work with children. The extent of her commitment to ISIS children is shown by her need to travel to work by public bus each morning and night, which takes 1.5 hours each way through dusty Kathmandu streets.
Sangita Lamsal is the Assistant to the Accounts Officer for The ISIS Foundation, Nepal. She has a Bachelor of Management in Tax and Audit and worked previously in an audit firm in Kathmandu. Sangita is responsible for making sure that ISIS has all the necessary financial reporting processes for meeting our obligations as an INGO and NGO.
Palin Subba is the ISIS Office Secretary. She is studying towards her Bachelor degree in Humanities and has worked as a secretary in a private company and an NGO in Kathmandu. Palin is responsible for office management, including record-keeping, meeting organisation, reception duties and support to the ISIS Managers.
ISIS Children’s Homes – Field Staff
The field staff in the ISIS Children’s Homes work across all ten homes, resourcing Home Parents and providing training and assistance to kids and Home Parents in their specialist areas. This ensures that the kids are treated equally and that the Home Parents as a group receive huge help to nurture all the children in their care.
Sonam Sherpa joined ISIS in May 2006 as the Education Manager. She worked as a teacher in English Medium School prior to joining ISIS. Sonam is responsible for organising and managing the educational placements of all the ISIS children. She monitors the kids’ educational progress and arranges additional tutoring and support for kids who need it. Over the past year, with Sonam’s help, all the ISIS children have shown real improvement in their educational achievements.
Sushma Thapa is the Medical Manager for ISIS. Sushma is a trained nurse and worked with the Safe Motherhood Innovation project prior to joining ISIS. Sushma is responsible for the coordination of all health-related programs in the ISIS homes. She organises care and treatment for individual children in the ISIS homes as well as health promotion, awareness, quality of care and prevention training for kids and Home Parents.
Yeshi Lama was born in Humla, Nepal. He moved to Kathmandu to study and now is part-way through a commerce degree. Yeshi’s role initially was to provide on the ground support for children both in the ISIS homes as well as in the homes supported by ISIS in Kathmandu, buying supplies, managing home help staff, and taking kids to medical appointments and to hospital. Yeshi has now taken on the role as Post-School Options Manager. He is responsible for helping the kids to understand their interests, skills and opportunities and to help them plan for their future careers, beyond school.
Sujata Bantawa joined ISIS as a Home Parent and has recently been appointed as the Activity Manager for the ISIS Homes. Sujata has a Bachelors degree in Sociology and has worked previously as an English teacher and academic counsellor. Sujata is responsible for coordination of extra-curricula activities and programs, such as sports days and cultural events, across all the ISIS homes. Sujata also has the role of encouraging kids to have contact with their siblings in Kathmandu, and organising the logistics of getting them together regularly.
Raja Wani is the ISIS Services Manager. His job is to manage all the ISIS facilities, including the homes and office premises. Raja has worked in business and logistics management for 8 years, prior to joining ISIS. Raja is tireless in negotiating with our suppliers, landlords, and homes staff to make sure that the kids live in the best possible and most comfortable environment.
Soni Singh worked as an interior designer prior to commencing her study for a Masters of Sociology. Soni works part-time with Dr Kimber Haddix McKay as the Research Officer for The ISIS Foundation. Soni is responsible for collecting and analysing data on the children – we are measuring the changes in the children’s educational performance, health, and happiness, to make sure that we do indeed make a positive difference in the lives of these children.
Home Parents & Caregivers (called Didi and Dhais)
The ISIS Children’s Homes have 14 Home Parents and over 40 Didis and Dhais who are resident in the homes.
The Home Parents are all tertiary qualified and have experience in working with children in the past. They are a dynamic group and are working as a team to ensure that the potential of the kids is maximised. There are 14 Home Parents – 4 more than the number of homes – to cover for periods of annual and sick leave, and for the one day and night off per week that each home parent has.
The Didis and Dhais provide cooking, cleaning, laughter and hugs in each home. There are 3-4 people who do all the day to day duties in the home – there are ‘floating’ Didis and Dhais as well, to cover for periods of leave.
Please click here for organisation charts of The ISIS Foundation’s formal structure, and to view our project work in Nepal and Uganda.
