In 2008, a young boy named Khemraj Shahi left his home in Kalikot and arrived in Kathmandu, where he found a new start with Papa’s House, a local NGO. There, he grew up learning, studying, and navigating life in Nepal’s bustling capital — planting the seeds of resilience and leadership that would shape his future.

In 2019, Philip Freeman arrived in Nepal as a volunteer through Papa’s House. For five months, he taught and explored, and during that time, he crossed paths with Khemraj. Back then, they were just friends — going on small adventures and sharing conversations, with Khemraj running a tour company in Kathmandu and Philip soon returning home to begin his university studies.

Philip and Khemraj in 2019

But after the first COVID-19 lockdown, Philip returned to Nepal with a different mindset: one of longer-term commitment. This time, Khemraj invited him to a rural village in eastern Nepal, where he was working as an accountant for a hydropower project.

It was there that a simple act of kindness sparked something bigger. Seeing the struggles of a low-caste single mother trying to support her family, Khemraj and Philip teamed up to organize a GoFundMe, building her a small pig farm and improving her home with materials and beds. That project — pulling together community labor, local resources, and a spirit of shared purpose — became a defining moment.

Sitting together afterward, Khemraj shared his dream: “I want to do this kind of work in my own village.”

Philip in Sanni Triveni in 2021

That dream led them west — farther than Philip had ever been — to Khemraj’s home village in western Nepal. There, they witnessed firsthand the deep cultural and social challenges: generational gaps, traditions at risk of being lost, and a community grappling with the pressures of modern Nepali life. They began by listening — sitting with elders, youth, and families — asking what mattered most, what problems weighed on them, and what dreams they still held.

From those early conversations, No Limits Nepal was born.

Khemraj & Philip with volunteers in 2024

Starting with small programs in schools and community spaces, Khemraj and Philip worked to ignite local dialogue, identify grassroots solutions, and spark pride and empowerment from within. Over time, No Limits Nepal grew into an official nonprofit — driven by the belief that real change comes not from charity alone, but from honoring local wisdom, nurturing cultural resilience, and breaking through the limits that hold communities back.

Today, No Limits Nepal stands as a bridge between local dreams and global solidarity — committed to building a future where Nepal’s rural communities not only survive but thrive.