Mr. Som Paneru

Som is the founding President of the Ullens Education Foundation (UEF) and the driving force behind its growth since 2006. Under his leadership, UEF has established and nurtured several leading academic institutions in Nepal, including Ullens School in Lalitpur, Ullens School Kathmandu, Ullens College, Ullens Center for Educator Development and Ullens LEAP. These institutions reflect Som’s long-standing belief in high-quality, student-centered education grounded in strong values and ethical practice.

Alongside his work at the UEF, Som currently serves as the President of Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF), a California-based international NGO. He joined NYF in 1995 as a social worker and steadily rose through the organization, becoming its international president in 2012, succeeding its founder, Olga Murray. Over nearly three decades, his leadership has helped shape NYF into one of the most impactful child welfare organizations working in Nepal.

Som’s professional journey began in the classroom. In the early 1990s, he taught Mathematics and Science in public schools in Gorkha, Solukhumbu and Kathmandu. Those formative years as a teacher deeply influenced his understanding of education as a powerful tool for social transformation, particularly for children from marginalized communities. This conviction led him to dedicate his life to child rights, youth empowerment and institutional development.

Born into a modest farming family in rural Gorkha District, Som grew up as one of nine siblings, experiencing economic hardship and social inequities firsthand. His education was made possible through scholarships and the generosity of supporters, from grade eight through his Master’s degree. These experiences not only shaped his professional path but also gave him a deep, personal understanding of injustice, the importance of opportunity and ‘giving back’ mindset. He later earned a Master’s degree in International Child Welfare from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom through the British Chevening Scholarship.

In 1996, while working at NYF, Som was invited to help stabilize and manage the Happy House Foundation, a Swiss charity founded by Myriam Ullens and Guy Ullens. As Country Manager, he strengthened its legal and operational foundations while continuing his leadership role at NYF. This period proved pivotal in refining his approach to ethical governance, sustainable growth, and compassionate leadership.

Access to ‘quality education for all’ remains central to Som’s life mission. In 2000, he founded Sunaula Chowa Community School in Dhading District and served as the founding chair of its school management committee. At the time, the school stood out as a successful model of community-driven education rooted in local ownership and participation.

Som’s work with Happy House Foundation also led to a close partnership with Guy and Myriam Ullens, culminating in the creation of the Ullens Education Foundation. As its founding President, Som led the visioning, institutional design, and execution of a not-for-profit educational model that combines strong social purpose with professional management.

Som has transformed the lives of thousands of Nepalese children and youth, but his most lasting contribution to Nepalese society lies in the institutions he created and nurtured: Sunaula Chowa Community School, the Ullens Education Foundation, and the Nepal Youth Foundation.

Beyond institutional leadership, Som has served as a board member of Nepal’s Central Child Welfare Board and as an expert member of a High-Level Task Force on Education Reform under the Ministry of Education.

Som holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science from Tribhuvan University and a Master’s degree in International Child Welfare from the University of East Anglia, UK.