Meet the Team
L’Unique Foundation has set up its own local team which independently manages our projects on location.
Karna Sunuwar, Plumber
My name is Karna Sunuwar. Due to my family's weak financial condition, I could only study up to class 3. We didn’t have enough income, and life was very difficult growing up. In the year 2004, I came to Kathmandu in search of work. I didn’t have much education or skills, but I was determined to do something for my family. I started working in the plumbing field, and in the beginning, it was very hard. I had to learn everything from scratch, often working long hours with very little pay. There were times when it was hard to even manage daily expenses, but I never gave up. Slowly, with hard work and patience, things started to get better. Now, I feel very happy and proud to be working with L’unique Foundation. This opportunity has brought stability and peace to my life, and I’m truly thankful for it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has supported me in this journey.
Labin Kumar Tamang, Mason
My name is Labin Kumar Tamang. I was born in a poor family in Ramechhap. Due to our financial situation, I couldn’t continue my studies and only passed class 5. At the age of 15, I left home and came to Kathmandu in search of work. In the beginning, I worked in vehicles. Later, when I turned 18, I started working in house construction. While working in this field, I got a chance to go to Nag through my contractor, Sukdev Lamichhane, who had been working there for years. I was there to build a toilet at the school, and at that time, Andy also visited the school. He must have seen something in me, and I was given the opportunity to work for him. Since then, I have been working at Lunique Foundation, and I’m still continuing my work here. I feel very happy because my life has started improving compared to before. I’m truly thankful to everyone who trusted me and gave me work. I will always be grateful for this chance.
Padam Sunuwar, Plumber
Hello, I am Padam Sunuwar. I am originally from Okhaldhunga. Around 20 years ago, I came to Kathmandu carrying many dreams. Due to the conflict period at that time, I couldn’t pursue higher education. The difficult situation in the country made it impossible for young people to stay in the village. I had only heard of the city but had never seen it before, so everything was new to me. The conductor dropped me off at a place called Koteshwor, and that’s where my confusion began. When I left home, I carried a shoulder-strap (namlo) in my bag because I had heard that I could find labour work in the city. I still remember sitting in the square at Koteshwor with the namlo in my hand. All the porters beside me were getting work, but no one wanted to give me any because, at my age, people didn’t work in such jobs in the city. Coming from a simple family, I had no money in my pocket to eat, and no room to stay. I remember the days I slept in front of shop shutters by the roadside. Time kept moving. Around 2010, I heard that Synergy Nepal, with the support of a Swiss organization called Helvetas, was offering plumbing training. I participated in that training. Out of 25 participants, only three of us passed. I was very happy. The certificate I received gave me even more motivation to work. Today, I am very happy to be associated with L’Unique Foundation. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the generous donors who are helping school children in Nepal who are struggling with toilet and sanitation problems.
Khemraj Puri, Project Manager
My Journey from the Streets to Social Service. At the early age of nine, I found myself living on the streets of Kathmandu, driven there by poverty and domestic violence. Those days were some of the darkest in my life. I still remember how people treated me worse than stray dogs. Survival became my only goal, and sniffing glue was the only escape we knew—funded by begging from passing tourists. Everything changed the day I met Nicole Wick, a compassionate soul from Switzerland who had come to Nepal to support street children with shelter and education. She asked me a simple question that turned my life around: "Would you like to go to school and leave the streets behind?" It was a life-changing opportunity, and I embraced it with hope and excitement. Nicole brought me to NAG (Nepali Children’s Home), where I completed my high school education. Inspired by the kindness I received, I dreamt of becoming a social worker. To build my skills, I pursued a Diploma in Community Welfare Work in Australia. The educational model there was vastly advanced compared to Nepal, and it broadened my understanding immensely. However, I later realized that true social work doesn’t necessarily require a degree—it requires empathy, connection, and a genuine sense of humanity. Upon returning to Nepal, I was saddened to see that the number of children living on the streets had only increased. The devastating 2015 earthquake left even more children vulnerable and homeless. Remembering my own past, I felt a deep responsibility to give back. Together with a group of like-minded friends, I established a children’s home to provide shelter, education, and hope to helpless children—just as I had once been helped. It has now been nine years since we began this initiative, and I consider it my way of giving back to society. A few years ago, I worked as an abroad study counselor, guiding young students toward brighter futures. Today, I feel honored to serve as a Project Manager for L'Unique Foundation in Nepal. In this role, I primarily handle the legal procedures for importing Geberit sanitary materials and oversee projects aimed at building sanitary facilities in remote schools across Nepal—fully supported by the foundation’s financial aid. This journey—from the streets of Kathmandu to social service—has shaped who I am today. I am deeply grateful for every helping hand along the way and remain committed to passing that support forward.
Alisha Lamichhane, IT & digital Warehouse management
My name is Alisha Lamichhane. I come from a society where daughters are often seen as a burden. But my parents never made me or my sister feel that way. They always encouraged us to be independent and to stand up for what’s right. I grew up under my parents’ protection, but in mid-2017, I felt a strong desire to work and become independent. I didn’t realize then how hard it can be for women to grow in a male-dominated society, especially in the IT field where there are very few women. Still, I didn’t want to give up. I spent over 80% of my time learning tech skills. After months of hard work, I got my first job in 2018. Maybe because of my dedication and confidence, I was chosen to lead a team where all the other members were boys. That moment made me realize I was just as capable as anyone else. Since then, I’ve never looked back. There were ups and downs, but I never settled—I kept moving forward. I’ve worked with international clients from India, Italy, and the US. In 2023, I joined Lunique Foundation, where I manage the website, organize Google Sheets, and help with computer-related tasks in Nepal.
Meet the people from the swiss Team
Back row from left to right: Patrick Bellomo, Tom Kissling, Thomas Baumgartner & Bettina Schelker.
Front row from left to right: Evelyne Mayer, Andy Ibach (Foundation president), Pascal Kern & Pascal Brun