HVP stands for 'Hindu-Vidyapeeth'. Vidyapeeth, a word from the Vedas meaning 'centre of knowledge', reflects the role of the organisation in education and the promotion of wisdom in all generations of Nepali society through its schools and social projects. Rather than a concentration on education for purely materialistic gain, HVP aims to place all the knowledge it bestows in a context of spiritual and cultural understanding, and to lead by example to a more peaceful and responsible society. This aim is reflected by the 'Hindu' part of the name, since although HVP is not a religious organisation it recognises that the culture of Nepal is rooted in Hinduism and that work to improve it should build upon the wisdom held in Hindu philosophy and tradition.
HVP runs three charity schools, in Kathmandu, Dang (West Nepal) and Thali (outside the city centre in the Kathmandu Valley). In the future it hopes to open other schools in needy areas of Nepal.
In Dang, HVP runs the Children's Peace Home (CPH), a residential rural community development where fully-sponsored children - orphaned or from disadvantaged backgrounds - are given a loving and supportive home and an HVP school education. More information about CPH.
HVP also founded the Shanti Sewa Ashram - which means 'Peace and Selfless Service Centre'. This initiative reaches beyond education for children and offers other social projects for the needy in nepali society. The philosophy is to offer opportunities for people to develop and help themselves and others in society, rather than simply offering financial support with short-term benefits for the 
beneficiaries. Projects include a vocational training program for unemployed widowed women in Kathmandu, through which they are given the skills and materials to create hand-made goods including ornaments, clothes and artworks for sale in Nepal and abroad. SSA also organises peace marches, conferences and speaker events to promote social responsibility, peace and equality in all areas of Nepali society. More information about SSA.
Nepal is ranked by the United Nations amongst the poorest countries on earth. Poverty, illiteracy, sexual inequality, caste-discrimination and political instability are widespread. High quality education therefore is a crucial to ensure Nepal’s successful development.
However, economic realities mean precious little funding reaches the country’s under-resourced, ill motivated and highly politicised government schools. Government institutions tend to have poor facilities, insufficient staff, uncommitted teachers who miss lessons and use outdated teaching methods. In addition the academic standard achieved at these schools is rarely good enough for a child to gain access to further education.
At the other end of the spectrum, an abundance of privately run, largely profit-making institutions offer the only other alternative. Sadly, there is plenty of money to be made from education in Nepal. Every parent lives in the hope that by providing their children education they have some chance to rise above the poverty that engulfs much of Nepal and better their quality of life.
Most private schools have exploited this market. The majority of them operate simply as moneymaking businesses. Most lack clear aims or vision and are generally based on a western model of education that is often inappropriate for Nepal’s needs. This is further encouraging the ‘brain drain’ of the country’s brightest minds to more prosperous foreign parts, raising a generation ignorant of their own culture and identity with an absence of real knowledge or concern for the huge challenges Nepal is facing.
The Hindu Vidyapeeth (HVP) institutions aim to counteract this. Their vision of an ‘ideal education’ is unique in its holistic approach that embraces the best aspects of the conventional, modern western style of academic education together with an emphasis on open-minded thinking, global awareness, tolerance and the value of selfless service to society. This aims to give the students a good grounding for their chosen careers so that they can prosper in an increasingly competitive environment whilst at the same time preventing them from dissociating with their Nepali identity, their own rich culture. Their hope is to inspire individuals with the desire, confidence and skills they need to contribute towards Nepal’s sustainable development.
Hindu Vidyapeeth's (HVP) unique educational philosophy aims to offer a holistic education that combines the best aspects of the conventional, academic education while stressing knowledge and love of Nepal's rich culture and traditional beliefs.
HVP places great emphasis on educating the whole child, developing individual potential and leadership qualities. Emphasis in their education, rare in Nepal, is on critical thinking, open-mindedness, familiarity with difference, tolerance, and on developing a sense of social engagement and responsibility. Children learn about their own culture and traditions, whilst respecting those of others, for behind all apparent differences lies a fundamental ‘oneness' and interdependence. They grow up very much aware of their ecological responsibilities. Whether or not a child intends to continue academic study beyond school, HVP believe that an education is immensely important to the fully rounded development of a person, and vital to help them fulfil their potential in later life.
As western-modelled values and systems of development continue to seep ever further into Nepal's society and the psyche of its people, a key aim of HVP is to safeguard Nepali cultural and spiritual values and create a strong sense of family and community. In such an environment HVP feels it is important that its students be open-minded and culturally aware. HVP works to inculcate the ideas of eastern philosophy and encourage a spiritual rather than religious education. Through instilling values of peace and the concept of interfaith understanding, HVP seeks to broaden children's knowledge of the international community, eliminate prejudices and stimulate love of humanity in all its diversity.
Children at HVP schools follow the Nepali curriculum, most of it taught in English. Without English access to jobs and higher education is severely limited. Yet educational methods at the schools are shaped so that that an awareness of their Nepali culture and heritage is encouraged in almost everything they do. From a very early age the students practice yoga and meditation and learn the region's ancient classical language of Sanskrit. Moral classes and debates also form part of the school routine. Arts such as Nepali classical music, traditional Nepali dancing, drama, poetry and literature are promoted. Reputed thinkers and many eminent personalities of Nepal are closely associated with the HVP movement. They often visit the schools to take classes or participate in events.
In essence, the schools aim to foster and inspire individuals with the desire, confidence and skills needed to contribute something back to Nepal. In doing so, such individuals can play an important role in sustaining Nepal's rich and beautiful culture and with a “think globally; act locally” attitude help to promote the values of peace and international friendship throughout the world.
In their own words: Why supporters think HVP is SO Special
“The true beauty of HVP lies in the smaller scale of its practical work – in the children. To create a truly good society, then, the place to start is on the smallest scale – the self. This is the work of HVP – to encourage each individual child to look inside him or herself. Too often society encourages us to look outside ourselves for our sense of self-worth and pride, for our principles and our opinions of ourselves and of others. “
- Jessie Hughes, 2000
“ This school is not just a school but a family community. The teachers are not simply fulfilling the duties of a job but are creating and living a way of life that they enjoy and believe in. The students are not statistics but individuals, children that are loved and cared for with dedication. In other words ‘teaching' is defined by helping these children to better themselves in all aspects of their lives; intellectually, mentally, physically and spiritually.”
- Hannah Humphry-Baker, 2001
“The essence of HVP isn't only about numbers of students, exams, buildings or even Nepal. It's about something that matters at the core of what it is to be human; something enlightened yet fundamental.”
- Matthew Hilton-Dennis, 2001
“The HVP education places emphasis on critical thinking, open-mindedness, familiarity with difference, tolerance, and on developing a sense of social engagement and responsibility. I believe these are the chief values of an open society, and that HVP is playing a critical role in disseminating these principles in a society that is at present not very open. If Nepal is ever again to have a chance for democracy, and for that democracy to thrive next time, there must be more citizens educated in the HVP way ”.
- Danah Zohar, 2003
“Nobody can deny that HVP-Nepal is a truly remarkable concept. How true is it that people in the world have become inclined to patch up social problems once they have already caused their damage. Yet here at HVP the idea is to tackle the root of the problem by nurturing a new generation of spiritually aware people, ready to revive and regenerate society”.
- Sarah Best, 1997
“Here in the West we often emphasise the effectiveness of material resources. HVP reminds us that teachers are the most important resource that children have and in every class the teachers' interactions and relationships with their students ensures that contribution of every individual student is valued and supported”.
- Dorothy Caddell, 1999
“ I was mesmerised by the open-mindedness and tolerance of the HVP philosophy. HVP provides the best of academic education and also imparts knowledge to the students and makes them realise their duties to the nation and society and not to rely on outward support. It does not preach narrow nationalism. It is the best of both. Through education like those provided in the HVP schools, Nepal can develop, and, at the same time, keep its culture and pride intact ”.
- Christine Russell, 1998
“The HVP schools are way ahead of their time. The schools are much more than just schools as us westerners might think of them. They are run in an idealistic and ethical way by teachers who care about the children, about morals, and about the future of their country. I believe HVP is creating the leaders of the future. Leaders with skills, not only in maths or the sciences, but leaders with ideals, initiative, thoughtfulness, belief, and a sense of responsibility. In a country where so much is unstable and the situation is deteriorating, the HVP schools are a total exception”.
- Miriam Cross, 2004
“ HVP is so much more than a school. It is a movement. A movement of hearts, minds, souls and motivation focussed diligently on one goal; humanity, maybe even spirituality. Here at HVP children are not just empty vessels to fill up with hard facts and knowledge. They are complete human beings. The policy at HVP is to fill up their souls as much as their minds. To give them direction and spiritual leadership-always that is the goal. To raise precious, inspirational women and men-always that is the aim. And from what I have seen, HVP has been successful “.
- Marissa Charles, 1999
“ It is inspiring to see a philosophy so convincingly translated into the lives of the students and their teachers, where a school is bursting with as much happiness, commitment and vision as this one “.
- Will Middleton, 1999
“The school is not just a place of learning but a place for self-realisation and cultural awareness for the students. This holistic training provides confidence for the students to face the competitive world. This is a place where students do not only learn from teachers but also from their peers. The school, as represented by its humble teachers, demonstrates the beauty of simplicity…. beauty that attracts friends from other countries. I hope the uniqueness of HVP will continue to flourish so that the coming generations could still benefit from its ripening fruits “.
- Sammy J. Perez, Phillipines, 1999
“ HVP is not just a school, it is like a family! It is like a home because through the school and the family you are totally absorbed into the culture and your roots grow deeply into Nepal…”.
- Ellie Gould, 1999