Board of Directors & Staff
Founder and Board Member— Lila Ghising
Ms. Lila Ghising has more than 15 years of experience working with women and children in social services. She has provided advocacy and program management for various social services organizations both domestically and abroad. She has focused on rehabilitating, advocating and educating the survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence. During that time, she passionately strived for the rescue of women and children. In Nepal in 2001, she founded the (Women’s Protection Center / नारी संरक्षण केन्द्र). Over 600 women and children have been helped through this organization.
Ms. Ghising obtained her BA Degree in Bangalore, India, and Masters Degree in Social and Civic Entrepreneurship (MASCE) at Bakke Graduate University in Seattle, Washington.
Development Director — Noelle Ferrari — US
Noelle cares deeply about the fight for women’s justice throughout the world and believes that all women have the right to live their lives in safety and to live with their children free from harm. She is passionate about improving the lives of women and looks forward to partnering with WPC to help end human trafficking in Hetauda.
Noelle had extensive experience in nonprofit organizations and project management with an emphasis on sales enablement and event planning. As an Account Analyst with Point B Consulting, she coordinated large-scale projects amongst internal and external stakeholders, gaining valuable experience in running large-scale deals to ground. Additionally, as an Event Coordinator with Babysteps Ministry, Noelle coordinated fundraising and outreach events to raise donations to serve persons experiencing homelessness in Seattle. It is this same skill and passion that Noelle will bring to her role as Development Director at Friends of WPC Nepal.
Board President — Noah Fletcher — US
Noah Fletcher is a senior manager in West Monroe Partners’ Operations Excellence practice in Seattle. As well as helping Friends of WPC analyze financial resources, his expertise helps create business partnerships.
Noah is passionate about helping fight human trafficking. He says, “I think human trafficking is one of the greatest injustices within our society today and one that people should be passionate about battling. I love the mission of WPC and how it is taking a massive problem and focusing its impact on transforming lives for a specific group. I would love to be engaged in continuing to amplify the impact to change the course of lives for young women in Nepal.”
Board Secretary — Eliza Penick — US
Eliza Penick (she/her) has worked in non-profit education, fundraising, program development, and community engagement for fifteen years. She is the program director for the Justice Leadership Program and also works under contract in program development and coordination for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Her sources of joy are family, urban homesteads, mountain biking, and the exploration of art, play, and new places.
Board Member — Perry Burkholder — US
Perry Burkholder is the lead pastor of Every Nation Church Seattle, a multi-ethnic, multi-generational church located in the University District of Seattle. In 2011, Perry became interested in learning about human trafficking and how to stop it, when he met Lila Ghising, the founder of WPC Nepal. Touched by Lila’s story, he along with a group of men from the church went to Nepal to film a documentary on the work of WPC. In 2016, he led a campaign to raise the necessary funds to build a permanent safe home for WPC and finished in 9 months. The home was built in 2017 and the inaugural opening was in February of 2018. It is one of Perry’s life long achievements to build this home. He continues to be passionate about the work of FWPC and further the cause. He is married to his wife, Danielle of 25 years, and have 4 young adults, and a Havanese dog, named Lucy, and they reside in Shoreline, WA.
Executive Director — Ganga Tamang— Nepal
Ganga started volunteering with WPC Nepal in 2010. In 2011, she was hired as Safe Home Manager and served as Treasurer on the WPC Nepal Board. She became Children’s Program Director in 2017 and was promoted to Executive Director in 2019.
She received a BA in Business Studies from Hetauda School of Management & Social Science in 2015.
Program Manager— Jerome Ghale — Nepal
Jerome comes from a small village called Tipling in the Dhading District of Nepal. He has been the Finance and Administration Manager of WPC Nepal since early 2016. Previously, he worked as an accountant at St. Xavier’s School in Kathmandu from 2011 to 2015, where he developed his professional skills in financial oversight.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to work with Nepali women and children, to empower them, and giving them the support to build a safe and stable future for themselves. I know that together we are providing the foundation for socio-economic progress and gender equality in Nepal. I am proud to be part of the WPC family.“
Safe Home Warden — Priya Paudel — Nepal
Priya is originally from Hetauda, Makwanpur Nepal. She was a resident of the WPC safe home for 10 years. After she completed high school, she decided to volunteer at WPC. “I enjoy working with children and am excited to give back to the organization that raised me. It is a great opportunity to work with the same people with whom I grew up.”
In 2019, Priya was hired as a Warden for the WPC safe home. “I am thankful that I can help, inspire, love, and care for the children in the home.”
Priya completed grade 12 (college) from Makwanpur Multiple Campus in the science faculty.
House Parents — Mr. Suresh Tamang & Ms. Sumita Tamang — Nepal
Before coming to WPC Nepal, Suresh used to work as a pastor. He served 3 years in the church and more than 10 years of missionary and social work in the surrounding communities. In 2011, Suresh and his wife Sumita joined the WPC Nepal Safe Home as House Parents. In addition to caring for the many children in the safe home, they also have 2 older children of their own. “We are proud to be parents to all of the children in the safe home. We are thankful for the opportunity to care for them, inspire them, make them laugh, and bring happiness to their lives.”
Psychosocial Counselor — Monika Pariyar — Nepal
Before joining WPC Nepal as a counselor, Monica used to work in radio. and was a DJ. She graduated with a BA in Humanities from Tribhuvan University prior to starting her career in radio. She recently completed a six-month counseling course from the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Nepal and is certified as a PARA Psychosocial Counselor. She enjoys working with clients to support their mental health and giving them the tools to manage their anxiety and depression. She is glad to be a part of WPC Nepal to provide counseling to women and children.
Finance Assistant — Priskila Tamang — Nepal
I’m from a small village called Gorkha. When I was young, someone told my father and mother that there were positions open for house parents at the WPC safe home in Hetauda back in 2011. So my parents moved to Hetauda when I was 9 years old to manage the home and help raise the children. This gave my brother and me the opportunity to attend private school and reach our potential. After completing school in 2018, I learned accounting for 2 years from WPC’s former Finance and Administration Manager, Jerome Ghale. Since 2021 I have been working as a Finance Assistant and I’m in my 2nd year of my Bachelor’s in Business Studies.
Nari Boutique Manager — Aarati Bogati — Nepal
I grew up in the WPC Nepal safe home where they encouraged me to grow. I joined the WPC safe Home in 2012 when I was a child with a dream of going to school and contributing to society. My life was running smoothly with my parents but in 2008 my father passed away and everything changed. We had no income and things were not going well but it is said that whatever happens, happens for the best. After all, I got the opportunity to start a new life and follow my dreams in the safe home with my second family.
I spent 10 years with my lovely friends and am blessed with wonderful memories that I cherish. To thank them for their support, I want to do something for them. In 2022 I finished high school with a management major. I am in my first year of working toward a Bachelor’s in Business Studies and have been working at WPC Nepal and managing Nari Boutique Nepal since April 12, 2021. Nari Boutique Nepal is a small business started by the founder of WPC, Mrs. Lila Ghising, to motivate and inspire women by teaching them new skills and providing them with new job opportunities. Nari Boutique Nepal creates artwork with unique stories that will inspire everyone to learn more about WPC Nepal through our products. I’m inspired by Mrs. Ghising, who told me that nothing is impossible in our life if we have a dream. Nari Boutique Nepal is my path to inspire others by creating new skills and empowering women to be independent in our society. Let’s work together to encourage unique skills and empower women by providing opportunities from Nepal and many more places internationally.
Intern – Ashmita Praja — Nepal
I’m fond of courage and being kind and I am always looking for ways to improve and learn more about myself. I was born in Khairang, Makwanpur, Nepal. The turning point of my life was when I was taken to the WPC safe home when my parents left me alone in my village. My uncle contacted Pastor Abhishek Upreti who then contacted the WPC Nepal President. After hearing my story, the organization accepted me into the safe home and I moved there in 2013. I didn’t know it at the time, but this would be the biggest change of my life. I started my life in the safe home with a new family, friends, house parents, brothers, and sisters.
In 2020, I graduated with a 3.70 GPA (A+) from the Ujjwal Shishu Niketan Secondary Boarding school and graduated from high school with a 2.80 GPA with a Science major with a focus in Biology from the Makawanpur Campus. Now, I’m in 2nd year of a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the same Makawanpur Campus. I am now working at WPC Nepal. My dream is to become a social worker and work toward building the beautiful nation of Nepal.
Legal Assistance:
Pro-bono legal assistance provided by a prestigious law firm of Seattle – K&L Gates LLP, Seattle, Washington.
Note: Women’s Protection Center in Nepal and Friends of WPC Nepal are separate and independent organizations. Friends of WPC Nepal uses its funds to support programs that help victims of human trafficking, most notably programs operated by the Women’s Protection Center of Hetauda, Nepal.
