Ellen Carney, a graduate of Abington Friends School, has found her joy in Nepal working as managing director of Happy Kids Center nonprofit, writes Natalie Pompilio for ThePhiladelphia Inquirer.

After devastating back-to-back earthquakes hit Nepal four years ago, Carney wanted to find a way to help.

She then heard about Happy Kids Center which was started by three foreigners as a place for local children to play after spending hours sifting through trash or begging.

She met Nicole Heker, who was on a similar mission, and the two headed out to Bhaktapur.

There, they found the center was a semi-permanent bamboo structure with a limited mission. The two women then decided to change that.

They started “EducateHKS“ to take children off the streets and into classrooms. They also introduced “Kanya: String of Hope,“ a program that trains young girls to make string jewelry that is resold.

The profit helps girls avoid the customary early marriage often used to ease their family’s financial burdens.

Thanks to their efforts, the nonprofit is thriving and providing services to around 80 children at a time.

Read more about the Happy Kids Center at The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.