Employment Programs help individuals achieve a sustainable means of living by providing job readiness and placement services to those seeking employment.
The mission of Nepalese Aid is to serve as a bridge to connect individuals to social services, workforce, legal, health, etc. offered by various organizations, provide youth mentorship, organize the Nepalese community, promote Nepali-owned businesses, create a space for seniors to socialize, and coordinate relief or assistance for Nepal.
We envision a strong and engaged Nepalese American community that is safe, healthy, and able to achieve its full potential in the U.S. By fostering unity, cultural pride, and mutual support, we aim to create opportunities for growth and success for all members.
Provide social services offered by local and federal government to the Nepalese and immigrant families living in the Chicagoland. Connect unemployed or underemployed individuals with job trainings, interview and resume preparation support, and employment opportunities through partnerships with workforce development organizations
The mission of Nepalese Aid is to serve as a bridge to connect individuals to social services, workforce, legal, health, etc. offered by various organizations, provide youth mentorship, organize the Nepalese community, promote Nepali-owned businesses, create a space for seniors to socialize, and coordinate relief or assistance for Nepal.
We envision a strong and engaged Nepalese American community that is safe, healthy, and able to achieve its full potential in the U.S. By fostering unity, cultural pride, and mutual support, we aim to create opportunities for growth and success for all members.
Provide social services offered by local and federal government to the Nepalese and immigrant families living in the Chicagoland. Connect unemployed or underemployed individuals with job trainings, interview and resume preparation support, and employment opportunities through partnerships with workforce development organizations
President
Originally from Nepal, Rajan Shahi immigrated to Chicago with his family in 2009. They settled in the Edgewater neighborhood for 3 years and then moved to Uptown in 2012. Inspired to help fellow immigrants, in 2010, Rajan started working as a Citizenship Coordinator at Chinese Mutual Aid Association. In this role, Rajan assisted low income immigrants reach their American Dream by becoming naturalized US citizens; as a native speaker of Nepalese and Hindi, he was able to assist many Nepalese and Indian immigrants on their naturalization journey.
With a background in finance, Rajan became CMAA’s Comptroller in 2017, focusing on the financial health of the organization in order to serve more Uptown families in need. Recently promoted, Rajan is currently CMAA’s Director of Finance. Under his financial leadership, Rajan has grown CMAA’s annual operating budget from $5 million to $11 million. Although he no longer works directly with clients, he continues to connect low income immigrant and refugee families to essential services. In 2020, CMAA has helped provide rental and cash assistance to over 200 families through funding from the City of Chicago and foundations. Rajan has helped connect this cash assistance to many Nepalese and other needy families who have lost income due to the pandemic.
Rajan joined the Uptown Chamber of Commerce Board in 2017, and now he is serving as a Board Treasurer. As a former responsible resident of Uptown who has dedicated his career to serving the Uptown immigrant community, Rajan hopes to see the neighborhood be successful and for local businesses to thrive.
Here are some list of Rajan’s contributions to the community:
Helped more than 30 families become US citizens. Helped most of them to file a fee waiver and they were approved so they didn’t need to pay the USCIS fee which is usually $600-$700 per person
Helped many low income families to apply for food stamp, medicaid, Utility Assistance and other welfares
Hired more than a dozen nepalese and some are still working
During COVID, helped more than 30 families to get $2,000 – $4,000 cash for the rental assistance
During COVID, delivered perishable and no perishable food to many families. Each family got more than 15 lbs or more food
During the earthquake in Nepal, raised over $6,000 and donated to the American Red Cross
Serves as a Board Treasurer for Uptown Chamber of Commerce
PRESIDENT
Secretary
Jitendra Rana migrated to Chicago, IL from Nepal back in 2008. He has been living with his wife and two sons in the Edgewater area. He had been helped by other immigrant peers in his early days, thus he is inspired to serve the community. He has been involved with various Nepali social organizations in the leading role and helped to institutionalize the non profit organization, enhance its record keeping system and set up the accounting system. He has coordinated several relief projects to support disaster victims in Nepal, treatment of sick individuals and support immigrants to settle down in their early days.
He has received his MBA in Accounting from Roosevelt University and started working with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois as an IT quality analyst. He has been practicing his accounting skills via JJ tax and accounting Inc office in Chicago and provides other supplemental services as well.
He has been actively volunteering with Nepalese community organizations in Chicagoland. He had managed more than 200K funds of non-profit organizations for charitable activities and helped several nonprofit organizations to register in state, get ITIN and apply for tax exempt status from the IRS. He led Nepal Earthquake disaster relief fund in 2015 with various organizations and raised around 100K to support disaster victims in Nepal. He has served as Senior VP, Treasurer, Advisor and member in various charitable organizations and running tax and accounting business targeted for Nepalese and immigrant communities.
His Involvement in various non profit community:
Co-chair, Career Committee – AABRG IL Chapter
Blue Corps Volunteer Ambassador – Blue Corps, BCBSIL
Well-being Champion – Motiva Health, HCSC, Chicago HQ
Treasurer – Toastmasters International, HCSC club 2
Lead – Shark Tank Training Workgroup, mentoring co-workers
Council Member – Asian American Advisory Council, Secretary of State, IL
Advisor – Chicagoland Nepali Friendship Society – Not for Profit, Chicago
Treasurer – International Nepali Literary Society, Chicago, IL Chapter
Treasurer – Palpali Sangam USA – not for profit
SECRETARY
Treasurer
During Covid 19, helped more the 35 families for rental and cash assistance programs around $2500 and $500 respectively
Helped to file FAFSA for further studies and documentation
Sponsored to get into the USA with DV lottery just as assisted them with finding a new line of work and stay
Helped one for Home care aids Program
TREASURER
Director
Rajina Shakya, originally from Nepal, moved to South Korea in 2016 to pursue her master’s degree at Yeungnam University, studying drug toxicity and gut bacteria. She earned her Ph.D. from Daegu Catholic University in 2022, focusing on cancer treatments for breast, ovarian, colon, gastric, and lung cancers. Afterward, she relocated to the USA and worked at Houston Methodist Hospital, researching how proteins like TOR1A influence the immune system and contribute to diseases like dystonia. Currently, she lives in Chicago, IL, where she works at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, developing treatments for challenging types of prostate cancer, including castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Rajina has also volunteered extensively, including with Luniva Children’s Club in Nepal to help children build confidence and creativity. She, along with her mother led an eco-friendly plastic recycling initiative with the Youngster Women Group and provided assistance during the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. In South Korea, she participated in a program organized by Won Buddhism.
Rajina, who moved from Nepal to South Korea and the USA, knows firsthand the struggles of moving to a different country. She joined Nepalese Aid because she is deeply committed to serving the community by dedicating her time and skills to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. She actively raises awareness about breast and cervical cancer through Nepalese Aid and aims to make a positive impact on the Nepalese community through her scientific knowledge and volunteer work.
DIRECTOR
We’ve got a blank chair waiting for you.
Explore our open positions and let’s see if we are compatible.
Please fill out your contact information under the volunteer section and someone will contact you within a couple of days. You can also send us a message via Facebook Nepalese Aid page.
You can contact us via website or Facebook page and we will get back to you within a couple of days.
Please use the donate button at the top right hand corner and input the payment information.
You can fundraise for Nepalese Aid through social media. You can go to fundraise for a nonprofit and select Nepalese Aid as a beneficiary from the list. You can also message us via website or Facebook and we will create a fundraising page for you.
The initial donation will go primarily on hiring a part-time staff and the office rent.
At this moment, we don’t have a physical office location. We are doing fundraising and once we generate the sufficient funds we will explore renting an office space in Edgewater neighborhood.
We have gathered this information from the community members and from google search. If your business/organization is not listed please let us know and we will make sure to add it as soon as possible.