Society International Travels Partners with FPCA to Support Autism Awareness and Care in Nepal
Kathmandu – Society International Travels (SI), one of Nepal’s leading travel service providers, has announced a partnership with Friends of Parents of Children with Autism (FPCA) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The collaboration aims to strengthen support systems for children with autism and their families across Nepal.
The partnership was formalized at a ceremony in Kathmandu, where SI presented the first installment of its pledged year-long monthly financial assistance to FPCA President Mrs. Elina Bajracharya Tuladhar. The support will help FPCA expand specialized educational and therapeutic services for children with autism.
Speaking at the event, Santosh Bikram Rana, Head of GSA Affairs at Society International, highlighted the importance of the initiative. “Autism remains deeply misunderstood in Nepal, leading to social stigma and immense challenges for affected families. At SI, we believe businesses must actively bridge these gaps. Our support for FPCA reflects our commitment to building a more inclusive Nepal—one where every child receives the opportunities they deserve,” he said.
Accepting the support, Mrs. Tuladhar — who is also the founder of FPCA and mother to a child with autism — said the partnership would directly strengthen FPCA’s mission. “This collaboration empowers our decade-long effort to provide specialized education and therapy for children with autism. While we continue urging the government to prioritize neurodiversity support, SI’s commitment enables us to expand vital services for families facing financial and emotional strain,” she noted.
Founded in 2013, FPCA operates Kathmandu’s only nonprofit day-care and learning center exclusively for children with autism, currently serving 15 children. Its holistic model includes individualized education plans (IEPs), occupational, speech, music, and behavioral therapy, as well as programs to build communication, motor, and social skills. The center is uniquely staffed not only by trained special educators but also by parents and siblings of children with autism.
Society International Travels, which serves as Nepal’s General Sales Agent (GSA) for several international airlines including Thai Airways, has long integrated CSR into its operations. The company’s initiatives focus on education, health, and inclusive development, with this partnership marking a new step toward promoting neurodiversity and inclusion in Nepal.
