Healthcare as a
Human Right
Founded by a former refugee turned Brown University researcher, Helping Hands delivers free healthcare and health education to Nepal's most vulnerable communities.
Healthcare Access for Everyone, Without Exception
Helping Hands is dedicated to ensuring that vulnerable and marginalised populations have access to free, high-quality healthcare. We work at the intersection of community engagement, medical outreach, and research to build sustainable health solutions for those who need them most.
- Direct medical support for underserved communities
- Community empowerment through health education
- Research-driven innovation in global health
- Collaboration with local and international partners
"A world where universal healthcare is a right for all, regardless of nationality, economic status, or geographic location."
Through sustainable partnerships, evidence-based programmes, and a deep commitment to equity, we strive to close the gap in healthcare access and empower communities to thrive for generations to come.
Born from Lived Experience
From Refugee Camp
to Brown University
Lila K. Chamlagai (he/him) was born and raised in a Bhutanese refugee camp in eastern Nepal, where he spent almost 17 years before resettling with his family in Springfield, MA in 2011. That experience gave him a first-hand understanding of the healthcare inequities faced by displaced communities that no textbook could replicate.
That lived experience became his life's work. As a Gates Millennium Scholar and PhD candidate at Brown University School of Public Health, Lila has conducted ethnographic fieldwork across seven countries — Nepal, South Africa, Brazil, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and France — with a focus on refugee health and community resilience. He has authored 8 publications in global and refugee health research.
Helping Hands was his answer to a simple question: what if the people who understood the problem most were the ones designing the solutions? Under his leadership, and with the active mentorship of Dr. Ruhul Abid and HAEFA, the organisation has grown from a grassroots initiative into a recognised 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering life-changing health services across Nepal.
Milestones of Impact
Foundation & Community Building
Founder Lila K. Chamlagai and health assistant Mr. Bahadur Chaudhary established Helping Hands in response to the healthcare void faced by displaced communities. Early work centred on building trust, sanitation education, and reducing mental health stigma in Urlabari and Beldangi refugee settlements.
Research & HAEFA Partnership
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Helping Hands conducted systematic data collection on trauma, chronic disease, and family wellness among refugee populations. The organisation partnered with Health and Education for All (HAEFA) and launched field research covering mental health, diabetes, heart disease, and nutrition.
Service Scaling & Mobile Clinics
Armed with evidence and partnerships, Helping Hands expanded by launching mobile clinics, volunteer networks, and culturally tailored care programmes. The organisation now operates across Morang and surrounding regions — training community leaders and providing integrated healthcare to refugee women, seniors, and youth.
Guided by Leaders in Global Health
Helping Hands is mentored and supported by organisations at the forefront of humanitarian health.
Health and Education for All (HAEFA)
Mentor PartnerHAEFA, led by Dr. Ruhul Abid, is an international humanitarian organisation delivering preventive healthcare and education to refugees and underserved communities worldwide. Dr. Abid — Lila's doctoral supervisor — and his organisation are actively mentoring Helping Hands America, supporting our field research, programme design, and operational strategy.
Visit haefa.orgOur Core Values
Compassion
Every decision we make is rooted in empathy for the communities we serve — especially those who have experienced displacement, trauma, and systemic exclusion.
Integrity
We operate with full transparency in our finances, partnerships, and programme outcomes — earning and protecting the trust of our donors, communities, and partners.
Community First
We design every programme with community members, not for them — ensuring that solutions are culturally grounded, locally led, and built to outlast our presence.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Every contribution helps us deliver free healthcare to the communities that need it most. Join the movement today.