Canopy Nepal

Canopy Nepal’s Mission to Empowers Underserved Students

As a student in Nepal, Mohit Rauniyar often felt frustrated. “There was no space for creativity or critical thinking. You couldn’t ask questions. It was seen as overstepping the authority of a teacher,” he recalls. That experience planted the seed for what would later become his life’s work.

In 2010, Mohit joined a Canadian nonprofit supporting scholarships for Nepali students. He was just 18 when he became a full-time teacher himself, thanks to a legal loophole. Teaching environmental science and later mathematics gave him a front-row seat to the gaps in the education system and the possibilities for change.

By 2015, he co-founded Canopy Nepal, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding educational access for children who can’t afford school. Canopy not only ensures that students stay in classrooms with the support they need, but also introduces a unique storytelling curriculum. “We use storytelling to make learning joyful, to improve attendance and retention, and to help students become more creative and confident,” Mohit explains.

The vision goes beyond access. “Technically, Canopy shouldn’t exist,” he says. “Education should be accessible to every child, no matter their background. But until that’s a reality, our mission is to make sure storytelling is at the heart of classrooms across Nepal.”

After nearly a decade refining its model, Canopy Nepal is now scaling through partnerships with local governments. Mohit is confident the program can thrive in any setting, from resource-rich private schools to classrooms with no electricity. “We’ve seen the impact everywhere. Students not only enjoy learning more, they perform better across all subjects,” he says.

For Mohit, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. “As a social entrepreneur, it can feel very lonely. You’re not focused on profit, and donors want measurable returns. But the changes we create are inside students’ minds and behaviors, and that’s harder to show.” Communities like Catapult and other fellowships have been essential in countering that loneliness.

Despite the hurdles, Mohit’s excitement hasn’t dimmed. “What surprises me most is how motivated I still feel. I sleep well at night because I know we’re making a difference — even if it’s just in one person’s life. That’s enough to wake up excited the next morning.”