Founder

Late ALLAN AISTROPE (1937-2018) has spent over twenty-nine years working in Nepal for the benefit of orphaned and physically impaired children there. Coming from a twenty-year, successful career in creative advertising, Allan abandoned his professional pursuits to seek ways and means to rescue and support the impoverished children of Nepal who had dramatically impacted his life during a 1981 visit to that country. Beginning with a volunteer assignment at Nepal’s first orphanage, Allan went on to co-found a U.S. INGO that provided scholarships to orphaned children. This quickly led to his establishment of homes for abandoned boys and girls and initiating programs of support for blind, deaf and other physically impaired Nepali children. In 2003, Allan was encouraged by program supporters and friends to register a new INGO, and Virtue’s Children - Nepal was created as an all-volunteer organization, dedicated to the service of Nepali children and pledged to highest standards of financial management. Allan spent several months a year in Nepal, finding new children deserving of support, providing reassurance and encouragement to all the children on his watch and personally administrating program expenditures.

Board of Directors

RUBIN NEPALI [Director] was our first scholarship student in Nepal, way back in early days of our supportive efforts for Nepali orphans. Rubin was a senior student and resident of an orphanage in Kathmandu in 1986 when we first began to assist these children in pursuing higher studies and finding stability for them beyond orphanage life. Rubin succeeded far beyond all expectation, and with time, opportunity and unyielding diligence he worked his way through John Hopkins University in Maryland to earn master's degree in computer science. Much has changed in his life since graduation, including a good position in Silicon Valley with a high-tech company, a lovely wife who has become a registered nurse in oncology, and an outstanding daughter who is presently in medical school, with plans to practice medicine in developing countries after graduation. Rubin is a shining example of the way your support can utterly transform the lives of children struggling to survive in one of the poorest places on earth. Now he is ready to use his time and energies for the rescue and service to orphaned and impoverished Nepali children who share his beginnings.
WENDY BREWER LAMA [Secretary] has worked for the past twenty years throughout Asia as an Ecotourism Planner with international organizations. She has been professionally involved with the United Nations (UNESCO, UNDP), World Wildlife Fund, Helvetas (a Swiss aid organization), and The Mountain Institute. While managing and advising ecotourism and cultural tourism projects, she provides enlightened leadership to communities, non-governmental organizations, travel and trekking agencies and national-level governments. Much of Wendy’s efforts and ecological commitments have been to motivate and guide Asian educational organizations to develop, manage and encourage training in community-based ecotourism. She has carried her cause throughout many parts of Central and South Asia, including Nepal, Sikkim, Ladakh, Tibet, Mainland China, Bhutan, Iran, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. She is currently an Advisor to the UNESCO project on the Development of Cultural and Eco-tourism in the Mountainous Regions of Central and South Asia. Wendy lived in Nepal from 1984 to 1999 and became a friend of Paropakar Orphanage, endearing herself to the children there. Wendy proudly sponsored one of the Paropakar boys from grammar school through college and maintains a close relationship with him and his wife and children. Her frequent journeys to Nepal always include time at the orphanage and visits with the children. Wendy lives with her husband, Karma Lama, in Half Moon Bay, California, headquarters for their KarmaQuest Ecotourism and Adventure Travel agency. Wendy also works as a planning consultant for the City of Half Moon Bay and in her free time she and Karma stay active with bicycling, backpacking, travel, and beach combing.
MICHAEL BASILE [Treasurer] is a Finance and Accounting Executive. He is currently a Chief Financial Officer and holds both the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designations. Michael lives in Seattle, Washington and in his free time enjoys camping, hiking, snowboarding and travelling. He looks forward to visiting Nepal and meeting the VCN team and the children we serve.
KATHLEEN HASSEN Kathleen, daughter of VCN supporter Warren and Dixie Storkman, has joined VCN Board. Kathleen has been pouring out her love to 25 girls at Paropakar Girls’ Orphanage. The girls are blossoming, have achieved great academic success and continue to concur their success in universities. Kathleen oversees the college scholarships provided through VCN to girls once they complete Class 12 at the Girls’ Orphanage in Kathmandu. These scholarships are funded by VCN Board member William Weinstein. Kathleen travels annually to Nepal and maintains a close relationship with the Paropakar girls, supplementing their well-tended needs with educational resources including shared laptop computers. She has always been in the service of others, as a Girl Scout leader, working for Meals on Wheels and through her varied professions as a teacher, travel agent, real estate agent and tax preparer. She has lived in England and in Iran and is a passionate traveler, having visited all 52 US states, all 7 continents and altogether 85 countries, taking time to hike in Nepal, Tibet, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu. She stepped in to help a Nepalese family rebuild their home after the devastating earthquakes of 2015, seeing first-hand the fragility of village life in Nepal and the joys that sponsorship brings.
Bidya Subedi Bidya is a nonprofit and higher education professional based in the Bay Area. She entered the world of nonprofit through her volunteer work at various nonprofit organizations such as Reading Partners and Raphael House of San Francisco. Her passion and interest lies in advancing the access to education and healthcare, especially for women and girls. Currently, she is involved in initiatives to improve women’s and girls’ safety, sanitation and hygiene in Nepal with a focus on menstrual hygiene management. Additionally, She is serving as the president of Global Nepali Professional Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes career mentorship, knowledge sharing and educational initiatives. Currently, she works as the Sr. Administrative Assistant at De Anza Community College where she provides administrative and organizational support to our faculty, staff and students. Prior to this, she was a coordinator at another Community College where I worked directly with students with disabilities to ensure they have the same access to education as other students. She received her Bachelors in Sociology (with a minor in Sexual Studies) from San Francisco State University and a Masters in Nonprofit Management from University of San Francisco.
WILLIAM S. WIENSTEIN Bill is an attorney, entrepreneur, and hedge fund manager. He first visited Nepal in 1985. His Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, Warren Storkman, introduced him to Paropakar Girls’ Orphanage. Bill set up a charitable trust in the names of Warren and Dixie Storkman to provide college scholarships for the Paropakar girls. He has visited Nepal many times and enjoys a warm relationship with the girls he helps.