A First Person Account

By Team Dayā Founding Member Thane Liffick

POST 1- Nepal here I come- First update

To my family, friends and generous donors, I’m reflecting on the adventure ahead of me as I fly at 35,000 feet on my way to Kathmandu.

A huge thanks to all those who generously donated to help an underserved community you’ve most likely have never heard of (details below) create better opportunities for their boys AND girls through the incredible power of education.

I’m travelling nearly ten thousand miles with an unusual assortment of items – Steno notepads, pencils, coloring books, crayons, language agnostic games (think Uno, pig in the poke), a Therm-a-Rest pad, a sleeping bag, antimalaria drugs and a roll of toilet paper. I’m preparing myself for the dramatic contrast of being served food and drink at my seat, flying on an engineering marvel high above the earth, to living with a host family that may not have electricity…. 

I can’t wait!

For more details on the impact your donation will have, visit this update on Team Dayā’s site.  And if you have not already, make a donation.

Until next time. 

Best, Thane

POST 2 – Nepal school building – notes from the field

We left Kathmandu on an 8am flight to Dhangadhi, Nepal. The majestic Himalayas showcased an uneventful flight. Once we gathered our luggage, we hopped on our trusty bus and headed to the Rubus Hotel.

After a lunch of dal, rice, pita, and chicken curry we headed to the village where Jordan and Jay, the founder of Team Dayā, built a school six years ago. We were welcomed with a celebration of garlands of vibrant bright orange marigolds and a dollop of ruby red tikka, symbolizing a blessing, on our forehead. We spent time in the classroom Team Dayā helped build with 30 children average age of 10 who are part of the local equivalent of a head start program. When I asked them who is the best speller (through a translator), there were a lot of sheepish sideways looks before one girl confidently put up her hand, stood up and spelled E L E P H A N T. Then the rest of the kids got in the act with a lot of B O O K S and C A Ts and D O Gs and their names. I also played a roll the dice math game with two boys and helped them with their addition when needed (which was not a lot).

One of the overarching trends for this agricultural based community is the parents take labor-oriented jobs in India or the Middle East as the pay is much better than subsistence farming. With the parents out of town for months at a time, raising the kids falls on grandma along with the daily demands of farming. They farm mostly rice and wheat with a small garden plot of other essential crops like garlic, spinach and other various vegetables to complement the rice and wheat. Whatever rice and wheat is left over is sold for additional income.

My takeaway from visiting the school is kids are kids. Giggling, playing, and having fun is a universal language for a 10-year-old no matter what their social condition or where they live. The impact this program has on the kids is profound. They are spending two hours a day having fun, singing, playing games and learning and most importantly, catching up to their peers with a basic education that will be a critical foundation of their future growth.

Thanks again for your support. 

If you haven’t already, donate here.

Team Dayā site

Until next time. 

Best, Thane

POST 3 – Nepal school building – Welcome to Shripur, Nepal

Our rickety, colorful but trusty bus (think circa 1960s) traversed partially built bridges, washed out river beds and a narrow, windy road to reach our destination- the remote agricultural village of Shripur Domilla, Nepal. I found the Ganesha idol whose home was the bus’s dash a comforting sight. Ganesha is widely revered in Hinduism as the remover of obstacles. Our obstacles included cows, dogs but mostly head on traffic playing chicken only to move back to their lane at the last possible moment.

We arrived at the plot of land where the school is to be built to see the local equivalent of a women’s dance team, a kaleidoscope of bright saris and politicians and locals dressed in their finest sports jackets. This school build is a really big deal – such a big deal that the provincial leader and a gaggle of education and local officials attended – which given the small size and remote location of the village spoke volumes.

We were greeted by the local drum troupe (their local equivalent of a rock band?) as we were bestowed marigold wreaths of the brightest orange and a cherry red tika, a sign of blessing, on our forehead as we took our seats as honored guests at the front of officials’ area. From there we listened, through our translator, to the politicians espousing the greatness of the day.  Politicians in Nepal suffer the same long windedness as in the US – some things are universal. 

Jay, our Team Dayā leader, participated in the symbolic lighting of candles.  Then the brightly clothed men and women of the village signed a statement of their commitment to support the school and ensure boys and girls are represented equally. There was at least one who made use of the ink pad to sign with her fingerprint. I assumed she did not know how to write her name.

After a few more speeches, we moved to the sacred corner of the new school and blessed the area with a sprinkling of glowing orange marigolds and rice. From there we experienced the dance troupe’s symbolic dances and the foot tapping rhythm of the drummers. The drummers did their job as most of the village joined in a free form dance. They really like to dance here. 

We walked about a quarter mile through a small field ready for the next planting, a shed of bleating goats and a water pump (there is no plumbing or sewer system) to meet our host family. They had given up their prime bedroom with the fan to provide a comfortable, mosquito-proof room for Jordan, Jay and me to sleep.

Word gets around fast in a small farming community and within moments of unpacking several 12–14-year-old boys and a few girls showed up. Their fun radar must have sensed something was in our bags. We spent the rest of the evening (which is about to 8:30pm) playing the universal games of Jenga and Uno.

My key takeaways – the foundation of this village is subsistence farming (more on that in a future write-up). The local villagers and prescient officials know the incredible impact enhancing the educational infrastructure will have on the children of the village and their ability to have a better future.

Thank you for your support. You are making a difference.

Next time- The “Big Dig”

Donate here

Until next time-

Thane

POST 4 – Nepal School Build – The Big Dig

The bright beams of our headlamps piercing the dark early morning, we walked along a compact dirt path dividing two fallow fields. We inhaled the crisp morning air smelling of cool earth and damp straw. As we passed the sleeping goats, we arrived at the school grounds to a small cluster of villagers and a yogi under a single tree. The yogi was there to lead our 6:00am yoga. In addition to getting our bodies ready for the hard work ahead, it built comradery and community. I was confused and wondering what I had done wrong when the Yogi and the villagers started laughing at the end of the hour-long session. Did I do my downward dog wrong? Were my “ohmmms” the wrong pitch? I quickly realized laughing was part of the routine. I quickly joined in. Deep, loud and sincere laughter with my new friends. Brilliant.

We circled as a team to receive a tool safety briefing and yelled out a group cheer as the sun rose. Now the real fun begins.

The foundation, 30 x 50, was marked with chalk. The 10 deep pits we were to dig for the columns helped ensure the structure would keep the children safe during an earthquake. No backhoes here. This is a 100% hand dig. Our 50-person big dig crew consisted of Team Dayā, teenagers, young and old women and men – all from the village, plus our skilled laborers who knew the technical steps for the build. The women wore their bright red, blue and orange saris – the men in slacks and button-down shirts with the occasional v-neck sweater or sports jacket. And, all in flip flops or sandals.

Everyone came to work…. hard. I was out shovelled by a 60-year-old woman in flip flops. It was humbling and inspiring to see the community drive so hard to create a better future for their children. In our first day community retrospective it was rewarding to hear the locals say they were impressed by how hard we worked, side by side with them, digging up dirt and moving large rocks. It was a friendly competition where the village’s kids will be the winners.

Along with digging ten 5 x 5 x 6-foot-deep holes and two foot deep connecting trenches, we supported the skilled laborers as they taught us how to tie rebar for the columns that would go in the 10 holes.

Day two was more digging and rock removal. We almost disappeared as the column holes hit their final 6-foot depth. Shoring is for wussies – OSHA or union rules need not apply.

After almost two full days of back breaking digging and de-bouldering, we were ready to pour concrete for the column footings. No cement mixers or machines here – 100% by hand. We moved the right ratios of sand, gravel and concrete (by hand of course) to a pad of bricks where the cement mixers were two locals with shovels and a hose. Once the cement was ready, things moved fast. We formed two colorful bucket brigade lines. One was the bucket line to move the bowls of concrete to build the foundation for the columns, the other to return the bowls to be refilled. There were some “hey’s!” and laughing as friends in line occasionally got distracted talking to each other and delayed the pass.

The third day we hit a major milestone. With the footings set, a team of men and women grabbed the first 25-foot-tall rebar column and hoisted it into place and secured it with jute ropes. More concrete was fire bucket brigaded to secure the base of the pillar. And in true build with what you have, doors were used as the forms. A huge cheer went up to celebrate this highly fulfilling and visible achievement.

VIDEO: Site tour of the Team Dayā school construction in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.

My deep thoughts.

In a subsistence-based agricultural village, there is a never-ending list of chores demanding everyone’s time. I’m not sure how they found the time to volunteer for the build.

Seeing 60-year-old women in their brightest saris jumping into 5-foot-deep holes to finish digging them is an image I will never forget. Working side by side with an 81-year-old man, laughing and grunting as we moved large rocks was an instant connection.

To witness 50 locals, of all ages and both sexes commit to six hours of community service every day while laughing, having fun and coming together as a community speaks volumes of how important this school is.

Thanks again for your support and donations.  They are making a difference.

Next time- Closing festival and final thoughts

Donate here

Until next time-

Thane

POST 5 – Nepal school build – Parting is such sweet sorrow

The sun smiled down on us and the solitary tree in the courtyard of the school yard. The locals say the tree has positive spirits, but you can see ghosts in it at night. It was our last day building connections and working towards a common goal. And before we knew it, it was time for us to go and hand the rest of the build to the very motivated locals and skilled laborers.

The locals celebrated the progress we made as a unified team with a celebration of thanks and goodbyes. Speeches of recognition and gratitude, elementary students singing and dancing, a Bollywood inspired dance, and the entire village dancing a two-step in a circle (they really like to dance here). It was not long before hands were extended pulling us into the circle as part of their community – two steps forward, one step back, round and round. I saw smiles and joy of a community united in what they had accomplished. 

In the background of our celebration – four rebar columns pointing towards the sky and 220 feet of two-foot-deep trenches ready for forms and concrete. From here the skilled laborers will provide the leadership and direction to finish the school. The villagers will provide the manual labor like they did for the three days with us working at their side. The plan is to have the school complete and ready to host classes in 106 days (around mid-February). Things sure go a lot faster when you don’t have plumbing, complex building codes, unions stoppages or inspections. 

I felt the mixed emotions of sadness and pride as we boarded our rickety but trusty bus to drive to the airport. Living with an incredibly generous host family, walking in their shoes, working side by side digging, tying rebar and learning hands on about their culture leaves me with a sense of awe at how easy they make it look. 

Your generous donations are paying for the skilled laborers and material to finish the school. The committed villagers are donating their manual labor. I will send updates as the school build progresses. You have helped leave a legacy of better educated children. Thank you!

Donate here 

Next Time- observations and final thoughts 

Thane 

POST 6 – Nepal school build – Observations and Final Thoughts

Before I share my final thoughts:

If being immersed in a new culture while creating long term positive impact sounds like an experience you’re interested in, shoot me a note. I’ll connect you with the leaders at Team Dayā.  They are always looking for new team members for future trips to Africa, Central America and Nepal.

My closing thoughts:

An hour and a half drive avoiding cows, dogs and drivers playing chicken, with the last half hour on a bumpy, narrow dirt road with half-finished  bridges, takes you from Dhangadhi, the 9^th largest city in Nepal with a population of about 100,000 to Shripur, population 1,500. Shripur is where Team Dayā spent three days working side by side with the committed locals to build a new school.

Shripur is a village of concrete houses randomly dropped into the fields-fields that run right up to the foundations. This village is all agriculture all the time. Primary crops are grains, rice and other vegetables that become dinner – true farm to table. And, 100% organic – fertilizer from the cows, goats and compost is hand applied. All but the largest fields are tended by hand – tilling, planting, harvesting – all done by the family that owns the land and that often includes grandmother.

Most of the villagers migrated from the hills in the last 40 years and homesteaded and/or purchased their property. This was their path to a better life. Today, most of the younger working generation has taken jobs in India or the Middle East. This is their path to a better life. The downside is it leaves children without their parents for extended periods. Another responsibility for grandmother.

Shripur has no plumbing, water or sewer systems. Every property has a creaky hand pump to pull water from their well. Similar to the locals, showering consisted of dumping a jug of cold water from the pump over my head. Thankfully, it was refreshing after a long day of work in the hot sun.  Each residence has an outhouse with a squat toilet that is flushed by a jug of water. Cooking is done over a wood fired stove or propane gas from a tank.  

During our gender talk, a question-and-answer session with 20 men ages high school to grandfather (our female team member had a similar session with the women), we learned 90% of the men had arranged marriages.  Even though it was outlawed by Nepal in 2017, most of the women of the village practice chhaupadi, sleeping in a menstrual hut and separating themselves from the family when they are menstruating. The biggest goal for the community is not running water or sewer, but a reliable road that does not get blown out during monsoon season.

Given the lack of infrastructure, I was surprised to have kids ask me to make Tik Toks with them. I may be going viral! I saw mobile devices in the hands of most of the adults. During our Q & A I polled our group and 90% of them said their children have access to the internet. Most popular apps- Facebook and Tik Tok. I asked them how they feel about this access. They all agreed it is a good thing when used for education and a terrible thing when used as a time-waster. They also admitted they have no idea what their kids are accessing. Sounds a lot like home!

Internet access via mobile devices came to the village about five years ago.  When we were there, the first Wi-Fi router had just been installed in a neighboring home.

It has me thinking – how will this change the perspective of a 16-year-old watching glamorous Bollywood movies and being exposed to Indian and western culture? How do they come to terms with how different their lifestyle is to what they are seeing on their mobile device?

How will generative AI (chatGPT, Copilot, etc.) materially impact Shripur? No one was talking about it, but I’m sure they will be.

Stay tuned. With a combination of education, access to the internet, and most importantly, an unceasing drive to move beyond the extremely hard life of subsistence farming to something better, Shripur and the thousands of villages like it in Nepal will accelerate their growth trajectory.

One final thanks for your support. This school building trip has been an incredible experience for me, the rest of Team Dayā as well as the forward thinking and hard-working locals of Shripur.

Until next time-

Thane

Donate here

Our 2025 Nepal Team

Two of the six team members did not travel to the school building project, but fundraised with their own activities. One ran a half marathon in Malibu, California and the other spoke about the importance of Building Change while raising funds for his own ad tech start up.

“Not everyone has the time to make a trip around the world, but everyone can still make a contribution to Building Change,” said Team Dayā Head of Recruiting Jaryd Knutsen. If you have the time and inclination to travel with us to bear witness, great – but if you are already doing something remarkable in your professional or personal life  you can still deliver a big impact as a Team Dayā member.”

Please consider supporting  Team Dayā. We cannot build these schools without your support. Example investment opportunities:

• $40,000 Fund an entire school
• $1,000 Paint for a school
• $500 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
• $250 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school

Our Nepal ‘25 Team

Meet our Nepal ‘25 team and please consider supporting them. All contributions go directly to our school building fund. Team members pay all their own travel costs.

Liffick. Thane is the founder and CEO of Signal North Advisory, where he works with early stage, high growth companies. He spent over 20 years at Slalom Consulting as managing director and created the firm’s healthcare practice area. Donate.

Mitchell. Jordan is a founding member of Team Dayā, Inc. and an alumnus of multiple school building projects. He has spent his career across ad tech including as an SVP at IAB Tech Lab (head of consumer privacy, identity and data), VP product at Rubicon Project and founder, chairman and CEO at Others Online. “I think about the legacy I want to leave. I understand that after I’m gone, it’s not the things I have (or had) that matter; rather, it’s the respect I’ve built for myself in my community and the lives I’ve touched.” Donate.

Patel. Sajal is the director of partnerships & business development at Nextdoor. She has also worked at TransUnion, Turn, Razorfish and VivaKi. “As a first-generation Indian American woman, I was taught about the power of education and the difference it can make in one’s life—not just as knowledge gained, but as freedom earned.” Donate.

Pillai. Mano is co-founder at AI Agent management platform Hypermindz.ai. He was previously chief product officer at Liveintent, CEO at Nikaza and has held product-engineering roles at Neustar, AddThis and AOL. “I grew up in a family of educators, and from an early age, I understood that education is so much more than just reading and writing—it’s a transformative force that can change lives and uplift entire communities.” Donate.

Sepsey. Melodey is the director of enterprise partnerships at Nexxen. She has also worked at Amobee, Turn and Starcom Mediavest Group. “Having an adopted brother from Guatemala and understanding what the daily living conditions there are, I really was drawn to the mission of providing support through education to low-income countries.” Donate.

Sears. Jay is the founder and CEO of Team Dayā, Inc. He also operates the local community news site MyRye.com in his hometown. He spent over 25 years at media and technology companies including mastercard, Rubicon Project, Pulsepoint, ContextWeb, EDGAR Online and Wolff New Media. Donate.

If you are interested in joining a future school build, please contact our head of recruiting, Jaryd Knutsen.

Your Support & The Team

Please consider supporting  Team Dayā. We cannot build these schools without your support. Example investment opportunities:

• $40,000 Fund an entire school
• $1,000 Paint for a school
• $500 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
• $250 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school

Three Ways You Can Help

1. Make a Donation Online
   • Example investment opportunities:
     • $40,000 Fund an entire school
     • $1,000 Paint for a school
     • $500 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
     • $250 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school
2. Spread the Word
   • Share our mission with your friends, your company and your industry
   • Invite us to speak about our mission to your network
   • Follow us LinkedIn, X / Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
3. Join the Team & Travel on a School Build
   • If you have a combination of fundraising chops, an adventurous spirit and the belief each of us has the capacity to be Building Change, get in touch with us and have a conversation.

Team Dayā 2026 School Project Dates:

We are now actively recruiting members for our 2026 groundbreakings. If you are curious to learn more about joining a build, please reach out to our Head of Recruiting Jaryd Knutsen. Not sure? Watch the documentary Building Change, the Team Dayā Story (8 minute run time), by Kathmandu based filmmaker Shyam Karki of Samson Film Productions.

Guatemala 2026

• Sunday, March 22, 2026 – Saturday, March 28, 2026 
• Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
• Arrive & depart: Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA-La Aurora Intl.)

Malawi 2026

• Sunday, June 28, 2026 – Saturday, July 4, 2026
• Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
• Arrive & depart: Lilongwe, Malawi (LLW-Kamuzu Intl.)

Senegal 2026

• Sunday, November 29, 2026 – Saturday, December 5, 2026
• Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
• Arrive & depart: Dakar, Senegal (DSS-Blaise Diagne Intl.)

Thanks again for your continued support,

All of us at Team Dayā