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The Broadleaf team is a scrappy and passionate group of talented individuals dedicated to bringing change and improving the living conditions in the rural communities of the Eastern Himalayas. 

Broadleaf’s team is consists of our programatic staff based in Darjeeling and our Community Health Activists that work and reside in the surrounding communities in which we work.  Broadleaf's leadership team and board of directors work on a volunteer basis and are largely based throughout the U.S. Broadleaf has also been fortunate enough to host fellowships from the American Indian Foundation's (AIF) Clinton Global Fellowship program. These fellows are supported by AIF and serve Broadleaf for a yearlong period. 

Our Indian based team

Priscilla Giri

Priscilla Giri is a Project Officer working for Broadleaf's program, CHHIP. She has been working for CHHIP since 2012. Priscilla was born and brought up in Darjeeling; during her schooling in Darjeeling her urge to work for the community developed. After completing her graduation from Mount Carmel College and Post Graduation in Social Work from St. Joseph's College, Bangalore she returned home and got a chance to work for the people of Darjeeling through CHHIP Broadleaf. Priscilla works with the aim to reach out to the unreached. She supports and coordinates the School Health Activists at the community-level implementation of CHHIP. Additionally, she supports the development and progress of the Health Education and Health Interventions within our partner schools. The thirst to learn and also to teach has increased for Priscilla in these past several years with CHHIP Broadleaf. Priscilla moves forward with the belief that if a child is molded by healthy education and good health then the child will lead to the path of empowerment.

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Sanjeeta Thapa

Sanjeeta Thapa joined CHHIP as a second Project Officer and she is really thrilled to work with CHHIP. She completed her Masters in Social Work from Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan. CHHIP has given her a great opportunity to work in the area where she was born and raised and serve the children and communities in need. Sanjeeta believes that she too can make a difference in the lives of the people even though it might be a small change or difference in people's lives. Even if she can bring a smile to someone's face, it feels like a great achievement for her. Likewise, as Sanjeeta has always worked with children, even in her college days as part of her field work curriculum, it has always been a great experience as she has learned a lot from the children. Sanjeeta deeply believes that children are the agents of change and the future generation.

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Our Community School Health Activists

DHIRAJ RAI

Dhiraj Rai is a full-time School Health Activist from the Singrimtam Agricultural Cluster. Dhiraj is currently working with two public, government schools and one low-cost private school. Dhiraj comes to CHHIP as a highly respected member of his community, not only for his continual involvement in social projects, but also for his excellence in horticulture.


Dhiraj lives in Singrimtam Busty on a very small farm run by his family. He shares his home with his parents Mohan Das Rai and Padam Maya Rai. His wife, Bina Rai and their children also live in their home. Aside from his duties supervising the horticulture work on their plot of land, Dhiraj also serves as the Community Representative President at the Singrimtam High School, along with several other social work postings in his community. His favorite subject in school was Nepali and he loves to write poetry and stories.


When CHHIP asked Dhiraj why he wanted to become an SHA he explained that children’s health is a very serious issue to him. He believes that CHHIP can improve the health of the children in his community. For those reasons, Dhiraj wanted to be actively involved in such a program. His goals for this year, outside of CHHIP, involve improving his farming and horticulture skills at his home. He plans to continue to plant new and exciting varietals of plants from this region and cultivate them, just as he plans to cultivate the minds of the children in Singrimtam.

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SATYAM TAMANG


Satyam Tamang is a full-time School Health Activists from the Marybong Tea Estate community. This year Satyam will work with two public, government schools and one low-cost private school.  Aside from his work with Broadleaf, Satyam involves himself with his community in many areas and enjoys being part of the development of children in his community.


Satyam lives in Marybong Gaon, the main village at the Tea Estate.  His favorite subject in school was Nepali.  He enjoys playing football and is an avid reader.  Satyam is recently married and lives with his wife and his parents, Dil Kumar Tamang and Sangeeta Tamang.  His brother Bisen and his sister Rashna also live with them.  As an active member of his family, Satyam helps with preparing the food for his family.  He also teaches Bal Vikash, a spiritual education from the guru Sai Baba, to the children of Marybong.  


The reason that Satyam gave for joining CHHIP was that he wants to be an active part of the development of young people in his school, community, and village.  He believes that being involved in developing young minds is a very meaningful way for him to actually see change happening.  Satyam has also expressed his excitement to begin increasing the environmental awareness of children through CHHIP.  Additionally, he enjoys using active-based learning as a fun and productive method of education in the classroom.  Satyam loves promoting learning through games and sports as a part of CHHIP.

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MARIYAM SUBBA


Mariyam Subba is a School Health Activist from the Lingten Agricultural Cluster. She currently works with two government schools and one low-cost private school.  She is a thoughtful and active member of her community and well respected by her peers and elders. Recently, Mariyam and her husband have opened a small road-side shop within their village to help supplement her family's living expenses. 


Mariyam lives in Kolbong Busty, a village located approximately three-hours outside of Darjeeling town.  The nearest town area to Kolbong is Bijanbari.  Mariyam is married to Puk Tshering Lama and together they are raising a kind and thoughtful teenage son, Abishek Lama.  Aside from being a CHHIP SHA, Mariyam is in charge of cooking all of the meals for her family and taking care of everyone who lives in her house, which includes her husband, son, and father-in-law, Pama Lama.  She is also an active member in her church and assists with a Bible study group, and serves as a Sunday School teacher.  Prior to working with CHHIP, Mariyam was already an advocate for health in her community and often helped take people who had fallen ill into the town area to see a doctor or get the medical help they required.  


When we asked Mariyam why she wanted to become a CHHIP SHA, she explained that she was excited to learn new things about health.  Her desire for knowledge is not only to help further herself, but she specifically told us that she plans to use the knowledge gained to help her community move forward in their understanding of health and hygienic behaviors.  Mariyam feels that being a part of her communities’ development will be a rewarding job for everyone in the Lingten area.

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NIMA CHODEN TAMANG



Nima Choden is one of Broadleaf's School Health Activists from the Lingten Agricultural Cluster.  Nima currently works in one government school and two low-cost private schools.  She is an energetic young woman and always brings smiles and laughter to the CHHIP team.


Nima Choden lives in Padeng Busty, a village located approximately three-hours outside of Darjeeling town.  She is married to Deepak Rai and together they have a sprightly, primary school-aged son, Swarup Rai.  Along with her work as a CHHIP SHA, Nima Choden cooks all of the food for her family, including her in-laws who live with her, and keeps her home tidy and clean.  She and her husband also run a small farm on their land where they grow many fruits and vegetables including pineapple! Aside from her duties at home, she also provides free tutoring to children in her community, and works closely with her son to nurture his early-development.


When we asked Nima Choden why she wanted to become a CHHIP SHA, she explained that she feels that improving the health in primary students is the key to their future success.

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Eric

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Michael

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Denna

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Robert Gonzales

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JC Kollmorgen

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Jessica Mausner

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Matt Matergia

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Jessica Mausner

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Matt Matergia

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