One Summer in Nepal, a Lifetime of Change: Mika Ishiguro’s Story

Mika Ishiguro with the girls of The Small World, inspired by their resilience and dreams.

From Traveler to Changemaker: Mika Ishiguro’s Journey to Empower Girls in Nepal

A summer journey to Nepal transformed the life of Mika Ishiguro—and now she’s transforming the lives of others.

Traveling with The Small World, Mika connected with girls, children, and local communities in the Everest region. She met Sanam and Karma, the founders of The Small World, whose tireless work educating children, keeping girls in school, and empowering communities left a lasting impression. Their grassroots approach and unwavering passion inspired her to take action.

Mika Ishiguro with The Small World girls and Arhaus Children’s Home kids—sharing smiles, hope, and inspiration

Returning home to Marin County, near San Francisco, Mika teamed up with friends from her community to launch The Small World Marin—an initiative committed to supporting girls’ education and empowerment in Nepal. Through fundraising, mentorship, and global community engagement, Mika is helping create tangible opportunities for young girls to learn, grow, and thrive.

The need is urgent. Girls in Nepal face daily barriers to education, safe housing, and opportunities to succeed. Mika is on a mission to support The Small World’s work on the ground—addressing these challenges every day, ready to take action, and inspiring communities worldwide to do the same.

Books in hand, dreams in heart: The Small World girls ready to shine with the gift of education

You can make a difference. Your support—whether through donations, spreading the word, or joining in mentorship—directly impacts the lives of girls and families in Nepal. Together, we can help build safer schools, brighter futures, and empowered communities.

Learn more & support: The Small World Marin-https://www.thesmallworldmarin.com