Most college graduates dream of a nice high-paying job in the city with a life of comfort and luxury, and join the rat race to achieve it. But not Budhinarayan Shrestha of Solukhumbu. After finishing his bachelors at Pulchok Engineering College in Kathmandu, he went right back to his remote village of Dorpubajar in Salleri. Along with 11 other students, Shrestha established the Young Star Club which is involved in implementing projects for development, health, education, communication, the environment. It has won the trust of the people because of its dedicated work to develop Solukhumbu. "We have reached this stage only because of the belief in service that our friends share," says Shrestha. "If we foster the feeling of community service, a lot can be done and our work has proved it. We have contributed more towards the development of Solukhumbu than the government."

Shrestha has been leading the club as its president since 1985. The people here look up to him as an inspiration. Says Nigma Pakhrin, manager of the Solukhumbu Edu-Communication Project: "If we had more people like him here, our district would be completely different."