We wish all Dads and Father figures a Happy Father's Day! This Father's Day, we would like to acknowledge one of our Founders and a father figure to many over the years, Ralph Hoey, and celebrate his many wonderful achievements.
World Youth International was founded in 1988 by Ralph's son Robert, who was passionate about creating opportunities for Australians to be challenged, motivated and connected while helping those less fortunate. Tragically, Robert passed away in 1996 when he was only 28 years old. While Ralph was devastated, his family embraced their pain and decided to take over the organisation that Robert had started and channel their grief into something positive.
As a result of the humanitarian work that we have achieved under Ralph's passionate guidance and leadership, Ralph became the first Australian to be awarded the Order of Nepal, the Gorkha Dakshin Bahu Award in 2004. In 2006, he was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia AM by the Governor General of Australia, His Excellency Michael Jeffery, for humanitarian services overseas.
Ralph is Hajiraba (Grandfather) to the children at our Sapana Dreaming Centre for Humanity. As well as being a father and grandfather, Ralph and his wife Ann have provided scholarships to many children in Nepal over the years. In particular, they sponsored a girl named Kalpana which enabled her to attend and graduate from the World Youth International School in Nepal. They went on to support Kalpana so that she could complete her nursing degree and then Kalpana helped run our Nurses In Action Nepal Programs as an assistant team leader for a year. In 2018, Kalpana was married and moved to Australia where she has continued her studies and nursing career. This is an example of Ralph's continuous commitment to empower youth through education, so that they can be inspired to achieve their dreams in life.
Ralph is a loving father who has successfully built a charity organisation and taken care of his own family, all while doing everything he can to inspire positive and sustainable change within vulnerable communities. There are many that aspire to help change the world but rarer to find those that have the tools, courage and motivation to make it a reality. Ralph, thank you for everything you do!
