The World Youth International and Computershare Change a Life IT College was officially opened on May 30. The celebrations in Kathmandu were everything we hoped for, and the moment of watching those doors open for the first time is one none of us will forget. We are expecting the first intake of students to commence in August 2026.
But behind every milestone is a story. And this one has been eight years in the making.
We want to take you back to where it all began because the opening of the WYI IT College is not just a single event. It is the culmination of an extraordinary partnership, thousands of acts of generosity, and a shared belief that education has the power to change everything.
In May 2026, WYI General Manager Terry Hoey travelled to Nepal for the official grand opening alongside Computershare CEO Stuart Irving, members of the global Computershare team and WYI Directors, Rachel Condos-Fields and Bijanka Rajic. What they witnessed that day was the result of eight years of commitment, investment and collaboration between World Youth International and Computershare’s Change a Life Foundation.
This is that story.
How it began
The story of this partnership starts in 2017, when employees who contribute to Computershare’s Change a Life workplace giving program voted to select World Youth International as their global charity partner. Their goal was straightforward but profound - to expand and improve the WYI School in Gokarna, Nepal, giving more children access to quality education.
What followed was eight years of extraordinary generosity. Over 1,300 Computershare employees donate monthly via automatic payroll deductions, with every dollar matched by Computershare. Together, they have raised a staggering amount for WYI Nepal - funding new classrooms, a boarding home for 50 students, upgraded science labs and libraries, two new school buses, drainage systems, new roads, scholarships for female students, and so much more.
The partnership was recognised with a ‘Gold Award’ for Most Innovative Charity and Employer Relationship at the 2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards – a reflection of what the judging panel called “an authentic and growing partnership with great engagement.”
The WYI School is now one of the region’s most respected schools, attracting fee-paying students from across the area and moving steadily toward long-term self-sustainability.
What was built
When Computershare employees voted to continue their support in 2022, the vision expanded. This time, the goal was to build something new – a dedicated IT College that would bring digital education to young people in Nepal and help fund the school’s broader operations for years to come.
The result is a purpose-built, fully equipped IT College with five classrooms, state-of-the-art technology infrastructure, and everything students need to learn, grow and thrive in a digital world. Once fully operational, over 120 students will be studying a 4-year Bachelor of IT at the College.
Funds raised through the ‘Trek for Tech’ Grampians trek went toward computers and multimedia equipment, ensuring that when the doors opened, the college was ready in every sense of the word.
The Opening
On a milestone day in May 2026, Computershare CEO Stuart Irving officially opened the WYI Change a Life IT College. While the college now stands ready and fully equipped, the first intake of students will commence in August 2026. The early opening allowed us to celebrate this extraordinary achievement alongside Stuart and the global Computershare team during their visit to Kathmandu.
Stuart reflected on what the moment represented. "This initiative marks a powerful investment in the future of young people through high-quality IT education," he said. "This is more than a campus opening – it’s a long-term commitment to empowering communities, building digital skills, and creating pathways to brighter futures."
Why it Matters
What makes the WYI IT College truly remarkable is not just what it offers students today – it’s what it will sustain for years to come. Fees generated by the four-year Bachelor of IT degree will flow directly back into the operations of the WYI School, supporting over 800 students with the education and resources they need to thrive.
It is a model built for longevity. A partnership designed not just to give, but to empower. And for the young people of Nepal who will walk through those doors in August – students who might never have imagined a career in IT was within reach – it is the beginning of something extraordinary.
To every Computershare employee who has donated, trekked, volunteered and believed in this vision over eight incredible years, this college is your legacy. And we could not be more proud to have built it alongside you.
