Surya co-founded Maya Universe Academy (MUA) as a youth-led movement to improve the quality of primary education in rural villages in Nepal. The term maya, which means love in Nepali, lies at the heart of the Academy’s approach to education and rural development. Comprised of three elementary schools operating in different districts of the country, MUA pursues a unique model, with parents supporting their children’s education by volunteering two days each month to work on the school’s farm. The MUA curriculum, taught through learner-focused approaches, emphasizes the development of students’ innate curiosity and imagination. In addition to its support for students, MUA works hand-in-hand with their families to carry out community initiatives, such as health workshops and agricultural literacy programs, while providing vocational training and loans to farmers. Volunteers from Nepal and abroad donate their time to work in the fields and teach students, while gaining insights into the local culture. Currently, more than 180 students, ages 4 to 15, are receiving free education through MUA, with over 1,600 farmers and their families having benefited from vocational training and small-scale loans.

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