Glenn Detrick

May Peace be with you

Chelsea Nepal Network (CNN)

Overview

The Chelsea Nepal Network is an “organization” with no legal standing, website, board of  directors or formal framework.  It exists and is funded by Glenn Detrick in honor and memory of his daughter Chelsea who died of cancer in 2009.  CNN was “founded” in 2023 to support like-minded NGOs in Nepal and across the world, and to bring them together for a personal/professional development conference. This has evolved as a Leadership Development Program  (LDP) co-sponsored, developed and managed by BlinkNow Foundation, a New Jersey, US-based substantial NGO operating in Nepal.

The first LDP brought 6 organizations together.  The second conference brought 13 organizations  and the third was attended by 27 organizations. So far, the program has supported 56 participants representing 37 organizations from six countries.  The conference has turned out to be the entry point for a broader leadership development program offered by BlinkNow. It is now a year-long annual program starting with an in-person Summit at Kopila Valley School in Surkhet, Nepal followed by bi-monthly virtual learning sessions.   Feedback from program participants has been very positive and they have shown significant gratitude for such a professional development opportunity – which is why CNN continues to financially support this effort.

History

Glenn Detrick is an American living in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.  He has been to Nepal eight times from 2007 – 2024 and he was on the board of Nepal Orphans Home (now Papa’s House) in the Dhapasi section of Kathmandu from 2012 – 2018.  There is a Chelsea Center building at Papa’s House that supports local women  — providing basic Nepali literacy skills, English language skills and general personal development programming.  It also offers after school activities for local kids.

Through his work there Glenn also came to know NGOs Sunsar Maya, ECC Nepal, Canopy and No Limits Nepal in addition to BlinkNow.   Glenn thought it might be useful, developmental and fun to get these organizations together to exchange ideas, discuss common challenges, develop a sense of camaraderie and establish a network of people and organizations that could learn from each other.  The first LDP delivered very well on these objectives and spawned what is now an annual event which will see its fourth offering in December 2026.  

NGOs working in Nepal with which Glenn is involved