Today we’d like to introduce you to Nara Khakurel.
Hi Nara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Becoming A Lion: The Power of Friendship
On October 12, 2020, I joined the Lions Club of Baltimore Nepalese. Being a Lion member for the past five years plus has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my life. I am learning and witnessing that the true service comes from the heart; every community service project I joined reminded me that even small acts of kindness impact bigger and ultimately can change people’s lives. During the service projects, I got an opportunity to see the real needs, real struggles, and real hope in our communities and beyond. At the end, all the activities we did together strengthened my compassion and desire to serve those in need without any expectation in return.
On the other hand, I discovered confidence through various leadership trainings offered by Lions clubs, in local, district, and international levels. It is a great gift to learn to listen with understanding, work in a team with a common purpose, lead with service through Lionism, and build a stronger community for a better future.
The most interesting experience is the friendships formed along the way, which shaped me not just a Lion but also a person in the training to become a better human. I met so many inspiring and positive Lions from different parts of the world, each of them has an amazing story to share, blended with beautiful cultures, dreams, and hopes. With this power of friendships, I now claim as a global citizen. The whole world is connected to me, and it fills my life with meaningful purpose. My lifelong commitment- I am opening my heart and mind to serve the world with compassion and love. I welcome you, and everyone can be a part of this journey to make a difference. Let’s discover the confidence you never knew you had and learn together how to lead by serving through something that you are passionate about.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Serving the community as a Lion might not always be a smooth road, but it has been deeply meaningful. I am a proud community servant hero. Like any volunteer service, we face challenges such as balancing time with work and family, securing resources, and keeping members engaged. There are also moments when community needs exceed what we can provide immediately. However, these challenges have strengthened our Lions Clubs, creativity, and commitment. Every obstacle reminds us why we serve, and the answer is simple and clear: to make a difference, even if it’s one person or one project at a time
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a Lion member, my work is focused on service, leadership, and community connection. I’m actively involved in planning and supporting service projects that identify real needs and address the passions of our community members, whether that’s community support initiatives, outreach, or partnerships that bring people together for a common global cause, such as hunger, vision, youth, environment, mental health, diabetes awareness, etc. I specialize in building connections and human relationships: associating with members to purpose, ideas to action, and service to long-term impact.
I love being consistent, approachable, and action-oriented. When something needs to get done, I focus on collaborations and follow-through rather than recognition. I believe service works best when people feel included, heard, and inspired. Sometimes, I do not have much to say in words, but I don’t stop; I keep doing things, ultimately, the work we do together makes a louder noise than our talk.
What I am most proud of is “One Act, Endless Impact”. When I see a project or activity to serve the community, and watch new members grow into confident leaders, that is a phenomenally awesome moment to me. Helping others step into service is just as meaningful to me as the service itself.
What sets me apart is my ability to blend passion, profession, and compassion with practical action. I bring people together, stay calm during challenges, and focus on sustainable solutions rather than short-term wins. For me, being a Lion isn’t just about what we do; it’s about how we do it, why we do it, and the legacy we leave behind through Lionsim.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Where I am today would not be possible without the great people around me, my family, friends, team members, and well-wishers. Thousands, and thousands of individuals are part of my story you already read, or reading now, or will read in the future, especially my father, Laxmi, my mother, Shivalaxmi, partner in service, Kristine, daughter,s Kara, and Zara.
Both service and business are never one-person journeys. My parents taught me well and put me on the path to becoming a good human being. And since 1979, I have been in training, as we all know, every day is a learning day.
I have been fortunate to have mentors within the clubs, districts, multiple districts, national, and international Lions. who guided me with the vision and mission, experience, perspective, and steady encouragement, especially during moments of doubt or transition. Their leadership taught me how to serve with integrity and consistency.
I am very grateful for my family and fellow Lions, whose commitment and willingness to show up, often quietly and without recognition, are the backbone of every successful service project. They helped me to turn ideas into action.
Our community members and supporters also deserve immense credit. Their trust, participation, and belief in our mission have shaped both our service work and our business. Many became cheerleaders, advocates, and partners simply because they felt heard and valued.
Finally, my family and close supporters have been my constant foundation, providing patience, understanding, and motivation behind the scenes. Their support made it possible for me to keep serving with purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lions22a.org/?fbclid=IwY2xjawP04U5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEzV1dJWXBnSFRrSDJQVWx0c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHueBjbttQsM1nb3R-yE9UoyflKsZBAAuBTKCgcT2KQ3hTNbAzDi9Xkq5xm2d_aem_jbj6UDClMppAQnjrIBYfAw
- Instagram: coffeetalktowson
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/narayan.khakurel.7
- Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/LionsClubBaltimoreNepalese
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Justtwominutes
- Yelp: https://www.lionsclubs.org/en
