UK
Shimmy Pun Honored with Royal Borough of Greenwich Civic Awards 2026 for Transforming Lives of Elderly Gurkha : Shimmy Pun, a Nepali-origin community worker living in the United Kingdom, has been recognized for her outstanding volunteer work supporting elderly Gurkha women. According to the Nepali news portal We Nepali, Pun was honored with the Royal Borough of Greenwich Civic Awards 2026 in the volunteer category for her significant contribution to community service.
Pun, who works professionally as a senior caregiver, social worker, and volunteer educator, has spent more than a decade assisting elderly Gurkha women living in Britain. Many of these women face difficulties such as language barriers, cultural isolation, and social loneliness while adapting to life far from their homeland.
Through community partnerships and collaboration with organizations connected to the Gurkha community and the British Army, Pun has organized English language classes, mobile education sessions, and support initiatives designed specifically for elderly women. These programs help them communicate more confidently, access services, and integrate into local society.
Born in Hong Kong and raised in Pokhara, Nepal, Pun grew up in a family connected to the British Gurkha Army, where values such as discipline, sacrifice, and service were deeply rooted. Those same principles now guide her efforts within the Nepali diaspora community in the United Kingdom.
In addition to social care work, Pun is actively involved in promoting Nepali culture in the UK. She organizes cultural performances, charity fashion events, and educational programs that teach Nepali language and traditional dance to second-generation British-Nepali children, helping preserve cultural identity across generations.
Community leaders say her recognition highlights the important role played by volunteers who dedicate their time to supporting diaspora communities abroad. Shimmy Pun’s commitment to compassion, cultural pride, and service continues to inspire many within the Nepali community in Britain and beyond.
