Nepali Immigrants Bridge the Gap For Immigrant Families Navigating a New School System as Sylvan Learning Franchisees

Maya Dulal and her brother-in-law Narad Adhikari, both Nepali-speaking Bhutanese, immigrated to the United States as refugees in 2009 and 2011, respectively. Both pursued careers — Dulal as a software engineer and mortgage loan officer, and Adhikari in education and social services — before recognizing the need for specialized educational support in their community, particularly for immigrant families.

Dulal’s journey to opening a Sylvan Learning Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was deeply personal. As a mother of two, caretaker of her parents, and a working professional, she found herself struggling to find the time and the right approach to help her children with their education at home. When she searched the Harrisburg community for resources, she was not satisfied with the options available. Her frustration grew as she realized there was a lack of adequate educational support centers in the area, especially those that could accommodate the unique needs of her children. This motivated her to take action, so she teamed up with Adhikari, who had an educational background, to create a resource that could help not only her children but also others facing similar challenges.

Their personal experiences navigating the challenges of a new country inspired Dulal and Adhikari to open a Sylvan Learning Center in Harrisburg to help all children achieve academic success. Whether addressing the unique challenges faced by immigrant students or supporting mainstream American children, their goal is to provide personalized tutoring and guidance that bridges gaps in learning and helps every student meet educational standards.

Dulal and Adhikari took the time to chat with the 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what they had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Maya Dulal: I came to the United States in 2009 as a refugee from Nepal. After I graduated, I started working as a software engineer in Washington, D.C. My educational background wasn’t solid, but I still managed to go to school while living in a refugee camp. I worked in D.C. until 2013, then moved to Harrisburg. After having kids, I stayed home for about four years. During COVID, I decided to do something new, so I got my mortgage loan officer license and started working in loans.

When my kids started school, I found it challenging to help them with their education while juggling my responsibilities as a mother, a caretaker, and a working professional. I searched the community for resources, but nothing seemed to meet my children’s needs. I also realized that other parents were facing similar issues. That’s when I realized the need for a Sylvan Learning Center in our area. We decided to start a Sylvan franchise to help the community and students who were falling behind. Narad’s son Biraj and my husband, Laxman, have been supporting us in this journey.

Narad Adhikari: I came to the United States in 2011. My first job was as a sales associate in the auto industry, but soon after, I moved to Massachusetts and worked with the school district there. I assisted students with limited English in the ELL department, and during that time, I realized how important it is for new students — especially those from other countries — to have additional support outside of the school system. After COVID, Maya and I, along with our families, discussed how we could help students in need of tutoring and coaching, which led us to start the Sylvan franchise in Harrisburg. We’re excited about this venture and the impact it will have on the community.

1851: What made you choose this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Maya Dulal: As a mother, my children's education is my top priority. I wanted to find a way to support them academically, but all the services I found in the Harrisburg community were too generic. They didn’t account for the different learning styles and levels of my two children. Sylvan Learning stood out to me because of its personalized approach to education. It’s designed to meet each child's unique needs, which was exactly what I was looking for. I’m excited about the impact we can have on students in our area and to offer peace of mind to parents who are concerned about their child’s academics but don’t know how to help.

Narad Adhikari: I want people to understand the importance of education and the role that franchises like Sylvan can play in providing one-on-one coaching, especially for younger students and those preparing for college. When I was helping ELL students in Massachusetts, I saw that the student-to-teacher ratio was a big problem. Teachers tried their best, but they just didn’t have enough time to help students individually. As a result, students who were already behind due to language barriers couldn’t keep up. When I saw that Sylvan Learning focused on personalizing learning plans, I got excited. With just a little extra individual attention, I believe every student can achieve great things.

1851: How has your personal experience as immigrants helped you connect with your students and their families?

Maya Dulal: Being immigrants ourselves, we understand the challenges that come with moving to a new country, especially for families who don’t speak English fluently. Integrating into a new community is difficult, especially for children, who often struggle academically and miss out on other activities like sports and extracurriculars. Many families in our community are still facing these challenges, and they’ve shared with me how hard it is to find the right educational resources. That’s where we come in. We’re not just offering tutoring; we’re offering a lifeline to parents who want the best for their children but don’t know where to start.

Narad Adhikari: Language and cultural barriers are significant challenges for new families in our area. In our first year, we want to educate the community, not just our own but also other cross-cultural communities facing similar issues. Even for mainstream American children, helping them do better in academics gives them more time and confidence to pursue other interests like sports, community service, hobbies, and innovation. We aim to be a center where families can find the help they need to ensure their children not only receive a quality education but also succeed in life.

1851: What’s your big goal for your first year?

Maya Dulal: Our biggest goal for the first year is to make people in Harrisburg aware that we exist and that we’re here to help. We aim to reach at least 50 to 70 kids in our first year, whether they need help meeting grade standards, want to excel in advanced subjects or need support preparing for college entrance exams. We want to be a resource for all kinds of families and students.

Narad Adhikari: I agree with Maya, we want to focus on marketing and educating the community, especially immigrant families who might not know where to turn for help. We hope to increase Sylvan Learning’s brand awareness and reputation by showing results in the community.

ABOUT SYLVAN LEARNING

With more than 45 years of experience and more than 710 points of presence, Sylvan Learning is the leading provider of personal learning for students in grades K-12. Sylvan is transforming how students learn, inspiring them to succeed in school and in life. Sylvan’s proven tutoring approach blends amazing teachers with SylvanSync™ technology on the iPad® for an engaging learning experience. Sylvan also leads the way with Sylvan EDGE — STEM and accelerated courses and Sylvan Prep — college and test prep courses. Sylvan supports families through every stage of the academic journey.  For more information, visit www.SylvanLearning.com.