This is Asia Calling correspondent Sunil Neupane's diary after receiving a huge impact on his story on a school for HIV positive students in Nepal. 

I was planning my trip to the far Western region of Nepal to cover a story about a local tradition, when I first heard about the HIV school. 

The school, known as the 'Safalata HIV Sikshya Sadan', is located near the capital city of Kathmandu. It’s a place which provides HIV positive children with accommodation, as well as an education. 

The founders, Raj Kumar Pun and Uma Gurung, are two young people who have a strong commitment to the children’s future. To begin with, they had no financial support. Raj Kumar sold his house and Uma sold her shop so they could afford to buy basic goods for the children.  They told me about the financial difficulties they were going through. 

At the school I met a young girl, around 10 years old. She told me her story... it made me feel numb. With tears in her eyes she recounted her experiences. I didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t stop crying. Then I talked to another girl who told me that her parents had died from AIDS, and how she was discriminated against in her village. Even her sister living in Kathmandu, had turned against her. It was hard for me to listen to their stories.

Even now, when I remember those two girls, I get very emotional. It’s hard to fight back my thoughts and difficult to hold back the tears. But, the next time I saw them, they both looked very happy. 

My story was then broadcast on Asia Calling and I ran the Nepali version on the Ujyaalo 90 Network’s main news bulletin. On the same day my report was broadcast, I received a call from a trade union who wanted to support the school. 

Then, I went online and shared my story with TFC Nepal – a Twitter group ‘dedicated to serving under-privileged and discriminated communities’. They quickly responded my request to help the school. 

Members of TFC Nepal visited the school and asked Raj Kumar Pun what they could do to help. He said that the school couldn’t afford to pay for the children’s basic needs and he asked TFC Nepal to help them buy rice, oil, and gas cylinders. 

Then TFC Nepal started a campaign (their 9th campaign to date) to support the school and they were able to collect nearly 600 US dollars. TFC Nepal bought 3-4 months worth of supplies including oil, rice, gas cylinders and cereals. They even celebrated the school’s 2nd anniversary with the children. 

I decided to run my own campaign. I used the Nepali version of the story and posted the audio and video recordings on the Ujyaalo 90 Network website. More and more support came... from two young Nepalese, a young photographer, a family from UK, Nepalese community in Uni Emirate Arab... and many more. In total, we gather nearly 4,000 US dollars in forms of money or other things to support the school. 

I’ve been a journalist for 11 years and have covered many issues and produced many stories. But this is the first story that has received such an overwhelming response. 

I’ve visited 'Safalata HIV Sikshya Sadan' more than ten times since I did the story. There are also many people who’d like to support these children who want to meet me. So, I have to keep going back. 

I‘ve now become very close friends with the children. I’m so grateful for the moments I’ve been able to share with them.