About Us
Pencil Tree started in a very small way in 2014 when it was discovered that many children were going to school without a pencil to write with.
From distributing a few pencils to building a whole school
Meet our dedicated team
Stevie Bellamy - Founder and Director
Stevie has been visiting India and Nepal for over 25 years.
After a career in construction a quiet retirement was never an option. His energy and passion is now directed towards empowering children through education.
The fizzy hair cannot be underestimated either.
Image of Sangmo and Stevie after receiving an award from the Governor of Himachal Pradesh.
Tim O'Hara - Treasurer
Tim has 25 years experience in managing small businesses, including 12 years as a practice manager of financial services firms.
He linked up with Stevie in 2015 to formalize the set-up of The Pencil Tree, and as Public Officer, is responsible for the compliance of the Association.
Tim believes that education is the most effective way to lift the under privileged out of poverty.
Jane Anderson - Public Officer
Jane was a teacher in the UK with the majority of children coming from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Girls were often denied opportunities for personal growth. Moving to Australia with her twin daughters and husband, she ran a business for a number of years.
Jane took the opportunity to travel to Northern India with Pencil Tree to experience the problems and to help find solutions for the young children that needed help.
Dr Jon Stephenson - Secretary
Jon is a GP in Kingscliff, New South Wales and has worked as a medical missionary in Bihar (India) for 12 months with multiple return visits over the years.
Like Tim, he feels that education is the best preventative medicine for optimal care of the poor.
Surinder Kaushal - Head of operations India
Surinder is a long term resident of Dharamasala, running the Kailwood guesthouse in McLeod Ganj.
His local knowledge and extensive network, coupled with his interest to help children in poorer areas of Himachal Pradesh makes him invaluable to Pencil Tree's work in India.