Dhruba Thapa moved to Portugal with his family and settled in Sintra. Like many immigrants, he faced numerous challenges. For example, obtaining a health number, NIF, NISS, and navigating bureaucracy where English wasn’t spoken. Learning Portuguese became crucial, so Dhruba dedicated a few hours each morning to studying the language online. Within six months, he had gained basic communication skills and secured a job as a personal medical assistant to a prominent figure, the president of the Salvador Association. After five months, Dhruba realized the need for a platform to help other immigrants navigate the integration process, and that’s when Vida Central was born aiming to offer guidance and support to newcomers in Portugal.

Shyam Shrestha moved to Portugal in 2016 and later, in 2019, her family joined her. From the start, Shyam became involved with the Non-Resident Nepalese Association, which has since registered over 65,000 individuals and provided vital services. Through this involvement, Shyam helped the Nepali community by assisting with documentation and legal immigration services. In 2022, Shyam and Dhruba decided to start Vida Central, with the goal of offering even more comprehensive support to their community, providing services like language lessons, legal assistance, and guidance throughout the entire legalization process.