The Himalayan Trust UK has been working since 1989 to help the mountain people of Nepal. We strive to improve the health and education in the mountainous regions of Northeastern Nepal, particularly in the Taplejung region. 

We still hold to the guiding principles laid down by Sir Edmund Hillary when he founded the first Himalayan Trust in 1960. 

>  To focus on basic infrastructure – education, health, environment
>  To do only that which is requested by the mountain people 
>  To involve the mountain people themselves in the work – “self help”
>  To minimise all unnecessary cost and to facilitate direct transfer of funds
>  To look for long term sustainability and independence for the mountain people

We have been working hard to improve the education of children in the remote villages where we work. We built classrooms, provide vital furniture and equipment, but in particular we have never forgotten the importance of the quality of the teaching and management of the schools. Our main work in education has focused on (head) teacher training with the result that there is generally a more proactive attitude among teachers, with improved facilities across many schools. We now have a first generation in Taplejung who are all literate and want to learn!

In our health programme we aim to help empower the remote rural communities to improve their own health and to take full advantage of the health services available to them, through community education, fundraising and support.

Our teams work alongside villagers and their leaders to help improve infrastructure and install and run health-related projects, including training around staff retention and support. We prioritise ensuring access to clean water and sanitisation, as well as focusing on maternal and neonatal health as key topics.

Multiple health projects are underway in the region and village leaders and healthcare professionals report significant improvements in the health of their communities.