Beyond the Summit: Empowering Everest's Communities
The Himalayan Trust is an international non-profit humanitarian organisation working in the Everest region of Nepal. They work with local partners to bring quality education, safe water, and better healthcare to communities living in this remote, mountainous region.
“Our children have eyes, but they are blind and cannot see. We would like you to open their eyes by building a school in our village.”
Sir Edmund and Louise Hillary founded the Himalayan Trust in the 1960s. Ever since then, their example has inspired New Zealanders to give their time, money and support to help the people of Nepal through the Himalayan Trust.
A large proportion of their funding is raised by generous New Zealanders and they also have ongoing support from the New Zealand Aid Programme.
To Sir Ed, his greatest achievement was not climbing Everest, but helping the people of Nepal.
Ed begins it all
It all began in the early 1960s when Sir Ed asked a Sherpa: “If there was anything I could do for the Sherpa people, what do you think that would be?”
The Sherpa replied: “Our children have eyes, but they are blind and cannot see. We would like you to open their eyes by building a school in our village.”
This touched Sir Ed’s heart and he immediately set about building the first school in Khumjung. He went on to build schools, hospitals and health clinics across the Everest region.
For over six decades, the Himalayan Trust has been working with local partners in Nepal to reduce poverty and build a better future for communities in the Everest region.
What the Himalayan Trust does
Health matters
The Himalayan Trust has been working to improve the health and well-being of communities in the Everest region for over 60 years by supporting local health clinics and providing vital medical equipment and training for health workers.
Education and opportunities
The Himalayan Trust works to improve the quality of education in the Everest region by providing training for teachers, educational resources for schools, and scholarships to enable children to complete their education.
Safe water
The Himalayan Trust supports access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in remote mountain villages to improve health outcomes and economic opportunities for local communities.
Earthquake recovery
Following the 2015 earthquakes, the Himalayan Trust provided materials for temporary shelter and classrooms in the immediate aftermath. In 2018, they completed the construction of 150 earthquake-strengthened classrooms at 36 schools across the Everest region to replace those destroyed in the earthquakes.
More about Sir Ed
Sir Edmund Percival Hillary (20 July 1919 – 11 January 2008) was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953, Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Following his ascent of Everest, Hillary devoted most of his life to helping the people of Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, building schools, hospitals, bridges, an airstrip, and much more.
“I declare that I have had a full life with much happiness and a share of sadness. I have little cause for complaint. If, however, some people in New Zealand feel I have made some contribution to the prestige of my country then they could best demonstrate this by continuing modest support to the Himalayan people I have worked with for so many years.” Sir Edmund Hillary.
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