1.	Introduction
2.	Join our Service Walk
3.	Charmading Secondary High School
4.	Dhaurkharkha Health Clinic
5.	Debouche Convent Project
6.	New Environmental Project – Bio Thermal Energy
7.	Support to Individuals and other Organizations
8.	Himalayan Children’s Care Home
9.	Testimonials from previous SummitTrek members
10.	Conclusion

1. Introduction: The Mount Everest Foundation for the Sustainable Development of Nepal and Tibet works with poor families near Mount Everest to help them with health care, education, cultural and environmental preservation. Please join us! We urge you to consider making a donation to support our work, to become a member of a service walk in the Himalayan foothills near Mount Everest, and to sponsor a fund raising presentation/event. www.WaysYouCanHelp.org

2. Join our Service Walk. We have been busy doing service work this year and invite you to come to Nepal for 2 weeks in November to join our fun and interesting www.RemoteNepalServiceTrek.org.

This is an opportunity for women and men of all ages to feel, witness and participate in the wonders that people can work when they decide to pitch in and help with education, health care, environmental and cultural preservation (Our team members, men and women of all ages, walking the wide and gentle trails during www.RemoteNepalServiceTrek.org. Photo: Bruce Manning).

This is a low-altitude walk through beautiful green terraced valleys in the foothills, near Everest where the trails are wide, but tourists seldom tread. It is a unique opportunity to join expedition leader Dan Mazur meet the local rural families and help to make a difference in the people's lives. 100% of your trip cost and international flight are tax deductible. back to top

3.  Charmading Secondary High School  

The new high school, serving 300 children (up to class ten), has been completed and class is in session. The school is now open with 8 new teachers and 300 students.

Each teacher earns $75/month. This month everyone is very excited as they are putting the finishing touches on the new teacher’s offices. We will visit and teach at the school during our trek in November. We sincerely appreciate the support of Erik Petersen, Equator Adventures, Barclays, and Thick 'n Thin. back to top

4. Dhaurkharkha Health Clinic - Now in its fifth year, this clinic has three health workers and provides the mainline medical care for 4,000 people living in the valley. We will visit the clinic in November. The basic cost to run the clinic amounts to $25 per day, so even small donations can make a real impact on community health care (photo right: Dhaurkharkha health worker Jamyang and visiting Doctor Lisa McLellan examining a baby, while mother looks on. Photo: Murari Sharma). back to top

Charmading Health Clinic - On a trial basis, one of our health workers is conducting a 1-day a week health clinic in the neighbouring village.

5. Debouche Convent Project - 7 nuns live a quiet life in Nepal's oldest nunnery, located in the famous Khumbu valley within view of Mount Everest.

Marcia Macdonald has discovered that many people are concerned about preserving the fragile culture in this rapidly changing valley. Basic improvements are really needed, including a waterline to the kitchen ($1,250), as water currently has to be carried, one jug at a time, from a 300 meter distant well.  A retreat center has been proposed where foreigners can share ideas and learning with practicing Buddhist nuns and scholars. The center, which will cost about $3,300, will be located in one of the old nun's quarters,  currently used as a barn for storing grass, and will be refurbished to become cozy and warm. In addition, a new teacher will be brought in to lead the retreats for both Nepalese and foreign residents and visitors (Nuns in Debouche Convent. Photo: DL Mazur).  back to top

6. New Environmental Project - Bio Thermal Energy in the Himalaya: creation of burnable methane from composting waste. The increasing population of Nepal is generating waste. Rubbish is a growing problem and is tossed into the river. In rural areas, there are plenty of cows and agricultural waste. Where tourists travel, human waste and kitchen/restaurant waste abound. These waste products can be easily composted to produce burnable methane gas which can be stored in cylinders, burned in kitchen stoves, and even be used to generate electricity (photo right: Cooking on biogas makes sense for Nepal, as 80% of the population are poor farmers.)

The process is environmentally friendly, as it transforms waste to valuable high-quality fertilizer, generating methane which is then captured and burned, rather than allowing the gas to freely enter the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. We are presently seeking engineers and interested people to develop bio thermal energy projects, and are looking for volunteers who want to get involved in the design, research, and installation of this new environmental project. back to top

7. Support to Individuals and other Organizations  

We are currently providing scholarships for 15 students, including three teenage girls who are studying to become their village’s first teachers. back to top

Pasang Sherpa has had his legs surgically straightened so that he will be able to walk and lead a normal life. Photo: DL Mazur. Nima Tamang has no ears but still leads the class in school. Photo: DL Mazur

Pasang, the 14 year old boy who had surgery for bow leggedness (rickets) has recently gained a new found mobility and is studying at a monastery. Nima, the 8 year old girl with no ears is enjoying deaf school, learning to read and becoming quite a book worm and socialite.

Elaine Smith, Kharis Fausset and Stan Armington  have been very supportive, and we must thank them for providing the new bicycles to the kids at the Himalayan Children's Care Home. We were kindly touched by Betty Tisdale in her work at HALO, Helping and Loving Orphans. Alex Mondau has been working to help the SDC Orphanage; Barbara Trenary and Sandy Murray were very busy with Hope First Foundation, and last but not least Scot MacLennan has been doing amazing things at the Mountain Fund. back to top

8. Himalayan Children’s Care Home

On 13th Nov 2006, The Himalayan Children's Care Home was founded with children from extremely deprived families, living together under one roof to give them a better future. At present the home has 33 children aged between 5 and 16. They are from different villages in and around the Mustang region. Some of them are orphans; some have only one parent while others are from financially poor families who are not in a position to afford any fees. Himalayan Children’s Care Home is aimed at providing a modern education and upbringing. It also aims to preserve the unique Tibetan culture and traditions that are currently on the brink of extinction (Dinner time at the Himalayan Children’s Care Home Photo Copyright: S R Larsen).  back to top

9. Here is what a few previous trek members had to say about their time on the service walk:

Brian & Jackie (Birmingham UK):

‘’Our Service Trek was easy, but adventurous walking in remote, beautiful parts of Nepal seldom visited by any westerners. My wife Jackie and I were apprehensive before the trip as we were concerned it may be too strenuous and the living conditions too basic. In the event we found the walking easy (we are of moderate fitness only) and, although the living conditions were basic we found it completely acceptable and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and adventure. The most rewarding part of the trip for us was the real feeling of helping people, particularly the children, in such a poor, remote part of the country. We came away wanting to help more and realized how a small amount of money can make a massive difference to their lives. We really want the Mount Everest Foundation and all of the team to keep this going; it is so worthwhile and makes such a difference.’’

Rachel Dillhof (Mercer Island):

 ‘’I volunteered at the clinic in Patale. I loved having the opportunity to meet the Sherpa people and learn about their health needs. I felt completely welcomed by the community, who were gracious and fun-loving hosts. I would recommend this trek to anyone who would like to experience both the natural beauty of Nepal and have an opportunity to interact with the Nepali people on a meaningful level. I was nervous about my ability to keep up physically but I found that the trek was just challenging enough and I always felt comfortable and supported by the staff. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity and hope to go again.’’

Elaine Smith (New Zealand):

Upper Valley Patale School House Experience

‘’After a full day of teaching modest English, number recitation, basic mathematics and some much enjoyed netball sports activity during an extended lunch hour we were in turn treated to a series of songs by the various-aged school children and their teacher who was skillfully playing a round handmade drum.  Their Nepalese songs and dancing were quite delightful.  It was one of the most memorable days of my life so far.’’

Dave Dogruel (Albuquerque):

‘’I volunteered at the clinic in Dhaurkharkha, and If you want to visit a remote and beautiful part of the world with wonderful people, both on the team and along the way, and help in a meaningful way, this is a trip you should seriously consider.  With a blend of comfort, work and adventure, the experience is a good match for many people.  There are many ways to visit such remote places and many groups working around the world on similar projects, but the SummitTrek Service Walk and the Mt. Everest Foundation for Sustainable Development are two of the best’’. back to top

Kanad (New Jersey):

"Our trek was a wonderful and exciting experience. We had the opportunity to participate in the lives of people who don't often see tourists. It is certainly a worthwhile venture to see the beautiful and wild areas of this country, but to be able to experience the people's hospitality and hopefully give them something back in the process is something special indeed. We left with the hope that our presence planted the seed in the minds of the people of Patale that their way of life is something valued by people of other nations. May all subsequent Service Treks meet with the success that ours enjoyed!" 

10. Conclusion:  Please help us by either making a donation to support our work, to become a member of a service walk in the Himalayan foothills near Mount Everest, or sponsor a fund raising presentation/event. www.WaysYouCanHelp.org

Please send us an email reminder or just say hi at info@MountEverestFoundation.org

Thank you and looking forward to chatting and the chance to meet very soon.
From all of us at www.MountEverestFoundation.org

Please contact us: info@mounteverestfoundation.org