Himalayan Trust UK

With roots planted firmly in mountaineering – and the certain knowledge that few of us would have climbed the great Himalayan peaks without the loyal support of the region’s tough, courageous people – 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 started our work supporting the work of Sir Edmund Hillary and were keen supporters of the teacher training programme initiative which started in 1997 in the Solukhumbu region. The success of these early educational programmes and our link with the less developed Taplejung region prompted us to introduce an Education and Health programme in the foothills of Kanchenjunga, a much poorer mountainous region of Northeastern Nepal, from 2007.

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

• Focus on basic infrastructure – education, health, environment
• Only do that which is requested by the mountain people
• Involve the mountain people themselves in the work – “self-help”
• Minimise all unnecessary cost and facilitate direct transfer of funds
• Look for long term sustainability and independence for the mountain people

After Sir Ed Hillary's death in 2008 the Trust decided to launch a series of Sir Edmund Hillary Memorial Lectures that would take place annually on the day of his ascent of Everest, 29 May, or as close to this day as possible, at the Royal Geographical Society. Today, this continues to be an opportunity to gather with our friends and supporters, raise funds for the work of the Trust to support the mountain people of Nepal and to continue to inspire exploration to a new generation.