We are very pleased that two of our Trustees have kindly accepted to take up our nominations to become Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively. Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to climb Mount Everest is now our Chairman and Graham Wrigley, a driving force behind the setting up of Himalayan Trust UK, is Vice Chairman, this position an initiative of George Band who realised the importance of succession through the Trustees.

George’s wife Susan and Sue Leyden, whose father was John Hunt, were appointed as Trustees at the summer meeting in June 2011.

THE HIMALAYAN TRUST

Sir Edmund Hillary wanted to create a charity that would work well on the ground. It had to have a real and immediate impact on the Sherpas daily lives. Since inception The Himalayan Trust has been governed by these 5 guiding principles:

1. To focus on basic infrastructure

Hillary wanted to give the Sherpas the basic resources to help them help themselves. So he supported projects that developed education, basic health, and forestry programmes to rejuvenate their natural resources.

2. To only do what was requested by the Sherpas

Hillary wanted to avoid giving things that weren't really wanted. He insisted that all projects originated from a specific request by a group or community of local people.

3. To involve the Sherpas themselves in the work - "Self Help"

As well as further demonstrating the relevance of a project, the Sherpas own involvement would make the money go further. So if they wanted a new school .... "Fine, the Trust will buy the materials, but you carry them in on your backs and help build it!".

4. To minimise all unnecessary costs

The Trust was to be staffed by volunteers. Overheads would (apart from a skeleton project management team on the ground) be eliminated.

5. Direct transfer of funds

The money would be carried direct to Nepal - originally by Hillary himself. there would be no leakage through the system... the money would flow literally from a fund raiser event directly to buy materials in Nepal.

THE HIMALAYAN TRUST UK

These principles still hold true today and The Himalayan Trust UK have expanded this approach to benefit the mountain people of Nepal, particularly in the north-east under the shadow of Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, where we have been able to focus on projects aiming to improve Education, Social Development, and the Environment.

Our belief is that not only does the Trust have a wonderful cause, but it aims to achieve its goals in a unique way.  

Welcome to the Himalayan Trust UK (registered Charity No. 1000153)

An Appeal by the Himalayan Trust UK

On 18th September 2011 an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale shook eastern Nepal. The epicentre was in the Taplejung region high up in the north east of the country and under the mighty Kangchenjunga. It claimed the lives of 7 people including 3 children and 144 were injured. About 121,275 children were directly affected by the earthquake and 157 school buildings were totally destroyed.

The Himalayan Trust UK is committed to a long term teacher training programme in 30 of the schools in the affected area, many of which have suffered severe structural damage and are in need of repair or rebuilding. We are in contact with several agencies and have set up a visit programme by REED Nepal (Rural Education And Environment Development) to properly assess the schools.

We want the local communities to understand that HTUK is not funding a schools rebuilding project but to make it clear that the lower the cost and the bigger the community involvement the more likely it is that they will receive the money and the quicker it will be made available.

It is vitally important that the schools are re-opened as quickly as possible to allow the children back to school and to life in some form of normality, especially as winter has arrived and is harsh in that part of the world. Save the Children has established 95 Temporary Learning Centres (TLC’s built with bamboo) and plan another 100 to assist the damaged schools.

The Lelep-based Phale Primary School, which was supposed to open after the Dashain festival, has yet to resume classes. Its three buildings were destroyed by the earthquake.

Given the very close relationship that our former Chairman George Band had with the Kangchenjunga region we have been making efforts to discover exactly what has happened on the ground and are now in a position to raise money to help repair those schools which are most in need.

The Himalayan Trust UK is to commit up to £20,000. This amount will go an awfully long way - so we only need 1000 of our supporters to donate £20 and we will have raised our target, or 4000 at £5 each - whatever you may be able to afford would be greatly appreciated.

Please give some thought to these remote mountain communities and help us raise the necessary funds to rebuild lives.  Please give generously.  Thank you.

If you would like to help then please do so by sending a cheque payable to ‘Himalayan Trust UK’ to Hon. Treasurer, 54 Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Hants. SO53 2GN

Or you may prefer to make a donation securely online

http://www.justgiving.com/himalayantrust/Donate

Yours very sincerely

Chairman and Trustees

For further information please contact 02380293767 Tony Astill