Welcome and happy reading. The Himalayan Education Development Project is the brainchild of Amber Tamang, a trekking / climbing agency manager in Kathmandu who comes from Tapting village located in the Solukhumbu region of the Nepal Himalayas. Solukhumbu is the district where Mt. Everest is but Tapting is an area that is not on the “standard” trekking routes that serve tourists and climbers heading into the Mount Everest base camp area. As a result, the area do not enjoy the direct economic benefits that this industry affords and also do not receive the adequate support by government and non government organizations to develop these areas as they are too remote to reach! After finishing his high school education, Amber travelled to Kathmandu and enrolled in the University where he hoped to attain a law degree. He was able to finish his undergraduate degree and support himself by working as a porter and on other positions for trekking groups. He also obtained a Masters in Cultural Studies.

Unlike many other trekking guides Amber didn't flee to other countries seeking opportunities despite his difficulty to survive in Nepal due to recent political upheaval which had caused lack of work in the fragile business of tourism. Instead he decided to use his free time working for his society and country through social initiatives. He shared his wish with some of his trekking clients and among them James Tillotson, from NY accepted to be a full time volunteer for the project. Both of them formally established HED Project as an nonprofit organization in the USA and in Nepal in Aug. 2009 of which Amber is the executive director and James (Jim) is the international coordinator. The main aims of the project are:

1. Provide or upgrade basic infrastructure of existing schools such as library construction, building or furniture repairing, etc.
2. Provide instant financial help to poor students who are in risk of not furthering their education due to financial problems or other needs,
3 .Provide financial and educational support to monks, nuns, priests, shaman and other cultural practitioners aiming to help preserve their vanishing culture,
4 .Provide a common platform for people interested from across the world, who want to contribute in the educational sector of the Himalayan region.