Go Nim go!

Nimdoma Sherpa, the youngest girl to climb Everest, also the youngest member of our team (goes without saying) is off for Advanced Mountaineering Training organized by Nepal Mountaineering Association. After her first mountaineering training, she climbed Everest (2008), Island Peak (2009), Kosciuszko and Elbrus (2010) together with the team. Last year she climbed Mt Rainier in the USA and won the National Open Climbing Competition in Nepal. She will soon leave for Langtang for the training and will be back in Kathmandu around mid-Feb.

 

At the birthplace of Lord Buddha

On Jan 14th, our team members participated in the national ceremony held to mark the completion of Nepal Tourism Year 2011, inauguration of Visit Lumbini Year 2012 and launching of Tourism Vision 2020. Our members volunteered for the special performance entitled ‘Tourism Vision’. The event graced by the presence of Rt Hon President Dr Ram Baran Yadav who lit the torch of the tourism vision. With the grand welcome of the new year at the birthplace of Lord Buddha, we hope that our nation marches towards peace and prosperity.

 

Pledge to donate eyes

Team members pledged to donate their eyes after death at a special Condolence Program held at Nepal Eye Hospital, Tilganga, Kathmandu on 7th Jan 2012. Senior artiste Hari Bansha Acharya was the chief guest at the function. He lost his wife last year, her eyes have now given sight to two young girls. Nepali film actress Arunima Lamsal also pledged to donate her eyes. Hollywood actor Joel Edgerton was special guest at the function, amongst several other esteemed guests. Eye Bank is doing a great job giving new life to many people. We are proud that we got such a special opportunity. We thank the Eye Bank, all the doctors and staff and we extend our special gratitude to Tonita Cervantes for introducing our team to the cause.

 

Nim and Asha Victorious

Nimdoma Sherpa, defended her title at the 5th National Open Climbing Competition held on Dec 23rd in Kathmandu. Asha Kumari Singh took the third spot. With that, Nim and Asha respectively won cash prize of NPR 25000 and NPR 15000 respectively. Congratulations to both of you. We feel really proud!

 

Let’s talk about men!

Team members talk about men for the December issue of youth magazine Wave. We had a fun interview with the reporters, which felt more like a chat with friends.  Chunu, Shailee, Asha, Nim were interviewed as the rest of the members were out of station. Profile of each member is also published in the magazine. Check it out http://www.wavemag.com.np/issue/article3893.html

 

US trip 2011

Shailee Basnet and Pujan Acharya represented the team during their US trip in February 2011. The two members held presentations at Tara’s Himalayan Cuisine, Cafe de Leche, CA and  Mt Everest Cafe in Fort Collins, Colorado. They delivered a short presentation at the meeting of Nepalis Association of Northern California (NANC). The two were invited for a special lecture at University of Colorado, Boulder for their Gender and Film Studies class. They had a second presentation at the university which was open for all  students.

In Massachusetts, the two made presentation at Smith College, which is a women’ college established 1871.

(Please check the Financial Details page, under the ‘About’ tab to know about the funds raised during this trip.)

 

Off to the flat-lands

All members of the team went for a week long trip starting Dec 12th, 2010,  to the eastern Terai districts of Dhanusha and Mahottari to conduct ‘Inclusive Sagarmatha Speakers’ program. The project is supported by United Nations World Food Programme.

Our team has been delivering motivational presentation at various schools across the country in this project to inspire students to believe in their dreams. Through our experience of climbing Everest and other mountains, we share with them how it is possible to climb their own mountains i.e. fulfill their dreams. We emphasize how good leadership, teamwork and hard work helps achieve one’s goals.

During this trip to the Terai, we visited several schools, most of them where WFP supports either by providing afternoon meal to students or by providing cooking oil to girl students. Many teachers remarked that enrollment and attendance of girl students have increased significantly after the cooking oil support to families who send their daughters to school.

On the other hand, we were also indicated how girls were sent to government schools and boys were sent to better private schools at some places. We felt privileged to be able to touch lives of these students even in a small way. Such experience always encourages us to reach out to many more youth and not just shut-up after our climbs. We thank WFP, all the schools and the students for this opportunity.

What’s more? The cherry on the top was visit to Asha’s home, where we met her family and enjoyed the sweetest sugar canes right off the field!

 

‘Everest to Elbrus…a journey’

We held an event titled ‘Everest to Elbrus…a journey’ at the Russian Culture Centre, Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu on Dec 10th, 2010. The event was organized to raise funds for our mission. The hall was houseful with audience comprising mostly Nepali tourism professionals and a few foreigners. We presented our experience of climbing Everest, Kosciuszko and Elbrus through a short video and PowerPoint presentation.

Respected nun singer Ani Choying Drolma came up on stage with her soulful songs. Former president of Nepal Mountaineering Association Mr Ang Chiring Sherpa, First Vice President of NMA Nima Nuru Sherpa spoke at the function wishing the team well.

We presented how our journey started, the challenges we faced, achievement of successfully climbing Everest and the dawn of a new journey after that.

It was a huge task for novice event organizers. But thanks to our well-wishers, the show was a success.