The Everest Mera Foundation (EMF)
The Everest Mera Foundation (EMF) is a registered NGO based in the municipality of Mahakulung in the east of Nepal. Working in the lap of Everest, its main concern is to help protect and educate children who have lost their parents to the Everest tourism industry. It achieves this by motivating and supporting these children so that they can attend local public schools. They provide tuition fees, shelter, food, uniforms, books, and stationary, have their own extra-curricular educational programme, and even recruit and train teachers for schools in the region.
EMF is fronted by Dilip S. Kulung, a young social worker. Dilip was born in the village of Chheskam in Mahakulung and worked as a porter in the Everest region in his younger years. For this reason, he is ideally placed to address the needs of the region.
His extensive experience of the charity sector includes speaking at the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2006, as well as working for Oxfam International Youth Partnership from 2010 to 2013.
Dilip was awarded the 'Learning into Practice: Award’ by Fundar Mexico in 2013 as well as the 'Excellent Service Award' by the federal government of Nepal in 2018.
Together with Tilak Shrestha and Birga Rai, Dilip is co-director of Majestic Himalaya Treks & Expeditions, a trekking company New Futures Nepal has called upon the knowledge and expertise of for many of its charity treks in Nepal.
Dilip Kulung (far left) of the Everest Mera Foundation presenting trustee Lynne McCutcheon with an appreciation award for New Futures Nepal’s funding of humanitarian projects in the Mahakulung Everest region.
As well as caring for and educating these orphaned children, EMF also provide additional support to porter families in Mahakulung. New Futures Nepal's charitable partnership with EMF began following the earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015. To date, New Futures Nepal has funded several humanitarian projects in Mahakulung in collaboration with EMF through our lifelines programme.
On 23rd June, 2021, the Mahakulung Rural Municipal Council declared a local mountain peak the “Royal Britain Peak" in recognition of the significant contributions of New Futures Nepal to humanitarian work in the region.
We now have absolute confidence in EMF's ability to identify the appropriate needs of Mahakulung and deliver humanitarian aid in an effective and efficient manner, and will continue to work collaboratively with them going forward.
Read more about the Everest Mera Foundation.