New Futures Nepal: Transforming Lives in the Mountain Communities of Mahakulung, on the Southern Slopes of Everest
By Dilip S. Kulung (Chairperson of the Everest Mera Foundation).
From humble beginnings in the remote village of Chheskam, to building brighter futures for over 5,000 mountain children and their families, Dilip tells us about the journey which ultimately culminated in him becoming the driving force behind a charity organisation (the Everest Mera Foundation) responsible for changing countless young lives in the region he grew up in. Our growing partnership with Dilip and the Everest Mera Foundation is on the precipice of touching even more lives with even greater impact in the Mahakulung region, and we are excited to see where our continuing journey takes us.
From a Remote Village to a Shared Mission
My own journey toward education began much later than that of most children. Until the age of 13, I had never entered a classroom and could not speak Nepal's official language. My childhood was spent herding cattle with my grandfather in the forests far from the remote village of Chheskam in Mahakulung, on the southern slopes of Mount Everest.
Everything changed the day I saw children my own age walking to school. I asked myself a simple question: "Why am I not going to school?" After several days of persuading my parents, they finally agreed to let me study. That single decision transformed my life.
After completing lower secondary school in my village, I moved to Lukla, the gateway to Everest, to continue my education because higher-level schooling was unavailable in my village. To pay my school expenses, I spent three years working as a seasonal trekking porter in the Everest region, carrying heavy loads across demanding Himalayan trails. Along the way, I met countless children from my own community who had left school to work in tourism, agriculture, and manual labour. Their struggles became my own motivation to help create better opportunities for future generations.
In 2004, I left my village to pursue university education in Kathmandu. The journey itself reflected the challenges faced by many young people from Nepal's mountain regions: a three-and-a-half-day walk to Jiri, followed by a day long bus journey to the capital. I arrived with little more than determination, believing that education could make life easier.
The Very Beginning of an Extraordinary Partnership
Around 2006–2007, my journey of connection with New Futures Nepal (NFN UK) began through my great-uncle’s son, Birga Rai, who was working at the Hope Centre in Kathmandu. It was there that I first met Tilak Shrestha, the Centre Manager, who later became one of the most influential sources of inspiration in my life.
During that period, I also had my very first glimpse of the respected Paul dai and Helen didi, the founding trustees of New Futures Nepal UK. Although we did not have the opportunity to speak with each other at the time.
A few years later, Tilak dai and Birga kaka invited me to work as a porter on a short trekking journey in the Annapurna region for Helen didi and her mother. That journey became my first personal interaction with members of the New Futures Nepal family. We gradually became a little familiar with each other, but as I was working in the role of a porter, I was too shy and respectful to speak openly.
A defining chapter of my life came in the autumn of 2009 when I joined another charity trek to Poon Hill in the Annapurna region as an assistant guide. During this trek, I had the privilege of meeting several respected members of the New Futures Nepal Board of Trustees, including Paul dai, Lynne didi, Steve dai, and Andrew dai, and others (I do not remember well).
Although Paul dai, Alex madam, and I had to return to Pokhara before completing the trek due to unforeseen circumstances, the experience left an unforgettable impression on me. Throughout the journey, I got to know well the trustees’ genuine compassion, humility, and unwavering dedication to improving the lives of disadvantaged children and communities in Nepal.
Their selfless commitment became a powerful source of inspiration. Seeing their passion and lifelong dedication to education and community development, motivated me to follow a similar path—to devote my own efforts toward creating opportunities, supporting vulnerable communities, and advancing education for children who need it most.
Standing Together in Times of Crisis
When the devastating earthquakes struck Nepal in 2015, nearly 9,000 people lost their lives and hundreds of thousands of homes and schools were destroyed. Mahakulung was among the severely affected mountain communities.
At that time, Everest Mera Foundation had not yet been established, so relief efforts were coordinated through the Association of Nepal Kirat Kulung Language and Culture Development (ANKKLCD).
New Futures Nepal immediately reached out with one simple question:
"How can we help?"
Their response was swift and remarkable.
The organisation funded the distribution of approximately 3,000 tarpaulins, providing emergency shelter for earthquake-affected families throughout Mahakulung. In 2016, it financed the reconstruction of six earthquake-damaged classrooms, enabling hundreds of children to return safely to school.
In the year of 2016, trustees Paul dai, Helen didi, and Charles dai personally travelled to Mahakulung to inspect the reconstruction projects. Their willingness to visit such a remote mountain community reflected genuine accountability and deep respect for the people they were supporting.
The Birth of Everest Mera Foundation
Years of collaboration and shared values led to the establishment of Everest Mera Foundation (EMF) in 2018.
EMF was created to improve education, healthcare, child welfare, and community development in Nepal's remote Everest region, particularly in Mahakulung—a geographically spectacular yet economically disadvantaged area inhabited mainly by the Kulung Indigenous community, alongside Sherpa and Dalit families.
Working closely with schools, local governments, communities, and international partners, EMF has focused on ensuring that children from vulnerable mountain communities have access to quality education regardless of their family's financial circumstances.
Supporting Communities Through the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic brought Nepal's tourism industry to a complete standstill. In Mahakulung, where nearly 90 percent of households depend directly or indirectly on trekking and mountaineering, the economic impact was devastating.
Once again, New Futures Nepal stood beside the community.
The organisation provided humanitarian relief, healthcare assistance, and educational support when families faced unprecedented hardship. These timely interventions helped protect vulnerable children and ensured that learning could continue despite the many challenges confronting mountain communities.
One of its most significant contributions was funding the salaries of two English-medium teachers at Chheskam secondary School for three years. This long-term investment strengthened the quality of education and ensured that students continued to receive consistent English-medium instruction during a particularly difficult period.
Investing in Children's Futures
Education has always been the heart of this partnership.
Many children in the Everest region are forced to leave school because of poverty, particularly those from families working as trekking porters, guides, mountaineering staff, farmers, or daily wage labourers.
Together, New Futures Nepal and Everest Mera Foundation have worked to break this cycle.
In 2021, New Futures Nepal supported the distribution of warm tracksuits to more than 900 students at Chheskam Secondary School—the oldest and largest school in Mahakulung. Similar support reached more than 800 students in 2025, helping children remain healthy and attend school comfortably during the harsh Himalayan winter while easing financial pressure on struggling families.
Transforming Thousands of Lives
Today, the partnership between New Futures Nepal, Everest Mera Foundation, and generous supporters worldwide has benefited more than 5,000 children across approximately 16 schools in the Everest region, particularly within the Mahakulung Rural Municipality.
Over the years, these initiatives have delivered comprehensive support to children, schools, and communities across the remote Himalayan region. The programmes have included scholarships for disadvantaged students, the provision of school supplies and learning materials, Smart Boards and other classroom resources, support for English-medium teachers, and the reconstruction of earthquake-resistant classrooms. Students have also benefited from warm clothing, school uniforms, healthcare assistance, emergency humanitarian relief, and a range of child welfare and community development programmes.
Together, these long-term investments have strengthened educational quality, improved school attendance, and created greater opportunities for thousands of children living in some of Nepal's most remote mountain communities. By addressing both immediate needs and long-term educational challenges, the initiatives are helping build brighter futures for children and their families.
A Community's Tribute: Royal Britain Peak
The people of Mahakulung have expressed their gratitude in a unique and lasting way.
On 23 June 2021, Mahakulung Rural Municipality officially named one of its mountain peaks "Royal Britain Peak" in recognition of New Futures Nepal's outstanding contribution to education and community development.
The honour reflects the community's appreciation for every trustee, donor, volunteer, and supporter whose generosity has transformed countless lives.
Recent Achievements
Supporting Needy Students with Warm Tracksuits – 2026
Between April and July 2026, Everest Mera Foundation implemented the Supporting Needy Students with Warm Tracksuits project at Gudel Secondary School in Ward No. 4 of Mahakulung Rural Municipality with financial support from New Futures Nepal (UK) and the Nepal English Education Foundation (NEEF).
The project directly benefited 525 students, providing high-quality winter tracksuits, T-shirts, footwear, educational materials, and Smart Boards. The initiative improved students' health, comfort, confidence, and school attendance, while reducing the burden on economically disadvantaged families.
Restoring Hope Through Scholarships
In late 2025, The Ardonagh Community Trust, New Futures Nepal, and the Everest Mera Foundation launched a community-based scholarship programme to bring vulnerable children back to school.
Although the initial target was 50 students, a transparent selection process involving schools, home visits, local governments, and community representatives identified 59 highly vulnerable children, many of whom had already entered the workforce as trekking porters, domestic workers, expedition helpers, vendors, or labourers.
Each child received comprehensive educational support, including school fees, uniforms, books, stationery, school bags, footwear, socks, warm clothing, and other essential learning materials. Distributed in March 2026, the scholarships enabled these children to exchange hard labour for classrooms, restoring hope, dignity, and opportunity.
Looking Ahead
While much has been achieved, the challenges facing Nepal's mountain communities remain significant. Poverty, geographical isolation, inadequate infrastructure, and limited educational resources continue to prevent many children from reaching their full potential.
Everest Mera Foundation remains committed to expanding educational opportunities, strengthening schools, improving healthcare, and supporting vulnerable families throughout the Everest region.
With the continued partnership of New Futures Nepal, and generous donors, volunteers, and friends around the world, we are confident that together we can continue transforming lives for generations to come.
Our Heartfelt Appreciation
On behalf of Everest Mera Foundation and the people of Mahakulung, we extend our deepest gratitude to every trustee, donor, volunteer, partner organisation, and supporter who has walked this journey with us.
Your generosity has restored hope where there was hardship, created opportunities where there were barriers, and helped thousands of children build brighter futures through education.
Together, we are proving that education is one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of poverty, strengthening communities, and creating lasting social change.
This story is not only about what has been achieved—it is about what is still possible when compassion, partnership, and commitment come together.
Dilip S. Kulung (Chairperson, Everest Mera Foundation).