Historical Background: From hills of Helambu to the growing communities of HELP

HELP was born not from outsiders' desire to intervene, nor from projects shaped by funding privilege or boardroom decisions. It emerged from the heart of the hills—from the lived experiences of a group of friends who were deeply shaped by the villages that raised them.

These were not just students, but future changemakers who had the rare privilege of attending schools rooted in their local communities.

In early 2009, after Nepal emerged from a decade-long political conflict through a comprehensive peace process, hope for a better future began to rise. Against this backdrop, a group of young people from Helambu, led by our founder Jimmy Lama, began reconnecting with their home communities in Sindhupalchowk.

What they witnessed was deeply troubling. Schools that once gave them wings were now struggling—crumbling classrooms, absent teachers, missing desks, and increasing student dropouts. Children were not lacking potential; they were lacking opportunity. This reality demanded a strong sense of responsibility and action.

With a grassroots perspective and a vision to restore dignity through education, the group carried out a village-to-village needs assessment. Their findings were clear: if basic infrastructure could be restored—desks, books, clean drinking water—education could thrive.

During this early phase, HELP's commitment was strengthened by the vision of Anthony Lunch and the Mondo Foundation. Their support made it possible to transform informal efforts into a formal organization. Thus, HELP (Helambu Education and Livelihood Partnership) was born, now proudly in its 16th year of operation.

Surveying the Initial Needs

After returning from the UK following his work with the Mondo Foundation, Jimmy Lama, along with his school friends Chiring and Nima Tshering, conducted a needs assessment in June–July 2009.

Their journey began in Ichowk and continued through Tartong, Nakote, Timbu, Nurbuling, and Dhudeni. With no motorable roads at the time, the assessment required a week-long trek across the hills of Helambu.

They met with school headmasters, management committees, and local villagers to understand the challenges facing education in these communities.

• Severe overcrowding due to a lack of classrooms and teachers, with 35–40 children often sharing a single room.
• Low attendance among girls, particularly in Tamang communities, where daughters were often sent away for domestic work.
• Minimal access to learning resources such as books, music, sports, or extracurricular activities.
• Poor teacher training and outdated curricula that failed to meet students needs.

These findings led HELP and Mondo to take immediate action, supporting the first six schools.

Our Evolution: Foundational Years (2009–2015)

HELP's journey officially began in 2009 with the formation of a committed local team and strong community ties. From the start, HELP's focus was off-the-beaten-track; working in places where few organizations reached, with a clear mission: to connect education opportunities and resources to the rural schools that needed them most.

The Basic School Infrastructure Support (BaSIS) programme (2010–2011) marked HELP's first organized initiative, targeting 10 public schools in Helambu. It provided classroom construction, benches and desks, toilets, drinking water systems, ECD centers, and essential learning materials.

Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Period (2015–2019)

The earthquake of April 2015 changed everything. Over 90% of schools in Sindhupalchowk were destroyed, and entire communities were displaced. For HELP, this was not just a crisis- it was an existential challenge. Homes collapsed, and so did the very schools HELP had helped build. It was devastating. But in that moment of despair, HELP found renewed purpose.

The team mobilized emergency relief for over 3,000 families across 32 villages, delivering food, shelter, and medical aid. But most importantly, they set out to restore hope in education. Within weeks, HELP established 226 Temporary Learning Centers (TLCs) in 45 schools, ensuring that learning didn't stop, even when everything else had.

HELP soon emerged as a key player in the education recovery effort. In close collaboration with the District Education Office and the National Reconstruction Authority, HELP rebuilt over 100 earthquake-resistant classrooms in 15 schools, guided by collective goals: “Building Back Better.” It wasn't just about buildings. We trained 4-5 members from each community where we were going to build schools, who led the reconstruction process, cementing local ownership, skill-building, and resilience.

Invention of the Saathi Teachers Programme (2019 – Ongoing)

By 2019, as schools were rebuilt, a crucial question emerged: were children truly learning?

Many students struggled with basic literacy and numeracy, and punitive teaching practices discouraged participation. HELP realized the urgent need for stronger intervention in early-grade education.

This led to the creation of the Saathi Teachers Programme, HELP's flagship initiative focused on student-centered pedagogy, compassionate teaching, and long-term capacity building in local schools.

Today, HELP continues to expand its impact through scholarships, School in a Bag programmes, and livelihood support—ensuring that children, no matter how remote their village, have the opportunity to learn and thrive.