Support us!
We can’t make it alone. We need your help. Your small help can bring a big change.
“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.”
Himalayan Development Initiative (HDI) is a non-government organization committed to the development of Upper Dolpo. Established in 2019, We are an initiative primarily working in the education sector. We aspire to provide quality education and health services for the people of the Himalayan region in Nepal. Currently, we are supporting Shree Yanjer Gumba Basic School and Triptak Basic School in the following ways:
- Providing quality education to the children via recruitment of qualified teachers
- Supplying and supporting educational materials for the overall development of the children
- School management and infrastructure development
- Working together with parents on sustainable solutions for school and village
Lhuri Village
Nyisal Village
Mushi Village
Nyisal village is a small village located in Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality ward no.1 in Dolpa District at the altitude of 3860m high from the sea level in the historic Tibetan region of Dolpa. It is a small village with about 40 households only. Kham (a dialect of the Tibetan language) is the mother tongue. Nepali is the second language and is used very little. The old famous monastery, Shree Yanjeer Gumba, lies in Nyisal village. It is considered one of the oldest monasteries in the world. There is another historical monastery “Margom Gumba” situated in the hill rocks, west-south part of the village. Karnali river is flowing beside the village. The neighboring villages of Nyisal are Luhri (west) and Mushi (east). From Nyisal, Lhuri village is about one hour walk and consists of about 25 households while Mushi village is about three hours walk and consists of about 15 households.
The people from this region seem so simple and amazing. They belong to the Buddhist religion and adopt Tibetan culture. Their main sources of income are the Yarsagumba collection and animal husbandry (like sheep, goat, yaks). Because of the cold climate, and the terrain, agriculture is not a strength in this part of Nepal but some crops that are cultivated are potato, barley, and radishes. Things are gradually changing with the introduction of greenhouses but it will still take time to see major changes. Horses and yaks are the major means of transportation for the locals. This village is very popular for trekking purposes so lots of tourists visit this village, especially to visit the gumbas. As the village is the closest to the Tibetan border, the local people of the surrounding villages have to go through this village for the China market that takes place around August every year.
Shree Yanjeer Gumba Basic School
There is a small school in Nyisal named Shree Yanjeer Gumba Basic School. The school was established in 1975 AD but was only recently resumed to full service from 2013 AD. The school follows the curriculum of Nepal. Six teachers, whether local ones or ones sent from Kathmandu, teach Mathematics, Science, English, Nepali, Social Studies, General Knowledge, and Tibetan subjects. Except for Nepali and Tibetan, other subjects are taught in English medium. About 30 children, from all the villages, study in this school at the primary level (up to grade 6).