People
Nima Sherpa – Field Coordinator
Nima Sherpa was born in 1990 in Nepal. She has joined an NGO Helambu Project in 2009 and has worked as a Volunteer Coordinator and Field Coordinator. During that time, she has has created and maintained strong relationships with rural government schools and communities and demonstrated her commitment to the development of rural areas of Nepal. She is also committed to girls’ and women empowerment. Nima is in the process of obtaining her BA in sociology.
Dr Mike Steven, Executive Director Helambu Project UK
Mike is a GP in Banchory who had previously trekked in the area as a medic for a BBC expedition. After trekking through the Sindhuplachok District during the filming of Extreme Dreams, Dr Mike was moved by the harsh living standards of the locals, yet at the same time – like many visitors to Nepal – was humbled and overwhelmed by their kindness and hospitality. He therefore made a promise on his return to help to raise awareness of the Helambu Community by setting up Helambu Project UK. Since then he has fundraised within Scotland and re-visited Nepal in 2009 with his medical colleagues as part of the Health Camp trek. His current role has been to continue to help co-ordinate fundraising activity within the UK and support the further development of the medical infrastucture in the region.
Email: drmike@helambuproject.org
Matt Dodds, Executive Director Helambu Project UK
Matt is an Ayrshire Businessman who first travelled to Nepal in 2007 to trek to Everest Base Camp and then returned in 2008 to summit Mera Peak. On both occasions he was deeply moved by the harsh and basic conditions that the Sherpa people live in and on returning decided then that he would invest some time and money to help the people of Nepal. By very good fortune, it was a chance reading of an article shortly after his return in the Daily Record newspaper about Dr Mike’s involvement in Extreme Dreams that led Matt to first make contact with Helambu Project. Since that time Matt and his wife Jeanette has worked very hard to raise the profile of Helambu Project in his locality, raising several thousand pounds in the process. Matt also toured the region in November 2009 as part of the visiting Helambu UK/USA team. Matt’s current role has been to continue to help promote fundraising activity within the UK.
“We take so much for granted here in the UK, to see young women walking through snow, with a container, to collect water at daybreak, 0530hrs is a bit humbling”
Email: matt@helambuproject.org
Pearl Wight, fundraiser and volunteer medic
Pearl is a qualified nurse currently working at Arran War Memorial Hospital, who also works for the Arran Mountain Rescue Team. She first visited Nepal in 2005 whilst doing the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek and after skipping 2006 by climbing Kilimanjaro, she returned to Nepal to complete the Everest Base Camp in 2007. It was on this trip with Safe Journey treks that she was first introduced Dorjee Sherpa who was working as a porter at the time and learned of his ambitions for his village and the Helambu region. Pearl returned in 2008 and 2009 to undertake health camp work and continues to fundraise in the Arran area.
“We, in the developed world, take so much for granted. I just want to share a little of what I’ve got with those who have little. All I have to give is time. Nepal touched my heart…..so I’ll spend it there.”
Grabbing the Zopyak by the Horns!
Ola Perczynska
Ola Perczynska first visited Nepal in 2008, shortly after she completed her Masters in Culture and Society at the University of Lancaster, Center for Social Studies. She coordinates volunteers, writes grant proposals, and organizes fund raising events both in Poland and Nepal. After spending a year in Palestine working on educational, agricultural and water and sanitation projects, she is happy to be back in Nepal.
Email: ola@helambuproject.org.
Danny volunteering as a jungle gym
Daniel Coyle
Daniel Coyle first came to Nepal as a Fulbright Scholar in 2008 and began working with Helambu Project in 2009. Since then, he has joined Helambu Project US and currently lives Nepal and coordinates volunteers, projects, and resources for Helambu Project USA. He has his BA in International Relations and Comparative Cultural Politics and is interested in various heritage and oral literature projects in the region; the subject of his Fulbright research.
Email: daniel@helambuproject.org.
Chris napping on the mountain
Christopher Limburg
Christopher got involved with Helambu Project in 2008 by fundraising. In 2009, he found himself on the ground in Helambu with the support of a Fulbright grant. Since then, he has been researching environmental difference in the area. Stateside, Christopher is working on a PhD in Geography at the University of Wisconsin. With Helambu Project, he handles educational policy; Dharma connections; and scouting new projects. For fun, Christopher bushwhacks jungle in the footsteps of Helambu’s great meditators.
Email: chris@helambuproject.org.
Danielle riding a horse in Gangkharka
Danielle Preiss, Advisor
Danielle first came to the Himalayan region as a student in 2005 while pursuing a BA in psychology. She became connected with Helambu Project while in Nepal as a Fulbright Scholar in 2009 and has continued to work with us on fundraising, volunteer recruitment and other projects.
Roxy in the hills
Roxy Cruz, Advisor
Roxy first came to Nepal as a student in 2007 while pursuing a BA in Environmental Science and a BA in Political Studies. She became connected with Helambu Project when she returned to Nepal in 2009 as a Fulbright Scholar. Her research specializes in the fields of agroecology, food security and livelihoods.
