VEC was funded in 1990 and since it’s inception, has been at the heart of trying to improve the quality of life to the both the villagers and those living remotely in the Sindhuplachok District of Helambu, Nepal. Led by it's President Dorjee Sherpa and supported by an eight member community committee, it has developed and funded a number of projects since it's inception, providing assistance to agriculture, education and more recently, a successful clothing appeal. Past and future projects include completing the construction and furbishment of the local school, scholarship support and improving local health services


Helambu Projects and VEC’s aim is to help empower the populations of Nepal's Sindhupalchok District, specifically the areas of Helambu and Baruwa, to meet basic needs, and raise the standard of living in the villages of this isolated Himalayan region. By focusing on the issues of education and health, VEC's aim is to perform basic development projects that respect the cultures and environment of the Sherpa, Yolmo, and Tamang populations that call this corner of the world their home.


At the end of the day, our work is about cultural preservation. Our work not only brings education and healthcare to this area, it brings economic opportunity to an area where jobs are limited in scope and few in number. Our work is about empowerment, and our goal is to collaborate with the people of this region to improve their quality of life in a way that sees both economy and culture live sustainably and respectfully.

 

Further information on current developments,  visit our sister VEC website

This is the UK based 'sister site' of the Gangkharka Project's Nepalese website. It was created in 2008 by Dr Mike Steven with the specific aim of raising further awareness of the work of VEC in the UK, provide up-to-date information on new fundraising efforts and enabling donations to be made online.

helambu project

where on earth is helambu?

Helambu is a mountainous Himalayan region in a district called Sindhupalchok. It is located 45 miles north of Nepal's capital city, Kathmandu, but the country's poor system of highways makes the trip a 5-hour journey by bus, and a full day's walk to the villages where VEC operates. Most of the region's population are subsistence farmers or manual labourers, and opportunities for quality healthcare and education are rare in this remote region.

Though life in this area is difficult for its inhabitants, we believe that much can be done to preserve local traditions, while simultaneously aiding in development work that can allow local communities to thrive.