Livelihoods
The Trust supports three pieces of work that help families in Solukhumbu keep their children in school and earn a living: scholarships for the children of Nepali climbers killed on Everest in 2014, the Sir Edmund Hillary Visitor Centre in Khumjung, and a grant to the Phaplu Mountain Bike Club.
Where it began
An avalanche, and an appeal that began within hours
On 18 April 2014 an avalanche above Everest Base Camp killed 16 Nepali climbers and seriously injured three more. The Trust launched an appeal within hours so that the climbers' children would have guaranteed schooling despite the loss of their fathers' livelihoods.
The Nepal government tasked the Nepal Mountaineering Association with welfare payments to the families, and the Trust signed an MoU with the Association.
The Trust's scholarships keep the climbers' children in school through to Grade 12.
The Trust's monitoring still finds students leaving school to work in tourism.
Three strands
How the Trust supports livelihoods
Each strand has a different job. The Trust works through Himalayan Trust Nepal and local committees.
Scholarships for the avalanche families' children
Scholarships keep the climbers' children in school through to Grade 12. Three students were supported in 2025-26 through the Mountain Disaster Relief Education Support scheme.
Sir Edmund Hillary Visitor Centre
A museum in Khumjung's original 1961 schoolhouse, opened on 29 May 2023 after community leaders asked the Trust to convert the disused building. In November 2025 it passed to the school management committee, and its income now supports the school.
Phaplu Mountain Bike Club
A grant of NZ$3,000 supports the club's Ratnange Trail Centre: the Bistarai-Bistarai uphill trail, a year of upkeep on Trails 14 and 16, and trail-building skills for local people.
In figures
The work in numbers
Three figures from the Trust's livelihoods work.
Nepali climbers killed in the April 2014 avalanche
16
Killed in the avalanche above Everest Base Camp on 18 April 2014.
Students supported in 2025-26 through the scholarship scheme
3
Children of the avalanche victims, supported through the Mountain Disaster Relief Education Support scheme.
NZ dollar grant to the Phaplu Mountain Bike Club
$3,000
Supports the club's Ratnange Trail Centre.
Support families in Solukhumbu
Gifts to the Trust support its work with families in Solukhumbu.