Sherpa Journeys combines humanitarian programs in the Himalaya with trekking to help improve the life of people living in the villages and the eco-systems effected. These programs focus on Tibetan medicine which preserves culture and endangered plants as well as provide's income and access to health care for villagers. We also sponsor at least one family per year to send their children to school at $200 per child per year as well as a 3 month program for teaching English in schools. We also bring school supplies and clothing to the villages on our treks and search for sponsors for at least one family per year to school their children for $400 per year. Below is the Rai tribe family we are sponsoring 2010.
However, our main focus is Tibetan medicine and currently we are beginning a project in Heleshi (Maratika in Tibetan language) Nepal which is located in the Southeast of the Solu Khumbu (Mt. Everest Region). This village is considered one of the most sacred places in Nepal for both Buddhists and Hindus (see Spring 2010 trek link for more info on Maratika). Many people, especially monks and nuns, travel there for pilgrimage (many are elderly) and there is currently no health facility or doctor available. Often villagers must walk for 1-3 days to medical facilities and some can not afford their services or medicines. Sherpa Journeys will support building a health post and herbal medicine garden there by providing funds, research and expertise in growing the herbs, in coordination with the Maratika Village Committee led by Maratika Rinpoche, the abbot of the monastery there. The health post will have 3 rooms, 1 Tibetan medicine doctor (Lama Sonam Tsering), Tibetan medicines and a few allopathic medical supplies.
Lama Sonam is extremely intelligent, kind and enthusiastic and we believe he will be an excellent doctor for the village. 
Many doctors we spoke with are interested in purchasing these herbs for the market rate as well which are currently imported and expensive. The gardeners will keep the long held tradition of Tibetan medicine in having herbs blessed by lamas and using auspicious days to plant and harvest. They will hire one worker to maintain the gardens and then later when more land can be purchased, more gardens and more employees to run them. Some local families in the area can also grow gardens to sell herbs under the supervision of the committee. Some herbs must be grown at higher altitudes and we are currently doing research to find some families or monasteries to grow these particular herbs. Many villagers are interested in growing these gardens as well.
The following goals would reached in planting these gardens and building health posts in Heleshi and other villages in the future:
- to help create income for locals (mainly to fund their children's education and therefore supporting eduction of villagers
- to create a long term, beneficial and self sustaining industry which does not rely on tourism and the world wide economy
- to preserve a key part of Himalayan culture; especially the precarious Tibetan culture
- to provide villages (and eventually the world) with the highest quality, powerful and blessed herbs and a healthier alternative to allopathic medicines. Tibetan medicine works by balancing the body and allowing it to heal and maintain itself naturally.
- to preserve endangered species of important and powerful medicinal herbs of the Himalaya which are currently over harvested
- building health posts will provide immediate access to health care and affordable medicines for villagers. Families who have difficulty paying--will pay on a donation basis.
We hope this will be a pilot project for future villages and our vision is to have these herbs packaged locally and exported to other countries.
If you are interested in donating funds or expertise in this area, or would like more information please contact us.
