Our Partners

Common values, unique strengths

Partners of the Himalayan Education Foundation

At HEF, we believe that working with the right organizational partners is a key strategy that helps us succeed in our mission. We spend significant effort in finding the right partners who share our philosophy, compassion and energy and then maintain the highest levels of mutual trust and respect.

Below is a partial list of partners that HEF is working with:

India Development Service USA
A non-profit organization supporting economic and social development in India since 1974. IDS has graciously supported various HEF projects withsignificant grants and advice since 2009. www.idsusa.org

Maati
A Women’s Collective organization in the Indian Himalayas that is committed to addressing issues related to the struggles of the everyday lives of mountain women, stuggles of livelihood and food security, and of a life free from violence. (Munsiyari, India)

Himal Prakriti
A non-profit organization in the Indian Himalayas that aims to promote nature conservation and sustainable livelihoods in the Himalaya. (Munsiyari, India)

Avani
Located in A voluntary organization based in the Indian Himalayas whose mission it to develop livelihood programs based on appropriate technology, renewable energy, traditional craft, local resources, and provide health and education services through community based management systems and provide training and capacity building for dissemination. www.avanikumaon.org(Tripuradevi, India)

Cornell University, Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development (CIIFAD)
A research institute at Cornell University that is dedicated to making significant contributions to sustainable global development by supporting multi-disciplinary research with a problem-solving focus and partnering with developing country institutions.  ciifad.cornell.edu

Dublin School, Dublin, NH, USA
Founded in 1935, Dublin is an independent boarding and day school, serving grades 9 through 12. Through HEF, Dublin School has a sister-school relationship with Himalaya Inter College, Chaukori with annual visits to Chaukori by Dublin School students as well as various sponsored projects. www.dublinschool.org

Solight Designs
Their mission is to provide lights to those who need them most. There are over 1.6 billion people who have no access to electricity and clean sustainable lighting, something most of us take for granted.http://www.solight-design.com/give/

 

Partners of the Himalayan Naari

In a very short time, Himalayan Naari is on its way to becoming a sustainable business that will be owned by the local women’s collective.  With the help of designer Tricia Bendik of Bendikova, the artisans have developed some wonderful product lines for sale in the US.  This success has been facilitated by their wonderful partnerships:

  • Himalayan Education Foundation provided the initial “seed donation”, and continues with coordination, renting the Women’s Center, marketing and sales support.
  • Shared Trade, a global on-line marketplace, assists the women in achieving economic empowerment through marketing and selling their products on the internet and at shows.
  • The Merrill Family Charitable Foundation has provided support for start-up efforts including the pilot project on natural yarns
  • Himalaya Inter College in Chakouri makes its computer lab available to the women for training.
  • A Circle of Sisterhood grant has given funding for computer equipment, as well as training in computer literacy, business and personal financial literacy.