The Kandoo Himalayan Foundation has been set up in 2025 with the aim of supporting the local community of the Nepalese village of Hongong. This is the origin of several our of guiding team, including our Nepalese Manager, Pimba Tensing Bhote. The village is a Bhote community nestled 2 days walk from the nearest road head, in the mountains to the west of Kathmandu.
What are the aims of the Foundation?
- To rebuild and develop the village of Hongong, making it more accessible and increasing the likelihood of young people choosing to stay there rather than moving to the bigger towns and cities of Pokhara and Kathmandu.
- To support the local school, helping to provide education for the 100 or so children that are in attendance here.
- To support the Kandoo guiding team, to provide education for their children, medical fees and career development opportunities.
What has the Foundation done so far?
As this is a new foundation, it is still in the process of collating funds to input into one of the projects they are setting up. However, Pimba has built up a wide network of contacts through work he has done previous to help the community rebuild and grow; including building a large flat communal space that is used for community gatherings and as the school playground from the rubble of buildings wiped out in a landslide in 2012. He has also raised funds to provide every child in the local school with a warm fleece, a small gesture but one that can make a vast improvement to the lives of these children.
We will keep this page updated as projects begin and funds towards the Foundation are put to good use.
How are Kandoo involved in the Foundation?
For every participant who joins one of our Himalayan treks, Kandoo are contributing $50 towards the Foundation.
We are also contributing $100 into a Welfare Fund which will be collated with some of the funds raised by the Foundation to ensure our guiding and porter teams in the Himalayas have necessary employment support such as a small income should they become seriously ill or injured and to ensure medical fees are covered.