The remote, sparsely populated, high desert valleys of the Upper Dolpo region are some of the highest, harshest, inhabited places on the planet. Life here unfolds much as it has for centuries. The villages are accessible only by foot, it is a 7 day walk over two 5,000 + metre passes.  Wind and weather conditions are extreme. Most winters the passes into the villages are closed by snow.

This is one of the last strongholds of Tibetan culture, rich in heritage, yet materially poor. Families survive through subsistence farming, but the land is unforgiving. Food is never certain, and many parents face a heartbreaking choice: send their children to school, or keep them home to work so the family can endure the year ahead. Too often, poverty wins.

25 years ago there were no schools in the Upper Dolpo and most of the population is illiterate. 

Now, small village schools shine like beacons of hope. These classrooms are more than places of learning. They are doorways to a different future, for the children, their families, and the generations to come. But government funding is almost nonexistent. They rely on help from the international community to operate.

Your gift—no matter the size—can change everything. It can keep teachers teaching, children learning, and hope alive. Even the smallest donation can go a long way here, farther than you can imagine.