7 sisters need help

3 days ago I met in Lukla my climbing friend Tembah. He had heard that I was in Lukla and came to meet me at my hotel. He was climbing with us to Mera Peak last September when we had a team, Mihai, Rodica, Tommi and me, as well as Pasang.

Streetview in Lukla. Google has, by the way, in their maps photos up to Base Camp and beyond if youwant to take a virtual trip.

We had a nice evening with lots of laughter, Tembah almost fell off his chair when I told him how I tricked Pasang to stop for some tea when coming closer to Luklah and then ran up all the last hills to be there before him. I managed :)

But there was also a really sad story. I could hardly sleep after hearing it, even after trekking for 12 hours with 3 five minute breaks during the day.

Tembah told me that his uncle died in the avalanche a week ago. The uncle had 7 daughters. The mother of the family had also passed away some time ago. Now the eldest of the daughters, 17 years old, is taking care of 6 younger sisters. It is not easy in Nepal for girls and women to find a living. It sounds to me to be too hard a situation for that young girl to manage.

I asked Rishi, the head of our expedition company, for how to get some economical help to the girls, if I could find people willing to help. Rishi has started an account for collecting money for all the families of the deceased sherpas, but I asked for a way of helping the 7 orphaned girls specifically.

Rishi promised to start an account and give all the funds 100 % to the girls. The account number is here, if someone would like to participate. When helping out you never know how the funds will in the end arrive, but I trust Rishi and find this the quickest way to do something concrete in a desperate situation.

Here is Rishi's message:

Thank you for your email, Johanna. Please tell people to deposit as below account and I will provide to the girls directly.

Bank of Kathmandu

Account Holder: Rishi Ram Bhandari

Address: Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal

Paying Bank: BANK OF KATHMANDU LIMITED

Bank Address: Branch office; Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Head Office: P.O. Box 9044, Kamal Pokhari, Kathmandu, Nepal

My Bank A/C No: 050100005518

Swift Code: BOKLNPKA

Another way of helping out is for instance to buy for US $100 a beautiful print from one of 10 photographers who will donate all proceeds after printing and shipping (+ $30 to Finland) , 50% go directly to the widows fund and 50% to educate & train the climbing sherpas. 

Thank you all folks!