The Year in Review: 2011 accomplishments

In 2011, Dallas high schoolers rocked out to support Trees for Tibet, HI members forged a new community partnership with a service excursion to Mexico, environmentalists in Buffalo drummed to support youth leadership in Cameroon, and people from all over the world donated books to the Kumbo Public Library.  Thanks to your support, the Himalayan Institute’s humanitarian initiatives have expanded across the board.  Here are a few 2011 highlights:

Water
This year our water initiatives team dug two wells and also pioneered a spring-fed water catchment system.  Now, thousands more people in rural communities have access to clean, safe drinking water.

Education
Across three continents, wherever Himalayan Institute centers opened their doors, they provided scholarships for underprivileged people of all ages.  It’s a simple way of showing our commitment to long term poverty alleviation through education. Support education today by joining our latest campaign, the Center For Leadership in Africa.

Cultural Exchange
Our eco-service excursion to Mexico proved that zero footprint tourism can be win-win.  Between exploring centuries old cathedrals and stunning landscapes in central Mexico, participants contributed to communal projects and were invited into the homes of local residents.

Ground Breaking:
In Khajuraho, India we began construction on a new Himalayan Institute campus, nestled between the Vindhya Mountains and a national forest.

Holistic solutions
In 2011, more medicines than ever before were grown and processed on site by the very communities they will heal.  The union of agriculture, medicine, and employment opportunities forms the backbone of sustainable humanitarian projects.

Humanitarian Staff
Last year we said goodbye to humanitarian couple John Daskovsky and Amanda Masters who served our projects in the USA, Mexico and Cameroon. They have taken on new territory in Buffalo NY and now work at and run the Himalayan Institute Buffalo center. Congratulation to them both as they await arrival of their first born expected in April!

Also last year we said hello to new humanitarian dept technician, Steve Odnoha and welcomed him and his big bag of techy tricks.

Vocational Training and Job Creation
In Cameroon, we expanded our jewelry-making course to reach more rural women, while our School of Carpentry and Construction has been declared one of the leading vocational centers in the country.  In 2012, support these entrepreneurs by purchasing clothing, handcrafted jewelry and quality artwork from our Humanitarian trAID store.

Environmentalism
In Mexico our community center continues to grow it’s sustainable agriculture programs as it teaches earth friendly and money saving farming practices.

Thanks again to HI members, donors and our humanitarian fans who’s extraordinary support made 2011 a year to remember!

Chai for Charity: A Great Start to the New Year!

The Himalayan Institute‘s New Years weekend packed a full house of friends and guests for an unforgettable seminar with Pandit Rajmani Tigunait. Throughout the weekend guests gathered at HI’s campus cafe and drank chai, shared New Years goals, and enjoyed each others company–all while raising money for our latest campaign!

To date, we’ve raised $4,310! This means we are only $690 shy of our goal. With this $5,000 (which will be instantly matched), thousands will benefit from HI Cameroon’s educational center.

We need your help! Every dollar counts! Please take a moment to donate. We won’t reach this goal without you….

Khajuraho Phase Two

Happy Holidays to Ishan and the HI India team who are leading the construction in Khajuraho. Enjoy this update just in…

“On Friday, 16th December, 9:45am we officially broke ground on the Main Building at HI Khajuraho! We had a small ceremonial groundbreaking, breaking of a coconut on the foundation level, and the ceremonial first 5 scoops of earth to begin the excavation. Work is off to a good start, beginning with foundation excavation, and in the next week we’ll be picking up more speed as more people are engaged and material procurement begins.

The site looks beautiful, and ready to see big changes in the coming months as the Main building and Shrine (we should break ground on the Shrine within 2 weeks) are built. Check out a few pics.”

Groundbreaking Ceremony

Main Building Begins

At HI Allahabad, we’re also making good progress with a number of campus improvement projects, including construction of the new office/warehouse/staff quarters which is about to reach to first floor slab level.

Allahabad Campus Building

Give the Gift of Education

Some gifts look great with a bow. Some gifts are harder to wrap like the gift of education to budding professionals in the developing world, or the gift of state of the art tools and equipment to an entire community of entrepreneurs, all striving to build a better life for their families! In 2012, with your help, we’ll provide this gift to thousands in Cameroon by creating a Center for Leadership and Vocational Studies.

The Himalayan Institute’s humanitarian projects are funded by the contributions of its members.  This holiday season, please give $25, $50, $100 or whatever you can to continue making these gifts a reality.

TAKE ACTION NOW by clicking here and make a contribution which will  help build this new center.

Happy Holidays!

TAKE ACTION today and help us change lives for tomorrow and beyond. NEW Cameroon Campaign Launch!

At the Himalayan Institute (HI), we unroll several fundraisers each year allowing you to be a part of the great success we’re experiencing with our humanitarian projects around the world.

Today we have something very specific and extremely important to ask you. But it’s not just important to us here at HI, but rather to the 100,000 people who will receive this gift….

Watch our trailer below and check out our campaign page to learn more about the CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND VOCATIONAL STUDIES and to make a contribution.

did you know?…

50,000 people die each day due to poverty related conditions. Over half of these people are children who never had the chance of developing themselves to ultimately improve their lives and their surroundings.

Here at HI we use education and long term mentoring to build capacity, create opportunity, and give people the means to direct their own lives.

This is why we need your help to support this NEW campaign and build a Center for Leadership and Vocational Studies at our community center in Kumbo, Cameroon.

The action you take today will make a real change, for tomorrow and beyond.

Sincerely,

The HI Humanitarian Team