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HOW IT STARTED

The Australian Himalayan Foundation was founded by a group of passionate trekking guides, trekkers and mountaineers – brought together by a love of the Himalayan region and its people. Those Founding Directors were a group of friends that included Simon Balderstone, Garry Weare, Christine Gee, Peter Hillary, Lincoln Hall, Michael Dillon and Mark O’Toole.

 

Collectively they spent many months in the Himalaya, over many years, exploring and working in the mountains while getting to know the region and its people and culture. They also saw that while the Himalaya is a place of breath-taking beauty and endless adventure, it is also a place of extreme disadvantage, poverty and hardship for many people.

 

Inspired by their love and respect for the people, and the charitable work of Sir Edmund Hillary, the group decided to do something. They wanted to improve the quality of life for people in the Himalaya, and to continue and build on the humanitarian legacy of Sir Edmund Hillary.

 

On December 20th 2001, the group got together to discuss how they could best give back to the Himalayan people. The organisation’s first Constitution was drafted and signed – and the Australian Himalayan Foundation was born, focusing on three three areas: education, health and the environment.

 

In February 2002, AHF was registered with ASIC and the first Board meeting was held. Twenty-two years on, thanks to our generous donors, we have been able to turn an idea into an organisation that is delivering long-term, sustainable change to the communities of the Himalaya.

SEE OUR HISTORY

Explore our interactive timeline to learn more about the Australian Himalayan Foundation’s journey over the last 20+ years.

VIEW OUR POLICIES

As a member of the Australian Council for International Development and in line with Australian Aid (DFAT) guidelines, we are compliant with policies and safeguards.

READ OUR ANNUAL REPORTS

Every year we provide a report on our entire organisation – from the programs we run to the people who help us do it.

STAY UP TO DATE

Follow us on social media to learn about the latest developments at AHF and hear news from the Himalaya.

WHO WE ARE

The Australian Himalayan Foundation has a small team of staff across Australia, Nepal and Bhutan and is supported by our Board of Directors, AHF Ambassadors and a group of generous volunteers.

PARTNERS IN THE HIMALAYA

AHF works with local organisations in Nepal, Bhutan and India to deliver our education, health and environment programs.

REED Nepal

Gangjong Doeghar ( Tibetan Performing Arts, Kalimpong)

Action For Nepal
Snow Leopard Conservancy
RENEW

LEARN ABOUT
OUR WORK

We work in partnership with the people of the remote Himalaya to improve living standards in local communities, in a long term, sustainable way.

CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS

World Nomads

As a founding partner of the Footprints Network, World Nomads has partnered with AHF to support our programs through online micro-donations creating great impact for the people in the Himalayas.

PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS

We are delighted to recognise the incredible generosity of the following supporters who made gifts of over $10,000 to AHF in 2019/2020.

ACME Foundation

H&K Johnston Family Foundation

Jeanette and Peter Young Foundation

Dr Judy Curtis

Mark Baker and Michelle Lim

McNair Charitable Foundation

Ruth Fitzhardinge

The Ian Watson Foundation

The Sun Foundation

The Sunrise Foundation

 

…. and a number of donors who choose to remain anonymous.

PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS

AHF is accredited with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), under the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

AHF is a signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct, a voluntary, self-regulatory sector code of good practice. We are committed and fully adhere to the ACFID Code of Conduct, conducting our work with transparency, accountability and integrity.

FIA