Welcome to Pennies for Sherpa!

a program of The Other Side of Everest Educational Foundation. We hope that your school will partner with us to transform the lives of children in Nepal and the United States.

The purpose of Pennies for Sherpa! is to provide for the education and upbringing of children of Sherpa guides and porters who are killed in the Himalayas. But the true goal of the project is to unite children around the world and inspire them to rise above their circumstances, overcome obstacles and learn the joy of giving.

Sherpa from the impoverished and isolated communities of the Khumbu valley region of Nepal make it possible for climbers from around the world to ascend the massive peaks they call home. In the process of guiding expeditions, securing fixed lines on the mountains and carrying the gear and goods of climbers, many Sherpa are killed. In Nepalese culture, the father is the anchor of his family, thus the wives and children of deceased guides and porters are outcast from society and often relegated to lives of misery.

By providing for the care and education of the children of these brave men, Pennies for Sherpa! ensures that widows have the opportunity to remarry, and that children are afforded the skills and resources to grow and thrive.

The best part? We leverage the education and upbringing of Sherpa children to benefit youth in the United States. By partnering with elementary schools, we educate children in America about mountain climbing, Sherpa culture, geography, religion and many additional topics.

Following the climbing adventures of Wendy Booker, Founder and President, children who face their own challenges in life are inspired to appreciate opportunities, strive to achieve their dreams and learn the joy of giving back.

Complete information can be found online at www.penniesforsherpa.org and will give you all the tools you need to incorporate the Pennies for Sherpa! project into your classroom and execute fundraising drives to help support a child in Nepal.

By bridging the gap between children in two worlds, we can help to develop strong, well-educated and inspired citizens who can positively contribute to their respective communities as adults.

How are the pennies used?

Our goals for sponsored children in Nepal are:

1. That each child enjoy an acceptable standard of living that includes adequate shelter, food and clothing.
2. That they be monitored and protected from abuse or neglect.
3. That they be provided with the resources they need to succeed in school through textbooks, classroom supplies, uniforms and study materials.
4. That they enjoy a free education at the highest quality institutions of learning available in the area until such time as they complete secondary school and are eligible for gainful employment or to attend college.
5. That they receive support in transitioning to adult-hood through assistance in entering college, a scholarship to guide school or support in learning a trade.

Most of our penny drives raise enough money to support a child in Nepal for at least one year - if not more! It costs less than $500 to educate and support a Sherpa child for one year, so your pennies go a long way.

Benefits for your Students

Our delivery model is unique in that we leverage the education and upbringing of Nepalese children to benefit elementary school age youth in the United States. By partnering with schools through the Pennies for Sherpa!™ Project , we educate children in America about mountain climbing, Sherpa culture, geography, religion and many additional related topics.

Following the adventures of record-breaking mountain climber, Wendy Booker, these children who may face their own challenges in life are inspired to appreciate opportunities and strive to achieve their dreams.

Visit www.wendybooker.net for complete information about our Founder and President.

By teaching them to give back, we motivate kids in the US to stay in school, become community advocates, and avoid common pitfalls such as suicide, teen pregnancy and drug and alcohol abuse.

Click to download a Campaign Kick-Start Kit Now!

 

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The Benefits

Inspiring US Youth

By teaching them to give back, we inspire low-income youth in the US to stay in school, become community advocates, and avoid common pitfalls such as suicide, teen pregnancy and drug and alcohol abuse.

Helping Children

We offer Sherpa children who have lost their fathers and face lives of misery, illiteracy and poverty a chance to lead healthy, prosperous lives.

Saving Families

We improve the lives of widows in Nepal who would be forced into lives of unthinkable hardship without our assistance in raising their children.

Changing Attitudes

Our work is aimed at shifting the attitude of the Sherpa community toward this outcast class of people and enabling them to assimilate into society as equal citizens.

Building Communities

Our activities strengthen and improve Sherpa communities by ensuring that future generations are well-adjusted, well-educated and empowered to make a difference in the world.