Luklass – Luklass Association

WHO WE ARE

The Lukla-Chaurikharka Association (better known as Luklass) promotes and supports education for children and adults. It also supports projects aimed at improving a healthy environment at Lukla and Chaurikharka in the region of the Khumbu Valley in eastern Nepal.

Luklass was founded in 2008, but its members and donators have been active since 1984. The association is entirely managed by volunteers and supported by private members and donors – currently numbering 330.

Luklass is registered with the Lower Valais Commercial Registry at St-Maurice (Switzerland) and with the tax authorities of the canton of Valais (Switzerland) which recognise Lukla-Chaurikharka Association as a non-profit organisation.

In 1983, mountain guides from the canton of Valais reached the summit of Kangchenjunga (8,585 m), thanks to the assistance of Sherpas. In recognition, and following a request made by the “sirdar” Passang Gyalzen Sherpa, Denis Bertholet organised a collection of funds which enabled the first primary school with 35 pupils to be financed at Lukla and opened in 1984. This effort continues today.

OUR VALUES

Solidarity: understanding the struggles and fundamental needs of a community, and helping the population to achieve better living conditions through their own initiatives, thus leading to the reduction of poverty
Personal development: promoting education so that the whole community can play an active part in the process of positive change and become autonomous
Respect: working with respect for the national and regional laws, human rights, values and beliefs of the local population, as well as their environment
Accountability: ensuring maximum responsibility in our work, actions and results
Human relations: building lasting relationships that stimulate our actions and create a great supportive community