Eastern Himalayan Foundation

Eastern Himalayan Foundation, through our EmpowerED initiative, is conducting orientation sessions across schools and colleges in the region. These sessions aim to provide students with vital information about colleges that offer scholarships and placement opportunities, ensuring they can make informed decisions about their future. Through our initiative, we aim to bridge the gap for students from low-income, rural, and marginalized backgrounds by addressing the barriers of knowledge and economy. Registered students will also benefit from bootcamps designed to prepare them with: Mock Tests, General Studies & English Support and Mock Interviews, to help them prepare better.

We successfully concluded the third Residential Training for our Trailblazer Fellows in Kalimpong, marking a step forward in creating more collaboration. It was a proud moment as we welcomed the Kalimpong NGO network , which engaged with our fellows and strengthened our shared vision. Our former fellows took the opportunity to share their journeys, with Hemani discussing her transformative experience in the Sports for Transformation fellowship, Dani Sports Foundation while Pritika and Puja offered insights into their studies and lives at Azim Premji University. In addition, we hosted an informative call with students from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, addressing our fellows' questions about exploring Tata Institute of Social Sciences as a potential pathway post-graduation. Together, we’re building a community of role models and creating avenues for continuous growth and impact.

The Eastern Himalayan Foundation recently hosted two days of engaging sessions with wildlife ecologist, painter, and writer Sartaj Ghuman , offering students unique learning opportunities. Day one featured an exciting 24km hike in Darjeeling, where students explored the local ecosystem through birdwatching, insect spotting, and trekking, all while learning about trees, leaves, and the microcosmic wonders of nature. Day two was held at Bijanbari Degree College, in collaboration with the Nature Club where Sartaj led a more structured indoor and outdoor session, sparking lively discussions on ecology. Students actively engaged, asking insightful questions and deepening their understanding of the environment around their campus. These sessions align with EHF's mission to connect the region with diverse resource persons from outside, fostering knowledge exchange and contributing to the holistic growth of the community.

The Eastern Himalayan Foundation has partnered with the NSS unit of St. Joseph’s College to make a vibrant campus community, with a focus on career opportunities, psychosocial support, and leadership development. Our first event, titled “Mind Matters: Empowering Young Adults for Mental Wellbeing,” was done by Mr. Bivek Pradhan, Founder and CEO of Eunoia, and Clinical Psychologist at the District Hospital in Kalimpong. This marks the beginning of a series of sessions aimed at creating a strong and sustainable community in Darjeeling.

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We are excited to share that we have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Opengrad Foundation, India’s first free, community-powered entrance exam platform. Through this collaboration, we are offering CUET PG orientation sessions, followed by free coaching provided by Opengrad Foundation. We have successfully conducted orientation sessions at Southfield College, Darjeeling, and Cluny Women’s College, Kalimpong, and we look forward to extending these opportunities to all 13 colleges in Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

The Trailblazer Fellowship is the flagship program of the Eastern Himalayan Foundation, designed to train selected undergraduate and graduate students to become leaders for themselves and their communities. We are delighted to celebrate the graduation of the second batch of Trailblazer Fellows, marking 10 months of togetherness. We were honored to have Mr. Udaya Mani Pradhan, Dr. R.B. Bhujel, and Mrs. Devi Chettri as our keynote speakers, and we appreciated Dr. Rinan Shah sharing her experiences working closely with the Eastern Himalayan Foundation. We are also grateful to the college representatives and the parents who accompanied the Fellows on this special day. Together, we look forward to the positive impact these new leaders will make.

The residential training for the second batch of Trailblazer Fellows culminated with a comprehensive program at Buddha Pada in Kalimpong. The first day was marked by a field visit to Teesta, led by Sir Prafulla Rao, and an enlightening presentation on GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods) and the utilization of smartphones for weather monitoring and early warning systems. Sister Suveshna Thapa's session provided invaluable insights into the challenges of project initiation and effective strategies for overcoming them. Additionally, Ms. Tashi Sherpa delved into Human Rights and Legal awareness, while Mr. Bivek Pradhan addressed the crucial topic of Mental Health. This holistic training equipped the fellows with a diverse set of skills and knowledge essential for their future endeavors in making positive societal impacts.

Our latest youth engagement initiative within EmpowerEd was titled "Mind Matters: Empowering Young Adults with Mental Wellness," done in collaboration with Eunoia. Facilitated by Bivek Pradhan, a psychologist and the founder of Eunoia, the session delved into the intricacies of mental health – its manifestations, coping mechanisms, and specific cases prevalent in the local region. Our goal is to continue organizing such impactful Youth Engagement Programs, ensuring that our youth are well-informed and exposed to the essential knowledge required in the 21st century.