Chairman’s Review

Working in partnership with the people of the Himalaya

Annual Report 2015/16

Sustainable education, health and environmental projects Contents

3 Who We Are 4 Chairman’s Review 5 From the General Manager 7 Program Review 8 Building Nepal Back Better 9 Teacher Training and Quality Education – Our Flagship Program 10 Our Programs 12 Board of Directors and Staff 15 Thank you to… 16 Accountability

The Australian Himalayan Foundation aims to improve the quality of life of the people most in need in remote areas of the Himalaya.

Front cover image: AHF Maternal Health Care Program, Zanskar Valley, Ladakh, Indian Himalaya Who we are

Over the years, thousands of Australians have visited the Himalaya. For many it is an opportunity to trek beneath the world’s highest peaks and to appreciate some of the world’s most hospitable cultures.

Yet the Himalaya is not just a vast These cost-effective projects are adventure playground. For the local combined with practical on-the-ground communities life is anything but outcomes in the poorest, most under- easy – with access to basic health resourced areas of the Himalaya across and education services often out of Nepal, Bhutan and Northern India. reach. In response to these needs, These programs help to reduce poverty the Australian Himalayan Foundation and address human rights like gender was formed in 2003 and strives to equality, child rights and the rights of ensure the long-term viability of marginalised groups in rural regions sustainable health, education and throughout the Himalaya. They are in environmental programs across line with the United Nations Sustainable the Himalaya. Development Goals. We work in partnership with the The AHF is a registered Australian NGO people of the Himalaya to help the with no political or religious affi liations. most disadvantaged meet their We are members of the Australian priority needs through integrated Council for International Development improvements in education, health and have accreditation status with the and the environment. Australian Government Overseas Aid Program (DFAT).

ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 3 Chairman’s Review

Moral village, Lower Solukhumbu, October 2016: Early morning (still in sleeping bag) – looking well to the north to a clear line of high Himalayan peaks, including Mera Pk, and out the other window to the nearby playground of the Moral Primary School…

… which we (Greg Mortimer and I, Bhim - The appreciation, value and great And I want to thank so much everyone Bogati CEO of REED, our in-country cost-effectiveness of our help in in the growing AHF family – Members; Nepal NGO partner, and our AHF an area where there is severe project partners; all corporate and supporter trekkers) had visited the day disadvantage and lack of opportunity private donors; volunteers, pro bono before, meeting our scholarship holders and facilities for the basic human helpers and event contributors; support and teachers trained under our Teacher rights of education and good health. trekkers (including Kathmandu Summit Training and Quality Education program. As the Nepal Government District Club trekkers and the Chairman’s Education Offi cer at Salleri said at Trekkers); Carolyn and all the staff Lower in the valley yesterday, we had another classroom inauguration: (still only three full time staff); and the also trekked to Kanku School, “Only you (the Australian Himalayan three AHF Board Advisory Committee inaugurating two classrooms rebuilt Foundation) are in this whole district Chairs and the rest of the Board – it is jointly by AHF and the Himalayan Trusts and only you give our schools the individual and collective efforts of of NZ and UK, and talking to more such assistance”. you all which enable us to do what we scholarship holders and teachers – do for the people of the Himalaya. all 17 teachers having received - How right we are to rigorously TTQE training. maintain – despite the requests and pressures for all sorts of funding Greg and I are accompanying an AHF – our grass-roots focus on “giving support/fundraising trek and checking what is needed most to those who on the progress of our school repair and need it most”. Simon Balderstone rebuild projects, following on from our Chairman The many ways (including donations, emergency relief and “Temporary - trekking and organising events or Learning Centres” assistance after other fundraising/sponsored trips) the tragic 2015 earthquakes. AHF supporters can help us help the This trek has brought home to me people of the Himalaya. more vividly than ever the fundamentals 2015–16 was yet another busy and of AHF’s work helping the people of successful year for AHF, featuring the the Himalaya: raising of $1.2 million to fund projects; - The demand and need for our an enormous amount of work on the assistance, particularly in giving the application to the Australian Federal children – and especially the girls – Government for full accreditation; the of the Lower Solukhumbu region, implementation of a successful Social the gift of a better education. Media Strategy (thank you Ben Kassel and the Haimat team); the development and initial stages of implementation of the schools’ repair and rebuilding program; and the successful delivery of our on-going programs in the Himalaya.

4 THE AUSTRALIAN HIMALAYAN FOUNDATION From the General Manager

“I suspect nothing has ever been built in Solukhumbu with this amount of planning and design. My father’s construction method was somewhat organic. These are remarkable plans and will change the future of these communities.”

These were Peter Hillary’s words when With all this work going on, we are Enormous development challenges late last year he fi rst saw our plans for pleased to report that our existing still exist across the region in terms of the rebuilding of schools in the Everest programs continue to provide accessing quality primary education, region that had been damaged and communities across the Himalaya with improving basic health outcomes, destroyed by the 2015 earthquakes. access to vital health and education reducing poverty and, as the events of services. In June, I travelled to Ladakh 2015 have shown, in adapting to climate These earthquake-resilient classrooms, in the Indian Himalaya to see fi rsthand change and the increased frequency of aimed at building Nepal back better, how maternal health services are being natural disasters. It is our aim to continue were the result of a dynamic partnership made available to mothers living in the providing sustainable community-based between AHF and Australian architects remote valley of Zanskar and to see the education, health and environment-led Davenport Campbell and HASSELL and importance of training the local medical projects across the region in response to Sydney-based engineers Taylor, practitioners (known as amchi) in the these challenges and to strengthen and Thomson, Whitting (TTW). Together we delivery of these services. It was also expand the long-term relationships have created architectural designs for very encouraging to meet with our between Australia and the Himalaya. low-cost, environmentally sustainable, partners, the Snow Leopard Conservancy earthquake resilient classrooms and to see how a simple intervention We are very fortunate to do this work in incorporating traditional elements of involving the construction of enclosed partnership with an amazing network Nepalese architecture with a functionality corrals for livestock were saving the of supporters, volunteers, partners and durability rarely seen. lives of hundreds of snow leopards by and donors who all share our vision of preventing farmers from killing these improving the lives of those living in the As one of the few NGOs working in endangered animals. Himalaya and that’s what makes this the remote Solukhumbu region, we work so rewarding. We thank you recognised early on the need to respond In the background, our work has been sincerely for being on this journey with us to this disaster with the rebuilding of signifi cantly strengthened by an and we look forward to working alongside schools to ensure the ongoing benefi ts expanding team (we were thrilled to you well into the next fi ve years. to children and communities of our welcome our new part-time Book- education programs. Over the past Keeper Linda Jocelyn to the team this 12 months we have been grateful year) and the development of a fi ve-year for our established track record in the Strategic Plan by management and region and our strong relationships with Board. This plan is shared on our local communities and the government website and will shape our choices in Carolyn Hamer-Smith of Nepal, which stood us in good stead responding to changes in the General Manager for the approval of these innovative plans environment in which we operate and by the Ministry for Education. This rebuild how we best support the people of the work is now well underway with more Himalaya now and into the future. than 20 new school buildings complete.

ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 5

Program Review

The past year has involved a concerted effort from our AHF team to upgrade our systems and processes as we step up towards developing our sectoral programs. This has included mainstreaming gender and disability in effective ways into our work across education, health and the environment.

This is a process that has included Education (TTQE), made notable strides strong planning with our partners and in program delivery to improve the stakeholders in the region and bringing in standards of rights-based, inclusive necessary expertise when required. It is child-friendly education in primary equally a process of assessing what real schools in the remote, mountainous changes we have made, where our gaps Solukhumbu district. REED reports that are and what capacity we and our there has been an increase in the pass partners have to strengthen the work we rate and learning achievements of do for the people in the Himalaya region. children together with a reduction in the dropout rates. In the past year – in line with our approach of ‘learning by doing’ – we have AHF carried out an independent review successfully piloted small projects in Nepal of the TTQE program this year which has and Bhutan for women’s economic provided us valuable fi ndings that will be empowerment and professional used to further strengthen the program. development. Following a needs analysis, It recommends focusing on literacy these projects have given training such improvement for early grades, addressing as weaving and tailoring to women from children with disabilities, using a model disadvantaged and marginalised school approach and developing the backgrounds. With the support of the active engagement of parents and Australian High Commission in India, the local communities. pilot project in Bhutan is complementing our ongoing support for girls’ education As part of our efforts to upgrade our as we develop a fl agship gender program operations this past year, we have with our in-country partner RENEW. In reviewed and updated our existing Nepal, similarly, the pilot project that is policies and strategies as well as adding being funded by Soroptimist International, relevant new ones which can be found is being integrated into our current on the AHF website. A key strategy which teacher training program as a means to articulates our ethos is the ‘Partnership gender empowerment and equality. Strategy’ that says “...our success in Gender and social inclusion training was improving the lives of the people in also run for school teachers and for staff remote parts of the Himalayan region is at our in-country partner REED in Nepal. inextricably linked to our capacity to In order for us to focus on addressing identify, support and develop respectful disability issues in our work, we relationships with local partners and commissioned a study on disability in local people.” Nepal which is being followed by training on inclusive education focusing on addressing people with disabilities.

This year, our fl agship education program Tshering Lama O’Gorman in Nepal, Teacher Training & Quality Program Director

ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 7 Building Nepal Back Better

Following the devastating earthquakes in Nepal in April and May 2015, the Australian Himalayan Foundation’s Nepal Earthquake Appeal raised over a million dollars thanks to the generosity of our supporters, partners and the wider Australian community.

The AHF has spent the last 18 months Solukhumbu Education Rebuild and Over the course of the next fi ve years we diligently working to ensure that these Recovery (LSERR) project. This project intend to repair and rebuild 25 schools in funds are managed in an accountable is an ambitious, long-term commitment total, involving a phased approach to the and cost-effective way with a focus on to the people of this region that will see release of funds which will be based on ‘building Nepal back better’. all three organisations working together prioritising the needs of each of the to build safer, stronger schools in Nepal. schools involved. Of the 300-plus schools that the AHF supports through the Teacher Training & With AHF’s track record in the region As part of the repair and reconstruction Quality Education (TTQE) program in the and strong relationships with local work, the AHF has also focussed on the Lower Solukhumbu region, more than NGOs, communities and the Nepalese upskilling of members of the communities 200 were assessed as being in urgent Government, the innovative plans we in which these schools are based. need of rebuilding or repair. We have have designed have been approved by AHF has funded masonry skills training been working hard to get kids back to the Nepalese Ministry for Education. courses for over 60 local people from the school by providing 19 temporary It has been challenging work in the face of Lower Solukhumbu region. This training learning spaces for kids while we plan political instability in Nepal and the closure was conducted onsite by experienced the rebuild of earthquake resilient of the vital border crossing between Nepal trainers/engineers from the National schools in the Everest region. and India late last year which delayed our Society for Earthquake Technology rebuilding work, as well as the lengthy (NSET). Working with REED, this training With the pro bono assistance of approval process of the design plans by has helped to build a skilled labour force Australian engineering and architectural the Ministry of Education, but with the that will boost local capacity and fi rms, Taylor Thompson Whitting (TTW) dedicated commitment of our in-country economy and AHF has already employed and HASSELL, we have pioneered an partners, REED, we are moving ahead. 10 graduates from across these training innovative lightweight steel frame design groups to complete the retrofi t of those for schools that incorporates schools identifi ed by AHF for repair. contemporary seismic design principles. Five Year Rebuild Program: These frames are light enough to be Income vs expenditure from the As at 30 June, AHF has completed the carried on the back of porters into Nepal Earthquake Appeal from repair and retrofi t of 20 classrooms in remote areas, yet strong enough to 25/4/2015 – 30/6/2016 fi ve schools and a further 18 schools are withstand future earthquakes as well as planned for 2016–2017. monsoonal storms. In addition, the Australian architectural fi rm Davenport One of the architectural rebuild designs Campbell has developed architectural by TTW/HASSELL plans for a low-cost environmentally Direct Project Income sustainable, earthquake resilient school Expenditure $1,116,722.00* using best practice seismic principles $273,124.53* and specifi cally catering for the needs of students with disabilities. We are also working in partnership with the Himalayan Trust NZ and the Himalayan Trust UK to rebuild and *Does not include administration and management costs associated with implementing the project retrofi t 22 schools through the Lower including the hire of engineers in Nepal.

8 THE AUSTRALIAN HIMALAYAN FOUNDATION Teacher Training and Quality Education – Our Flagship Program

The UN estimates that 57 million school-age children are currently not in school and research shows progress towards universal enrolment is slowing. These out-of-school boys and girls are being denied their basic human right to access a quality education and without it their future opportunities are dramatically limited.

In remote communities like the Everest extended to the poorer remote rural made impressive inroads in increasing region of Nepal, children as young as 11 schools in the south of Solukhumbu in local teachers’ knowledge and carry heavy loads for days at a time and 2008. AHF’s in-country delivery partner understanding of child-friendly approaches have no chance of receiving the benefi ts REED employs Nepalese trainers with and that the program has diversifi ed as of a basic education. In response to this support from Australian and New time has gone on to respond to the needs need, the Australian Himalayan Zealand volunteer teachers, to train rural of the communities in which it is based. Foundation’s fl agship Teacher Training primary school teachers in inclusive, and Quality Education (TTQE) program, child-friendly teaching techniques. Initial The TTQE Team operating in one of the poorest regions of training workshops are followed by On the ground our program is rural Nepal, helps ensure that all children refresher training and in-service support, implemented by our dedicated project have access to primary education. with concurrent selection and training of partners REED (Rural Education & Key Teachers to support and eventually Environment Development), a Nepalese TTQE aims to strengthen inclusive, assume training responsibility. NGO based in Kathmandu and our child-centred education with a major Opportunities are provided for Education Consultant, Jim Strang, who focus on teacher training, the provision participation by female teachers with was instrumental in establishing the of educational resources for poorly female Key Teachers given priority for original teacher-training program run by resourced schools and educational further training. Sir Edmund Hillary. A further dimension support for marginalised and vulnerable to the program is the valued contribution children who for various reasons may TTQE’s high-level goal is to contribute of a team of volunteer teachers from not be attending school. toward the delivery of quality, inclusive Australia and New Zealand who work child-friendly education in the remote In this last year, this educational support with REED in the fi eld. mountain district of Solukhumbu. enabled 550 students to attend school

EVEREST of which: TTQE runs workshops with School SOLU KHUMBU NEPAL KATHMANDU Management Committees and Parent 369 were girls from disadvantaged - Teacher Associations to engage support SOLU KHUMBU families experiencing extreme TOTAL SCHOOLS 283; TEACHERS 2,008; STUDENTS 38,586; from local communities on inclusive, THIS INCLUDES 239; PRIMARY SCHOOLS; 1,701 TEACHERS; EVEREST poverty and 181 were boys 33,014 STUDENTS child-friendly education. TTQE’s Child GOKYO - 344 of these were Janajati Clubs also engage primary school TO EVEREST BASE CAMP TO GOKYO LAKES (vulnerable indigenous population) children in the Program and these clubs

145 were dalit children helps to inform local communities on SAGARMATHA NATIONAL PARK TENGBOCHE - KHUMJUNG

(untouchable caste) issues surrounding children’s rights. NAMCHE UPPER BAZAAR KHUMBU - 28 had a disability In order to support the future direction of MAKALU NATIONAL PARK Accredited by the Government’s the TTQE program, AHF funded a major CHOURIKHOLA National Centre for Education external and independent evaluation of the LUKLA Airstrip Development (NCED) and implemented program in May 2016. The purpose of the LOWER evaluation was to identify the successes KHUMBU in coordination with the Department of KHARIKHOLA TAKSINDU BHAKANJE JUNBESI and challenges of the program, any NUNTHALA Education (DOE), TTQE is recognised FROM JIRI TO EVEREST CHAULA KHARKA EENI SOTANG

lessons learned since the previous GOLI TAMAKHANI as one of the most comprehensive CHESKAM BASA BUNG PHAPLU AIRSTRIP GUDEL evaluation in 2014, and to assess the KERUNG SALLERI WAKUW education programs in rural Nepal. PAWAL KAKU SOTANG

ongoing relevance of the program in the GORAKHANI DEUSA SOTAN GARMA TAPTING LOKHIM The 12-year Program commenced in Lower Solukhumbu region. The evaluation NELE BAZAAR KERUPA NELE KANGEL 2005 in the Everest region and was concluded that the TTQE program has TINGLA JABU SALYAN PANCHAN NECHA 9 NECHA BATASE Our Programs

Education This training program includes a In addition to the amchi training, the AHF 12-month mentoring opportunity, also operated a fi ve-day residential medical Working with women and girls creating long-term livelihood opportunities camp out of the main hospital in Zanskar and economic independence for women providing the local communities access Bhutan living in these remote, rural communities. to free healthcare – a greatly needed Working in partnership with local NGO service as the hospital often remains RENEW, an organisation dedicated to unattended and without medical supplies. the empowerment of women and girls, Health AHF supports a fl agship gender program Maternal health Nepal in Bhutan, recognising that investing in According to the District Health Offi ce the education of women and girls is Indian Himalaya report, approximately 2,637 pregnancies fundamental to creating strong, stable Zanskar is one of the most remote are expected in the Solukhumbu district families, communities and countries. regions in the entire Himalaya. Located annually and 634 in the Sotang area; in the region of Ladakh in the Indian The fi rst phase of this program provides yet for many villages the nearest hospital Himalaya, heavy snows in winter cut it girls from some of the remotest is usually understaffed and a day’s off from the outside world for over six disadvantaged corners of Bhutan (where walk away. months of the year. During this time children often walk up to 3 hours a day medical facilities are non-existent and In the southern district of Sotang to reach school) with access to an villagers rely heavily on the amchi – the are the villages of Bung, Chheskam, education by providing textbooks, traditional medical healers – for primary Gudel, Pawai, Waku and Lokhim school uniforms, school bags and lunch. health care. Sadly, the region has which are among the least developed The second phase of the program is a unacceptable rates of infant mortality, in the Solukhumbu, where maternal vocational training program that provides often as high as one in two children. and neonatal mortality are quite high. technical training opportunities for young Our aim is to decrease these tragic AHF’s project in this area supports women. This project focuses on skills rates of infant mortality and assist with maternal health care and service development and income generation for improving maternal healthcare in the delivery for pregnant women, underprivileged women who endure region – both of which are part of the mothers and newborn babies. economic hardship and have no social UN Sustainable Development Goals. The main objective is to strengthen support in their communities. Women the health service delivery for are trained in the creation of traditional We do this by funding annual workshops pregnant women and newborn Bhutanese textile production, enterprise for the amchi aimed at improving their babies and improve development and economic management. traditional healthcare practices, as well antenatal care. It covers as enhancing them with modern health Together these projects form an both ante and postnatal care techniques. This training focuses LADAKH integrated community development care and involves the on maternal health and the female amchi program that ensures just as many girls funding and training of two are trained in monitoring prenatal visits, are attending school as boys and that dedicated maternal health attending births in their own villages those girls can go on to receive technical care nurses for the region. and educating new mothers in the skills to provide long-term livelihoods. community on safe childbirth practices. This project was This in turn is enabling these women This year more than 40 amchi attended originally established and girls to become independent. the training. in memoriam of AHF Director, Lincoln Hall. Nepal Many amchi, with the assistance of the In Nepal the AHF is providing support AHF, have gone on to undertake further DELHI specifi cally to increase the capacity of training in the government hospital in young girls to become trained workers, the capital Leh, as well as monitoring providing them with employable skills prenatal visits births in their own and the opportunity to be leaders and villages, educating new mothers and decision-makers within their communities. passing on their knowledge to other community members.

10 THE AUSTRALIAN HIMALAYAN FOUNDATION Environment Through the construction of a simple wire roofi ng for these corrals supported Snow Leopard Conservation by wooden beams, these corrals are Special Projects enclosed and in this way prevent snow India Himalayan Art Awards leopards from accessing the livestock. There may be as few as 3500 snow Although the Himalaya boasts a rich It is a simple and effective means of leopards left in the world and many of cultural heritage, there are few preventing the deaths of snow leopards these are found across the Himalaya. opportunities for creative expression for at the hands of farmers. Humans are largely responsible for the many talented artists in the Himalaya. snow leopard decline – poachers hunt In the last year SLC India have The Himalayan Art Award provides support for a select number of emerging them for their pelts, body parts are used constructed nearly 20 snow leopard- artists for the period of one year and in for traditional medicines and the proof corrals with a further 10–12 return, the artists commit to donating one leopards often come into confl ict with scheduled for construction in 2017. major and one minor artwork to the AHF. local farmers. The AHF is working closely These corrals have had a 90% success with the Snow Leopard Conservancy rate resulting in a dramatic reduction in The works are then auctioned off in (SLC) to protect the endangered snow the number of snow leopards killed by Australia at our major events and the leopard through partnerships with local farmers in the Zanskar Valley. funds raised are then designated for communities in the remote region of future awards, creating a fully Ladakh in the Indian Himalaya. Arts & Culture sustainable arts program. This project supports young artists across the region This project supports the construction Preserving Tibetan culture who would otherwise struggle to fi nd of snow leopard-safe corrals across the the resources to express their talent. Zanskar Valley. Traditionally the farmers India build low-level, dry stone wall corrals In association with the Australian Tibetan This project was originally established for their livestock – a critical means of Society we support the ‘Gangjong by AHF supporter Margie Thomas income for farmers in these remote Doeghar’ Tibetan performing arts in in memoriam of Australian artist areas. These corrals are however open Kalimpong, North India which preserves Murray Zanoni. and exposed to attacks from snow and promotes traditional Tibetan cultural Schools for the Himalaya leopards at night at which time an dance and music. With our support they Our Schools for the Himalaya program entire herd can be wiped out. are able to provide training to many young gives Australian schools an opportunity people of the Himalayas in keeping alive to meet students on the other side of the Tibetan cultural dance and the music world living a completely different way of traditions of all the regions of Tibet. Many life. The program links Aussie schools with of the artists who have been enrolled in schools in the Himalaya and provides a ‘Gangjong Doeghar’ are now employed genuine opportunity for cultural exchange in various schools locally and some are and to build a strong and lasting working in cultural organisations overseas. relationship with a school in the region. Schools in Australia are encouraged to raise funds to help LHASAimprove basic facilities and educational resources. There are TIBET also opportunities for Aussie schools to visit these schools and gain fi rsthand NEPAL experiences of the effectiveness of our educational programs. Everest

KATHMANDU SOLU KHUMBU BHUTAN

INDIA ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 11 Board of Directors and Staff

Board of Directors

Simon Balderstone AM (Chairman) Janine Constantine Greg Mortimer OAM Director of consultancy company; International Development specialist Greg successfully climbed Mt. Everest in adviser to Olympic movement; member with 20 years’ experience developing 1984 as a member of the fi rst Australian of the 1984 First Australian Everest and managing aid projects for Everest Expedition and he was involved Expedition; journalist and author. Former the Australian Government, United in the fi rst team to climb K2 and Prime Ministerial adviser, SOCOG Board Nations agencies and NGOs. Mt. Vinson. He has led over 80 member and General Manager. expeditions to the Antarctica and is Christine Gee AM the co-founder of Aurora Expeditions. Cheryl Bart AO Nepalese Honorary Consul General Greg is the Vice President of YHA and a On 24 May 2008, Cheryl and her (1987– 2009); co-founder of Australian Director of Mawson’s Huts Foundation 23-year-old daughter Nikki became the Himalayan Expeditions (now World and he has received the Order of fi rst mother-daughter team to reach the Expeditions); Attache to Sydney 2000 Australia Medal for his contribution to summit of Mount Everest. The scaling Nepal Olympic team, member Australian mountaineering. Greg was of Everest also saw them complete the of Chief Executive Women. appointed to the Board in March 2014 ‘Seven Summits’ challenge: climbing the highest mountain on each continent. Barbara Hall Garry Weare (Deputy Chairman) Cheryl is a Director of the Australian Barbara is a long-time secondary Veteran trek guide with over 35 years’ Broadcasting Corporation, Spark school teacher. As a teacher at the experience in the Himalaya; Honorary Infrastructure and ESTA Utilities. International Australian School in Secretary (Australia) for the Himalayan Singapore she began, with husband Club; former Director and now Julia Booth Lincoln Hall, the AHF ‘Schools for the consultant to World Expeditions; Julia’s area of expertise is in the Himalaya’ program and has visited the author and photographer. development and management of region regularly, determining fi rsthand projects in the Private, Government and the needs of schools. NGO sectors. For the last 15 years she has concentrated on development Peter Hillary projects with a focus on livelihood and Adventurer (twice Everest summiteer, education programs for women and South Pole overland via Shackleton children. She has a long history of Glacier, fi rst high-altitude traverse of cultural exchange with the Himalayan entire Himalayan range); expedition region and with the nation of Bhutan in leader, public speaker, leader of particular. Julia was appointed to the philanthropic missions; author Board in March 2014. and photographer.

12 THE AUSTRALIAN HIMALAYAN FOUNDATION Ambassadors

Michael Dillon AM Dylan Hall Jackson Bursill AHF Ambassador AHF Youth Ambassador AHF Youth Ambassador Adventurer and one of the world’s Dylan’s passion for the Himalaya was Jackson joined as Youth Ambassador leading mountain cinematographers fi rst ignited as a young boy travelling following his work establishing Neverest, and documentary fi lmmakers with 40 in the early 1990’s. As the son of a fundraising event for the AHF in which fi lms to his credit; member and Director founding AHF Director Lincoln Hall, participants hiked, ran or biked the of Photography on the First Australian he has always had a close association equivalent vertical height of Mount Everest Expedition 1984; AFI award with the Himalaya. Everest to raise funds for the AHF’s winner. After many years of service as a Nepal Earthquake Appeal following the Director, Mike now continues his support Alice I’Anson devastating Earthquakes in 2015. as an excellent Ambassador for AHF. AHF Youth Ambassador Jackson has now expanded Neverest Alice’s passion for travel and to include events in both Canberra, Andrew Lock OAM international aid led her to complete a Melbourne and Sydney and it is raising AHF Ambassador Bachelor of Arts in International Studies funds for the AHF’s TTQE program. Acclaimed as Australia’s most and recently completed an internship Jackson is also a member of the accomplished high-altitude mountaineer, with the AHF. Alice is the daughter of Australian Cross Country Ski team. Andrew recently became the fi rst renowned Lonely Planet photographer, Australian to climb all 14 of the world’s Richard I’Anson. 8,000 metre peaks. The Foundation is proud to have Andrew as its fi rst Ambassador.

George Hillary AHF Youth Ambassador George has always had strong AHF Staff connections with Nepal, through his father, Peter Hillary, and late grandfather, Carolyn Hamer-Smith Upala Sunthankar Sir Edmund Hillary. He has been General Manager Communications and Fundraising fortunate enough to travel through the Manager (part time – job share) Tshering Lama O’Gorman area on several occasions, during which Program Director Linda Jocelyn time he has been able to foster a more Bookkeeper (part time) personal connection with the Nepalese Siobhan Reynolds communities, as well as the projects Communications and Fundraising Jim Strang and goals of the AHF. Manager (part time – job share) TTQE Program Coordinator (Nepal)

ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 13

Thank you to…

Our Donors, Sponsors and Supporters With heartfelt thanks to our major donors, sponsors and loyal supporters that make this work possible: - Accor Hotels - Ian McNair Charitable - Ruth Fitzhardinge - ACME Foundation Foundation - Samuel Rogers - Annie McNiven - Jeanette & Peter Young - Sherpa Insurance - Ascent Private Wealth Foundation - SMEC Foundation - Australian Aid Program, - Kathmandu - Soroptimist International Department of Foreign Affairs - Kids in Tents - Stephanie Hart and Trade - Krista Waddell - Stewart’s Way - Bill Gross - Lateral Events Management - Taylor Thompson Whitting - Davenport Campbell - Lowenden Foundation (TTW) - David Francis - Mark and Lucy Osborn - The Dick and Pip Smith - Footprints Network - National Geographic Channel Foundation (WorldNomads.com) - Nepalese Australian - The Himalayan Trust NZ - Gary McCaw Association - The Himalayan Trust UK - H&K Johnston Family - Nicholas Llewelyn-Smith - The Ian Watson Foundation Foundation - Peter Lemon - The Sun Foundation - HASSELL - Peregrine Travel - The Sunrise Foundation - Heather McNeice - Pharmacy 777 Foundation - Wild Women on Top - Hunter Hall International - Robert Oatley Wines - World Expeditions

We would also like to thank the following individuals and groups who organised fundraising treks and challenges in support of the AHF: 2015 Bhutan Trekkers Heather McNeice, Krista Waddell and friends, 2015 Everest Base Camp Trekkers, 2015 Kathmandu Bhutan Summit Club Trekkers, 2016 Ten Summit Trekkers and Zac Zaharias, 2016 Textile Traditions of Bhutan Trekkers, 2016 Chairman’s Trekkers, 2016 Bhutan Chomolhari Base Camp Trekkers, 2016 Kathmandu Nepal Summit Club Trekkers, 2016 participants in Neverest and Jackson Bursill, and all those who so generously contributed to the Nepal Earthquake Appeal to support the recovery and rebuild of our schools in Nepal following the devastating Nepal earthquakes in April and May 2015. Finally, our sincere thanks to our Annual Supporters and our regular individual donors who are the backbone of AHF and the work we do – we are immensely grateful for their ongoing support.

ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 15 Financial Information

Strategy How we raised our funds in 2015–16 We continue to build up our Overseas Aid account in order to fully commit to our long-term programs – in Donations & Supporter Contributions $1,068,048 (79.19%) particular our fi nancial commitment to complete the 15-year cycle of our TTQE program. DFAT $150,000 (11.12%) Donations Donations go into our Overseas Aid Account for program payments Fundraising Gross $105,163 (7.8%) and associated program costs. The funds are held in a bank account Interest $11,880 (0.88%) with all interest credited for future Community Education $8,685 (0.64%) program payments. In line with AusAID requirements as well as our Bequests & Legacies $5,000 (0.37%) commitment to high standards of TOTAL $1,348,776 (100%) program delivery, 20% of donations were spent on management and administration costs. This refl ects best practice that ensures the How we spent our funds in 2015–16 AHF maintains robust, professional standards consistent with International Program industry practice. Expenditure & Support Costs $960,114 (73.05%) Directors’ Benefi ts The Chairman and all other Directors did not receive payment or benefi t or Fundraising Costs any kind. (Govt & Public)* $191,034 (14.54%)

Administration $140,280 (10.67%)

Community Education** $22,830 (1.74%)

TOTAL $1,314,257 (100%)

* Fundraising costs include all costs associated with events plus expenses integral to applications for government funding. ** Community Education expenses include regular AHF Supporter evenings, which are not organised as fundraising events, but as an opportunity for our Supporters and friends to gain an update on the AHF. Community Education costs also include a percentage of expenditure from general fundraising events that are assigned to promoting our development programs. 16 THE AUSTRALIAN HIMALAYAN FOUNDATION Income Statement

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2016 2016 2015 $ $

REVENUE Donations and Gifts – Monetary 1,057,793 1,618,425 – Non Monetary –– Bequests and Legacies 5,000 – Grants – DFAT 150,000 181,500 – Other Australian –– – Other Overseas –– Investment Income 11,880 8,349 Other Income – Fundraising Revenue 105,163 121,101 – Supporter Contributions 10,255 16,270 – Community Education 8,685 8,984 Revenue for International Political or Religious Adherence Promotion Programs ––

TOTAL REVENUE 1,348,776 1,954,629

EXPENDITURE

International Programs – Funds to Overseas Programs 814,335 676,298 – Program Support Costs 145,779 109,596 Fundraising Costs – Public 138,321 130,617 – Government and Multilateral 52,713 25,136 Community Education 22,830 19,708 Accountability and Administration 140,280 211,334 Non Monetary Expenditure –– Total International Aid and Development Expenditure 1,314,257 1,172,689

Expenditure for International Political or Religious Adherence Promotion Programs ––

TOTAL EXPENDITURE 1,314,258 1,172,689

SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) ORDINARY ACTIVITIES 34,519 781,940

The accompanying notes from part of these fi nancial statements.

ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 17 Balance Sheet

AS AT 30 JUNE 2016 2016 2015 $ $ ASSETS Current Assets – Cash and Cash Equivalents 1,388,186 1,343,657 – Trade and Other Receivables – 1,366 Total Current Assets 1,388,186 1,345,023 Non Current Assets – Property, Plant and Equipment 669 457 Total Non Current Assets 669 457

TOTAL ASSETS 1,388,855 1,345,479

LIABILITIES Current Liabilities – Trade and Other Payables 19,537 14,979 Provision for Employee Entitlements 17,087 12,789

Total Current Liabilities 36,624 27,768

TOTAL LIABILITIES 36,624 27,768 NET ASSETS 1,352,231 1,317,712 EQUITY Retained Earnings 1,352,231 1,317,712 Member’s Guarantee –– TOTAL EQUITY 1,352,231 1,317,712

The accompanying notes from part of these fi nancial statements.

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2016 Retained Earnings Total $ $

BALANCE AT 30 JUNE 2014 535,772 535,772 Excess of Revenue Over Expenses 781,940 781,940 Items of Other Comprehensive Income – – BALANCE AT 30 JUNE 2015 1,317,712 1,317,712 Excess of Revenue Over Expenses 34,519 34,519 Items of Other Comprehensive Income – – BALANCE AT 30 JUNE 2016 1,352,231 1,352,231

18 THE AUSTRALIAN HIMALAYAN FOUNDATION A copy of the full statutory fi nancial report for 2015/16 is available on request from our offi ce. Our summary fi nancial report complies with the standards set out by the ACFID Code of Conduct. Please refer to www.acfi d.asn.au for further information.

Australian Himalayan Foundation Ltd’s reserves are comprised entirely of retained earnings held for unrestricted purposes. There were no adjustments, transfers or asset revaluations made in 2015/16. Complaints Policy

A copy of the full statutory fi nancial report for 2015/16 is available on request from The Australian Himalayan Foundation our offi ce. is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Table of Cash Movements for Designated Purposes and a Signatory to the ACFID Code No single appeal or any other form of fundraising for a designated purpose of Conduct, which is a voluntary, generated 10% or more of the Australian Himalayan Foundation Ltd’s international self-regulatory code of good practice. aid and development revenue for the fi nancial year ended 30 June 2016. Information about how to make a Independent Audit Report Scope and Opinion complaint can be found at www.acfi d.asn.au The AHF has a process in place for handling any complaints. Please direct your complaint to Carolyn Hamer-Smith (General Manager) on 02 9438 1822 or email [email protected] Scott Lucas, Partner, B.Comm FCA Dip FP Lambourne Partners www.lambourne.com.au Newcastle 14 November 2016

Australian public with confi dence that procedures are in place and adhered to where the Australian Government when providing funds to our in-country provides grants to Australian NGOs to partners. These included acquittals, implement aid and development audits (in Australia and overseas) and programs, it is funding professional, monitoring and evaluation reports. well-managed, community based In addition the AHF is obliged to develop The Department of Foreign Affairs and organisations capable of delivering stringent risk assessment guidelines Trade is the Australian Government good development outcomes. and policies, and provide evidence of co-operation agreements with relevant agency responsible for managing As an offi cially accredited aid agency, statutory authorities in the countries Australia’s overseas aid program. the Australian Himalayan Foundation is where programs are implemented. DFAT’s accreditation process provides required to demonstrate that all relevant both the federal government and the fi nancial and program policies and

ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 19 How can you help?

You can help to make a difference in the Himalaya in the following ways:

Join as a Supporter Supporter Categories Make a Bequest Our Supporters are crucial to our All Supporter Fees are tax deductible: Create a living legacy to assist future development – we are a community- Individual $50 per annum generations in the Himalaya by based organisation and rely on a Family $75 per annum remembering the AHF in your will. pool of talented supporters to provide Bronze $250 per annum expertise, inspiration and assistance. Silver $500 per annum Trek for the AHF We hold regular events and keep Gold $1,000 per annum Trekking in the Himalaya provides Supporters informed through our an ideal opportunity to raise funds Yakety Yak newsletter and updates Make a Donation for the AHF. Contact the AHF offi ce to our website. All donations to the AHF are for further information. greatly appreciated, and can be made online or by post. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

Sponsor Partner Principal Media Sponsor

PO Box 553, Crows Nest NSW 1585 Design by Equation. Phone: +61 2 9438 1822 Photography by Conor Ashleigh, Email: [email protected] Hamish Cairns, Richard I’Anson www.australianhimalayanfoundation.org.au and Mahadev Rojas Torres