Alongside the many education and income generating projects for women in Nubri and Tsum, H.E.L.P. has created a new initiative to provide Himalayan men with education, skills, and employment to help support local communities. H.E.L.P. is currently working with the Nepal Academy of Tourism Hospitality and Management (NATAHM) and the Nubri Municipality to create employment opportunities in Nepal through two new training programs that culminate in national certificates: Local Guide training and Porter Trekking Guide training.
These new information and income generating opportunities were previously not available in the region. Tailored to local needs, these experiential programs provide opportunities for local men with little education to be able to certify as guides. Government guide certification programs only enroll those with class 10 (for local guide training) or class 12 (Porter Trekking Guides), which most men in the region do not have.
NATAHM has been providing top notch education programs for over 35 years and operates exchange programs in Switzerland and France. These programs provide training and practicum that allow participants to fully certify after 4 years of work experience. In addition to the guide training, all participants are attending an Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation Program with other members of the community.
