This was a quick 10 day trek, with just me and Tsering Sherpa, Khancha and Maila from Kathmandu. We delivered solar lights to the villages of Gumgoan, Sebugoan, Nyn, Shyalagompa, Honsampagompa, Hinan, Tonggompa and Samdu in the Manaslu region of Nepal. We also delivered solar lights to the hostel at the Samagoan school and medical supplies to Samagoan’s Phase health post.

This trip entailed crossing the scariest bridge ever, and consuming the standard Tibetan butter tea in copious quantities. I am very appreciative of the hospitality offered by Bhadur, the headmaster at the Samagoan school, his wife Latchme, and all the locals in this region, especially Mingma Dorje from Lhi.

We also followed up with the little girl with the facial burns. We arranged to have her go to Kathmandu and receive treatment for the infection at a volunteer plastic surgery camp. The doctor there agreed to provide plastic surgery over the next two years. LED will cover the travel costs to ensure she can get there and back as her village is a 4 day trek from the nearest road head. The nearest Phase health post worker will help coordinate this with us.

Contributed by Val Pitkethly

On this trip we had a mixed group of clients from Canada and the UK. We delivered school and medical supplies to the villages of Samagoan and Samdu in the Manaslu region of Nepal. We also brought warm winter clothing donated by the group members.

The headmaster of the Samagoan school has requested help in establishing a school library so in 2012 we hope to deliver English, Tibetan and Nepali books along with posters, flashcards, etc. He also requested extra lights for the hostel at the school. Children who have to walk more than two hours one way to get to the school can stay at the hostel during the school week. We hope to deliver these on a return trip in December.

On this trip we also encountered a 6 year old girl with severe facial burns. Serious infections were setting in so we are going to try and make arrangements for her to see a specialist in Kathmandu. We will follow up on our return trip in December.

Contributed by Val Pitkethly

In November 2010, Pasang Sherpani, Ming Dorje, a small crew of porters and I trekked into the remote Tsum Valley and Manaslu region. This was a 30 day trip to deliver solar lights and mobile medical clinics to the villages of Chule and Nile in Tsum Valley, which are 6 days walk from the nearest road; additional lights were given to some individual old folk and single women who have families in Samagaon Samdo. In total sixty families received lights.

LED has links with Phase Nepal and on this trip we assisted with the supply and delivery of medicines for their health posts.

We started providing medical support in the Manalsu region and the Tsum Valley in 2008 / 2009, and medical supplies were restocked in spring 2010.

Basic health kits and first aid training using “Where There Is No Doctor”, a very helpful book published in Nepali and English, were also delivered to several villages where there are no health posts or health workers available. Dr. Bill Hanlon from Canada also joined us for part of this trip.

Contributed by Val Pitkethly

LED has links with Phase Nepal and in September/October 2009 we assisted with the supply and delivery of medicines to their health posts supporting the villages of Samagoan, Lho, Bhi and Chumling.

We also delivered basic health kits and first aid training using “Where There Is No Doctor”, a very helpful book published in Nepali and English, to several villages where there are no health posts or health workers available.

Contributed by Val Pitkethly