Profile of The Himalayan Light Foundation

Objectives
The Himalayan Light Foundation (HLF) visualizes sustainable energy development as a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary initiative. Our major objectives are to:  

• Design and implement programs that strategically combine environmentally friendly energy systems with crucial social elements such as education, health, income generation, social infrastructure services, employment and social empowerment;

• Develop and demonstrate new and sustainable environmentally friendly renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind, pico hydro, micro hydro, bio gas, fuel cells, etc. from pilot demonstrations and to bring them forward into appropriate, cost effective and widespread regional use; 

• Carry out and support renewable energy research and resource assessment to lower information barriers to use of renewable energy technologies and to enable policy development for these technologies for the working regions;

• Support and operate training programs and extension centers in rural areas in order to create awareness of renewable energy technologies and their uses along with technical aspects; and

• Promote, develop and demonstrate clean energy transportation alternatives for urban areas in order to reduce pollution and create environmentally appropriate energy use patterns.

Programs & Strategies
Current programs are summarized below. Please see http://www.hlf.org.np/ for program details, technical specifications, community reactions, upcoming research and projects, volunteer opportunities and regionally-based RET development. 

HELP improves rural livelihood by combining solar electricity with a focus on community capacity building, income generation and women's access to forms of empowerment. 

Strategies:

• Install solar home systems with no beneficiary collateral;

• Repayment in product not cash;

• Build/train on native skills in handicraft production;

• Develop market access for cottage industries via e-commerce and other methods;

• Increase RET end use via multiple local-economy based income generation schemes; and

• Build infrastructure via group formation, SDC and savings & credit memberships. 

Solar Sisters promotes rural education as well as health and cultural heritage preservation by combining solar electricity with a focus on community development via engaged eco-tourism and organized philanthropy.

Strategies:

• Install subsidized solar home systems on community-managed buildings;

• Select sites with current and ongoing initiatives in adult/women's literacy, health, and heritage preservation;

• Use woman-woman based eco-tourism and international educational exchange to allow foreigners to experience Nepal and RET development up close.

• Train local technicians.

Thangka Painting School improves rural livelihood and preserves cultural heritage by combining solar electricity with a focus on education and sustainable skill enhancement.

Strategies:

• Establish facilities for Thangka Painting School and other educational initiatives;

• Train local youth on heritage skills for sustainable local income generation;

• Encourage female enrollment; and 

• Establish market access (local and international) for products. 

Electric and Alternative Fuel Vehicles protects the environment and addresses urban health concerns by researching and demonstrating electric and alternative energy vehicles as a feasible replacement for polluting vehicles. 

Strategies:

• Design Nepal prototypes using existing excess vehicles from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;

• Research and lobby for favorable Nepal (Kathmandu) based 4-wheel policy;

• Publicize findings to stimulate private sector investment in technology production and regional adoption; and

• Promote spin-off industries regionally.

Key Persons
Mrs. Sapana Shakya, President
Manages overall activities and policy making.
Mr. Yadav R. Gurung, Program Manager
Manages daily operation, policy making and report writing.
Mr. Samir Newa, Program Support Officer
Oversees all programs, primarily responsible for the HELP program.
Mr. Adam Friedonsohn, Chief Advisor and Founder
Advises on program design and implementation.

Contact Info
Address: Himalayan Light Foundation, Baluwatar, GPO Box 12191, Cha-1-666, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone : ( 977)( 1) 425- 393
Fax: ( 977)( 1) 412- 924
E-mail : hlf@mos.com.np ; info@hlf.org.np
URL: http://www.hlf.org.np/

Number of Staff
8 persons

Strategic Partners
HLF works in cooperation with national and international NGOs, educational and government institutions, individuals, the private sector, and national, district, and village development committees. These include the United Nations Development Programme; Global Environment Facility's  Small Grants Programme; His Majesty's Government of Nepal, Alternative Energy Promotion Center; Winrock International's Renewable Energy Program Support Office, Nepal; German Embassy, Nepal; British Embassy, Nepal; Lotus Energy; College of Software Engineering. Himalayan Light Foundation is a consortium member of the Virtual Foundation. 

Legal Notice
HLF is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1997 and registered with the Social Welfare Council of Nepal (SWC 7538, CDO 495/054/55). 

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