The History

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa

On April 22, 1993, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa created mountaineering history by becoming the first Nepalese woman to blaze a trail to the summit of Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world. Pasang Lhamu’s achievement has not only proved that Nepalese women are as brave and strong as their men, but also shown their determined and resolute character. Pasang Lhamu was extremely committed to her dream, the reason why she succeeded and, in so doing, did her nation and her people proud. For many Nepalese women, Pasang Lhamu is a fugue that they will try and emulate for a long, long time.
The morning of April 22, 1993, was bright and clear and remained and so till Pasang reached the top of the 8,848 m. peak with 5 Sherpas, Sonam Tshering Sherpa, Lhakpa Noru Sherpa, Pemba Dorje Sherpa and Dawa Tashi Sherpa. Meanwhile, a member of the team and five times Everest Sumitter, Sherpa Sonam Tshering got seriously sick at south summit and despite Pasang Lhamu’s efforts to help did not survive his illness. While descending from the summit, tragedy struck the team. The weather, as often happens in the mountains, suddenly turned bad, causing to lose her life on the south summit. She was fully aware of the peril, but that did not deter Pasang from getting to her goal, even if it meant sacrificing her life.

For achieving what no other Nepalese woman had achieved before her, Pasang Lhamu was posthumously honored by her country in various ways.

She was the very first woman to be decorated with the “Nepal Tara (Star)” by His Majesty the King. The National Youth Foundation conferred the 1993-94 Youth Excellence Award on her. Similarly, in order to commemorate her feat, a life-size statue of Pasang Lhamu was erected at Bouddha, Chuchepati; a postage stamp was issued in her name; the Government of Nepal renamed Jasamba Himal (7,315 m) in the Mahalangur Range as Pasang Lhamu Peak; the Ministry of Agriculture named a special strain of wheat as Pasang Lhamu wheat; the Pasang Lhamu Memorial Hall was established in Dhulabari of Jhapa district in east Nepal; and the 117- Km Trishuli-Dunche road was named the Pasang Lhamu Highway.

Achievement

Life size statue of pasang lhamu, Chuchepati, Boudha

For achieving what no other Nepalese women had achieved, Pasang Lhamu was honored by her country in various ways. She was the very first women to be decorated with the “Nepali Tara (star)” by His Majesty the king.

A postage stamp was issued in her name. The Government of Nepal renamed Jasamba Himal (7,315m) in the Mahalangur Range as Pasang Lhamu Peak
POSTAL STAMP

Pasang lhamu Highway

The 117 km Trishuli-Dunche road was named the Pasang Lhamu Highway. The Pasang Lhamu Memorial Hall was established in Dhulabari of Jhapa district in east Nepal.

Pasang lhamu Wheat

We know that wheat is the main food for mountain people. The Ministry of Agriculture names a special strain of wheat as Pasang Lhamu wheat. First “Academy Award” to honour a mountaineer.

The Foundation

PLMF is established with the name of first Nepalese Women Everest Sumitter and National Figure late Pasang Lhamu Sherpa in 1993 as a non-political, non-profit making, social, national non-governmental organization.
The aimed to establish this organization is to standardize the situation of the women and children at high mountainous and hilly region, develop mountaineering and tourism sector, development and empowerment of women in the country, welfare, and support to the mountaineers and their families as well as other people in the peripherals.

One of the achievements of the organization is that the Government of Nepal has just declared Mrs. Pasang Lhamu Sherpa as a National Luminary of the Country. This declaration has been made after nine years of her successful climbing of the Mt. Everest on 22nd of April 2002. She became a 15th and 2nd Women National Luminary of the country.

Operational Principle

“To uplift deprived and marginalized Women and children from Mountainous and Hilly region in the country as a first class citizen without any discrimination”

Organizational Goal

“Increase/Enhance efficiency of Nepalese women without any discrimination by providing training and educational facilities as well as safeguarding the rights and interest and providing health facilities, legal and social securities to them.”

Orgnizational Value

“PLMF believes that all Nepalese women to be as competent as men in the field of education, social, economic and technology.”

Objectives of
the Organization

  • To improve the target communities' capacity to address their own economic, social, educational, and environmental issues in order to promote the sustainable development of the neighborhood mountaineers and their families.
  • Providers or requests will be made to relevant organizations to start the necessary climbing training facilities for Nepalese climbers. The priority will go to female climbers from Nepal.
  • A reliable and effective rescue squad will be developed with prompt assistance in order to protect climbers' lives from the significant issues and natural disasters at High Mountain.
  • The essential training will be provided by sending experts or rescue team members aboard to maintain the high-quality and effective services of the rescue team.
  • To establish a welfare fund to provide climbing training to climbers, rescue service operation programs, support the climbers’ families, and implement other welfare activities.
  • With a view to safeguarding the lives of climbers from the serious problems and natural disasters at High Mountain, a permanent and effective rescue team will be established, with immediate service to be provided.
  • To maintain the high-quality and effective services of the rescue team, necessary training will be given by bringing experts aboard or by sending rescue members aboard.
  • To establish a welfare fund to provide climbing training to climbers, rescue service operation programs, support the climbers’ families, and implement other welfare activities.
  • To encourage Nepalese women climbers to climb mountains and increase national pride. The Foundation itself was established in the name of a Nepalese national figure so that the foundation will organize various social, economic, and cultural programs for women's empowerment and development.
  • As a self-governing and non-profit organization, various creative and extracurricular activities will be organized from time to time.
  • Various creative and institutional programs will be conducted related to mountaineering and women's development, as well as education development for women.
  • Within the constitutional entity, relationships with the government and other agencies will be made, and various programs will be conducted in mutual cooperation with them.