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The HYF team

The Himalayan Youth Foundation was established in Florida in 2002 as a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation (501C3). Its mission has been to support education-based organizations native to the countries and kingdoms of the Himalayas.

HYF's first project started in Kathmandu, Nepal, with the Kailash Hostel. The Kailash Hostel is operated by the Himalayan Children’s Foundation (H.C.F.), a Nepali NGO founded in 1997. This organization offers poor and illiterate children a chance at a formal education, along with food, clothing, shelter, psychological well-being and medical care. Through individual sponsorship of a child, as well as through general donations, HYF is providing youngsters with the learning skills necessary to pursue self-sustaining livelihoods, thereby enhancing the quality of life for themselves and the communities in which they live.

In the Kingdom of Bhutan, HYF has made general donations to support the Choki Traditional Arts School (CTAS). Founded in 1999 by the former head of the Painting Division of Bhutan's National Painting school, CTAS offers free education and housing to poor mountain children. In addition to training in the Bhutanese arts and crafts, CTAS children receive lessons in such fundamentals as math, English and their native language.

The board members of the Himalayan Youth Foundation are professional men and women committed to administering HYF carefully and efficiently without debt. They agree to initiate new projects only as HYF is financially capable of honoring all prior commitments.

Each member of the board enjoys a prior history and dedication to the children of the Himalayas. Activities include travel to the area and unparalleled support of HYF as it has grown over the years.


Micheline Kramer
Co-Founder – President
Micheline is a graduate of The Solvay Business School in Belgium. A retired Real Estate investor, she has trekked extensively throughout the world. She fell in love with Nepal on her first of many trips to the country in 1993. During a trek through Mustang, David Bidwell initiated their collaboration to expand support for the children of the Kailash Hostel.

David Bidwell
Co-Founder - Vice-President
David is a Harvard graduate. After a long career with Procter and Gamble, he established himself in Geneva, Switzerland, as an independent consultant. In 1993, David served a nine month volunteer assignment with the International Executive Service Corps as country director of Nepal. He still has many friends in Kathmandu from that time. David has been instrumental in the development of the Kailash Hostel since 1997. David has been a personal friend of the Choki family in Bhutan for many years.

Oriol Ribas

Oriol is President of Fundacio Muntanyencs per l'Himalaia, a Mountaineering Foundation in the Principality of Andorra.He is himself a high altitude climber and has
ccomplished a number of major successful climbs in the Himalayas. Oriol is a lawyer and a senior banker in his country. 

Oriol has been a strong supporter of HYF since 2002.

Anselme Baud
Anselme is a certified Mountain Guide, Instructor at the National School of Alpinism of Chamonix, France. He has written several books and produced movies of extreme skiing. During his 18 visits to Nepal, Anselme has guided several treks and international expeditions. Anselme is the founder of a program offering training for Nepali guides. He looks forward to including some HYF children in his next expeditions…

Edwina Grosvenor
Edwina first went to Nepal at the age of seventeen. She worked with innocent children who had been released from prison having served time alongside their parents. She tries to go back to Nepal 3 times a year and now has a flat in Kathmandu. Edwina is a trustee of her family Foundation . She is now very involved with the criminal justice system in the UK having studied criminology in England and criminal behavior in Western Australia.

Sharron Medlin  -  Treasurer
Sharron is a CPA and has given her time to oversee the HYF finances. Sharron heads her own accounting firm in Florida. Her professional expertise guarantees HYF a sound financial structure. Sharron has recently visited Nepal and Bhutan.

Lyn Shader  -   Secretary
Lyn is an avid trekker. Judging by the energy and the passion she shows for HYF projects and children, it will not be long before she discovers Nepal and Bhutan.

Monica Mackey
Monica is the director of development at Stanford University, School of Engineering.  She has twenty-five years professional experience working with non-profit organizations as a manager, board member, and consultant. Monica is a graduate of Wellesley College and earned her MBA from Babson College. Her visit to Nepal and Bhutan in the spring of 2006 reinforced her dedication to HYF.

Jim Frush
Jim is a Himalayan high altitude climber . He has served as President and Secretary of the American Alpine Club.Jim is eager to share with his fellow climbers his new passion for HYF and its children.

Jim is a lawyer with Cable, Langenbach, Kinerk and Bauer in Seattle and lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington. He became a Board Member of HYF in 2004.

Terry Delahuntey
Terry practices law with the prestigious law firm Foley and Lardner. Terry brings to HYF his vast knowledge of law and his expertise.

Steve Webster  - Project Coordinator
Steve came to Nepal in 1985 from the UK. He lives in Kathmandu with his wife Neeru and their two daughters. Steve has an extensive experience in tourism and trekking in Nepal. His knowledge and understanding of both eastern and western culture make his regular visits to the Kailash Hostel and CTAS very valuable. Steve now runs his own travel company, “Escape2Nepal”. Steve provides HYF the best  connections with the  industry and local community in Kathmandu.