About Us
We are a locally-led social benefit organization founded in 2009 by senior alumni of Crystal Mountain School. Our mission is to improve the lives of children and communities in the Dolpo region through education, healthcare, poverty eradication, sustainable energy, and cultural preservation.
Our Work
Crystal Mountain School
Crystal Mountain School (CMS) is our flagship program, serving as the first formal school in Upper Dolpo and for about a decade since its establishment in 1994, the only school in the region. CMS provides education for about 200 students (majority girls) from kindergarten to grade 10, mostly from Dho-Tarap valley. The school is community-led, founded in 1994 by Action Dolpo, and its alumni now work as nurses, health assistants, lab technicians, teachers, project managers, and local leaders in different parts of Dolpo. CMS focuses on teaching local language and histories in addition to the national curriculum.
Early Childhood Development
The Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiative aims to provide safe and engaging learning environments for young children up to 8 years of age in rural municipalities of Dolpo, including Dho Tarap. The program intends to build and operate ECD centers with locally adapted frameworks under the National Strategy for Early Childhood Development, offering day-care services for children aged 2-3 years, ECD national curriculum (and a local supplementary curriculum) for children aged 4-8 years, as well as provide nutrition, health (including maternal care), and sanitation services for the children and the community members. The program also seeks to address the challenges faced by the current ECD classrooms at Crystal Mountain School, which are inadequate from the children’s perspective, and offer a pilot ECD program in Dho-Tarap.
Dho-Tarap Health Post
The Dho-Tarap Health Post began providing basic healthcare and awareness in 2005. It was upgraded to a birthing center in 2009, fully equipped in 2012, and then shifted to a government-built facility in 2015. Two CMS alumni currently operate the health post and manage all health-related programs.
Snow Leopard Residence
Snow Leopard Residence (SLR) is a residence in Kathmandu for students who have completed their lower secondary education at Crystal Mountain School and are continuing their studies. Established in 2003, SLR provides a typical Dolpo atmosphere where students can live and learn together in a close-knit community.
Undergraduate Education Support
This program provides financial assistance to high school graduates of CMS/SLR for enrollment in undergraduate programs based on their interests. Living and tuition expenses are covered, and over 20 students are currently benefiting from this support.
News and Stories
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CMS 2024
The academic year 2024 began on the 17th of April. Cultural Day was celebrated with a aim to teach the younger generations about the ways of their ancestors. The students exhibited their cultural dance, music and traditional attires. Different ancient thigs used by the ancestors were also diplayed in the…
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Vacancy Announcement
For the upcoming academic year, Crystal Mountain School is looking for enthusiastic secondary teachers to join our team in math, science, and English. This seven-month program gives you the ability to become fully immersed in teaching while taking in the breathtaking Himalayan scenery. Those who can commit for longer than…
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CMS TEACHING FELLOWSHIP 2024
Crystal Mountain Secondary School now announces fellowship enrollment open for the academic year 2024. We are targeting teachers for English, Science and Mathematics for secondary as well as primary level. A minimum of bachelors degree required and even freshers are welcomed. The program is voluntary but will be facilitated with…
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CMS Teaching Fellowship 2023
Teaching fellowships now open! To have an idea of the works we do and the community we are engaged with, we encourage candidates to refer to our website (visiondolpo.org) for information about Dolpo, Dho Tarap and Crystal Mountain School. You can also like or follow us on Facebook at fb.me/crystalmountainschool.…
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Field research report and project updates
Dear supporters, We are excited to provide some major updates regarding the project. It has been just more than a year now since we started this crowdfunding campaign to build warm classrooms for young children in Dho Tarap valley, Dolpo. Through your support, we have been able to conduct detailed…
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Field research trip this October
On October 2, 2022, our design, engineering and sustainability team is heading to Dho Tarap valley for a community site visit to finalize location of the first ECD center in Tokyu village, and conduct research on local building materials and techniques. With over 5 days of bus and jeep rides…
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Vision Dolpo 