What it is that Eco Himal Swiss does
"In the last 30 years in Himalaya happened what the Alps experienced more than a century ago. Tourism flooded massively several areas, pushing forward to the majestic mountains; natives progressively left the inconvenient valleys blinded by the mirage of a better living.

This new reality, produced with the passing of time and accompanied by a worrying series of environmental, social and political discomforts bore heavy uneasinesses and decompensations to the Himalayan belts that caused the extinction of many cultures and, in some cases, of whole populations.

The natives are undoubetly the best defenders of these valleys. They know by heart climate and territory; they think that the landscape is guarded by the spirits of water, air and mountain, which have to be respected to guarantee the real well being of the comunity."
The ECO HIMAL Association for the collaboration Alps-Himalaya was founded on these assumptions, as a non-governative organisation (ONG) that promotes and supports projects of co-operation and help to the development of Himalayan populations. It was established in 1996 as a no-profit organisation and its headquarter is situated in Pedrinate-Chiasso (Canton Ticino).

It is a member of the ONG Federation of the Italian- speaking part of Switzerland (FOSIT).

Eco Himal is active in Austria and in Italy as well, the three associations are autonomous and indipendent in their assets.

The spirit of the Association can be led back to the dichotomy "Alps - Himalaya": infact Switzerland is situated next to a large mountain chain as well (the Alps), and it's easy for us to understand how life can be hard in Himalaya and which dangers the natives have to face.

A feeling of sympathy drove us there many years ago to visit the place and to know the people. From that moment, the responsability of offering a concrete help rose in us, and we began the cooperation activity with special attention to their needs.

The Association works for the populations of Himalaya, India, Nepal and Tibet, with the purpose to help them to protect their culture, to improve their education and their medical assistance, activating initiatives that were felt as necessary.

Eco Himal usually operates in collaboration with local authorities or associations which are in charge to control and manage directly the projects.

The financial support is the result of the generous contributions granted by several firms, entreprises and private citizens of Ticino, and of the many iniziatives proposed by the association (markets, parties, exhibitions, conferences....).

Every year some Eco Himal representatives visit the area of the projects in order to check their progress and make decisions about the following stage of the works with the local collaborators, keeping anyway regular contacts all the year around for a continuos update.
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