As Nepal marked ten years since the 2015 earthquake, some scars remain-but so does the strength of the Nepali people and our commitment to stand alongside them, and with each other. Kathmandu choked on polluted air for 75 of the last 90 days Footsteps to heaven: Embarking on the enchanting Mardi Himal trek in Nepal Sir Edmund Hillary, alongside Tenzing Norgay, made history in 1953 by reaching the summit of Mount Everest as part of a British expedition. Yet, he considered his greatest achievement to be what came after-his lifelong commitment to building schools and medical clinics in the foothills of Nepal. His philanthropic legacy continues through the Himalayan charities he inspired, which remain dedicated to supporting better education and health access and outcomes in Nepal. A decade ago, this commitment was powerfully reaffirmed when the family of foundations-the Himalayan Trust New Zealand (HTNZ), Himalayan Trust UK (HTUK) and the Australian Himalayan Foundation (AHF)-joined forces to respond to the devastating 2015 earthquake. Collectively, £2.7 million was provided by Australian, New Zealand and UK foundation supporters for the emergency response and reconstruction programs in Nepal, according to the Himalayan Trust. The post earthquake assistance includes rebuilding of 179 classrooms using earthquake-resistant designs across 43 schools in Solukhumbu, Taplejung and Kanchenjunga, benefiting over 7,500 students. More than 50 temporary learning centres were also constructed to get children back in school as soon as possible while their schools were being rebuilt. "Collaboration is strength and it is the friendship that binds when things get tough. The partnership of the Himalayan Trust UK, the Australian Himalayan Foundation and the Himalayan Trust NZ during the devastating Nepal earthquake of 2015 demonstrated how our common legacy and combined commitment delivered to the people of the Himalaya when they needed it most. We are here for Nepal and we are here for the long term. My father's greatest commitment to the people of the Himalaya was continuity of education and health and environmental programmes and that is what our collaboration presents today," Peter Hillary, Board Director, AHF, HTNZ & HTUK supporter, said. Earthquakes, and increasingly other natural disasters, are a part of life in Nepal. The country is also highly prone to natural disasters and seismic activity, including floods, landslides and earthquakes. "Thanks to long-standing, vibrant relationships with local partners on the ground and dedicated supporters, our foundations are able to respond quickly and effectively in the critical first weeks following a disaster. We all have long-term commitments to the region - we're there for the long haul, after the initial emergency response, through the whole process of building back better," Andrew Judge, CEO, Australian Himalayan Foundation (AHF), opined. Alexander Hillary, General Manager, Himalayan Trust New Zealand (HTNZ), reminded that the school in the Sherpa village of Thame was rebuilt with an earthquake-resistant design after the 2015 earthquake. "Incredibly, it recently withstood the full force of the 2024 glacial flood disaster -where water and huge boulders collided with the building. With many buildings around it completely gone, its survival is a testament to the necessity of our 'build back better' philosophy and it now stands as a beacon of resilience in a region continually challenged by natural disasters." he added. Peter Hillary, Board Director, AHF, HTNZ & HTUK supporter, was just below Everest Base Camp at Gorak Shep when the earthquake struck. "Every second that it shook the mighty Himalayas I wondered if we would survive as the ground slumped and avalanches poured from the peaks all around." he recounted. Also, Sir Graham Wrigley, Chairman, Himalayan Trust UK (HTUK) was in Nepal in May 2015 between the two earthquakes. The world media was there in full presence for six weeks or so. But then they left – and the buildings out in the remote parts of Nepal were still on the ground. "From day one, the collaboration of the family of trusts in New Zealand, Australia and the UK had realised this was a long-term project and we all committed to the long haul. Our goal was simple: "to build back better". It took us three years – many months on the ground and thousands of calls – but "build back better" is exactly what we did alongside our Nepali partners. In a world that feels increasingly fractured, the trans-national support and companionship that our charities harnessed to rebuild lives in Nepal is needed as much now as it was then" Sir Wrigley shared. The magnitude 7.8 earthquake on 25 April 2015 was Nepal's most devastating natural disaster since 1934. Hundreds of aftershocks followed, including a magnitude 7.3 earthquake on 12 May 2015. Nearly 9,000 lives were lost, with 1 million homes destroyed or severely damaged, displacing approximately 2.8 million people. Education was severely impacted, affecting 1.5 million children-35,000 classrooms were destroyed, and 17,000 were damaged. The earthquake triggered a deadly avalanche on Mount Everest, claiming at least 19 climbers' lives and leaving hundreds stranded at Everest Base Camp and higher camps. The Himalayan region remains highly seismically active, with recent earthquakes striking Bajhang, Nepal in 2023 (magnitude 5.3) and Tibet in 2025 (magnitude 7.1). The Himalaya is also on the front lines of climate change, facing rapid glacial loss, permafrost melt and extreme disasters. In August 2024, the Thame Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) devastated the Sherpa village of Thame.