In a gesture symbolizing continued friendship and cooperation between Slovenia and Nepal, the Slovenian Ambassador to India, Her Excellency Mateja Vodeb Ghosh, paid a courtesy visit to the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) at its Secretariat in Nagpokhari, Naxal on Thursday. During the meeting, she expressed strong support for two of NMA’s major initiatives the Manang Mountaineering Training School and the educational welfare fund for children of deceased mountaineers.
Her Excellency is in Nepal ahead of her scheduled visit to Pokhara, where she will inaugurate a photo exhibition this Saturday at the International Mountain Museum premises. As part of her official engagements, she met with NMA officials to discuss the potential for collaborative efforts in the fields of mountaineering education, heritage, and welfare.
Slovenian Ambassador
“I know the NMA and the Alpine Club of Slovenia have a strong relationship. I am aware of some Slovenians achieving historic ascents on Mount Everest and other Himalayan peaks,” Ambassador Mateja Vodeb Ghosh stated during her visit. “I will certainly ask the Slovenian Alpine Club and other individuals whether they can support the Manang Mountaineering School and the NMA’s educational scholarship initiative for the children of mountaineers who lost their lives on the mountains.”
The Manang Mountaineering School, located in Sabji Khola, Humde of the Manang district, is one of the flagship projects of the NMA. Established in 1979, the school has historical ties to Slovenia and the former Yugoslavia. It was made possible through the joint efforts and financial contributions of the Government of Slovenia, the then-Yugoslavia, and legendary Yugoslav alpinist Aleš Kunaver, who dedicated his life to the advancement of mountaineering in the Himalayas.
Besides offering technical mountaineering training, the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has also been actively operating a welfare initiative aimed at supporting the families of mountaineers who tragically lost their lives while working in high-risk conditions. Through this program, the NMA provides educational scholarships to the children of these mountaineers, ensuring that their access to academic opportunities continues despite the loss of a primary family member.
These climbers, many of whom served as guides on challenging expeditions, often risked and sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of promoting mountain tourism and supporting foreign summiteers. Recognizing their immense contribution, the NMA launched this program to help ease the burden on grieving families and invest in the future of their children by assisting with the cost of higher education.
“We can provide full scholarships for one student every year for higher education,” Ambassador Ghosh proposed. “It would be great if the NMA could help us identify such a student in need of this support.” The NMA welcomed her proposal with great enthusiasm. Senior Vice President Mr. Thakur Raj Pandey expressed heartfelt appreciation, stating, “We have a long history of collaboration. We are very thankful to Her Excellency for her words of encouragement. The NMA will do all the necessary work to take this collaboration to new heights.”
General Secretary Mr. Mohan Lamsal echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of international support in promoting Nepal’s mountaineering sector. “We are truly grateful to Her Excellency for accepting our invitation and visiting the NMA office,” he said. “We highly value all support extended to mountaineers and in promoting Nepal’s mountain tourism.” Her Excellency was warmly welcomed at the NMA Secretariat by the organization’s top leadership, including Senior Vice President Mr. Pandey, General Secretary Mr. Lamsal, and Central Secretariat Member Mr. Rajendra Bahadur Lama. Also present was Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Jinesh Sindurakar.
The visit marked a positive reaffirmation of Slovenia’s historical support for Nepal’s mountaineering community and laid the groundwork for future collaborative initiatives in training, education, and welfare. Her Excellency’s interest in furthering bilateral ties through direct support for local institutions has been hailed as a promising step toward international cooperation in adventure tourism and humanitarian efforts.
