Logan Reid
Sir Edmund Hillary is known for being the first man, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, to scale Mount Everest in 1953. However, he also devoted much of his life to helping the people of Nepal, particularly the Sherpas of the Khumbu region. Over the years, he built 20 schools, two hospitals, several medical clinics, and two airfields. Hillary's dedication to the welfare of the Nepalese people was recognised in 2003 when he was made an honorary citizen of Nepal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for building hospitals | To help the Sherpa people of Nepal's Khumbu region |
| Number of hospitals built | 2 |
| Number of medical clinics built | 12 |
| Other infrastructure built | 2 airfields, 27 schools, bridges, and fresh water pipelines |
| Organisation founded | The Himalayan Trust |
| Years active in building infrastructure | 1960s to 1980s |
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What You'll Learn
Improving services for the Sherpa people
Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to scale Mount Everest, devoted much of his life to improving services for the Sherpa people of Nepal's Khumbu region. He was motivated by his close friendships with the Sherpas and their expressed needs, particularly regarding schooling and healthcare.
To facilitate his projects, Hillary founded the Himalayan Trust in 1960 (or 1964, according to another source) to raise funds and oversee the construction of schools, hospitals, and airfields. Over the years, the Trust built 17 to 20 schools, two hospitals, several medical clinics, and two airstrips in Nepal. Hillary also helped restore Buddhist monasteries, including the Tengboche Monastery after it burned down in 1989.
In addition to his work with the Himalayan Trust, Hillary served as New Zealand's High Commissioner to India, Nepal, and Bangladesh from 1985 to 1988 (or until 1989, according to another source). During this time, he continued to work in the Everest region and was actively involved in improving services for the Sherpa people. He was appointed UNICEF Special Representative for the Children of the Himalayas in 1991 and became an honorary Nepalese citizen in 2003.
Hillary's dedication to the Sherpa people was recognised in 2003 when he celebrated the 50th anniversary of his Everest ascent in Nepal with his Sherpa friends and the family of his climbing partner, Tenzing Norgay. He was a greatly loved and respected figure in the Solukhumbu region and was honoured with the title "Burra Sahib" or "big in heart" by the Sherpas.
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Building hospitals and clinics in Nepal
Sir Edmund Hillary is known for his philanthropic work in Nepal, particularly for his efforts in building hospitals and clinics in the country. After his successful expedition to Mount Everest in 1953, Hillary became increasingly concerned with the welfare of the Nepalese people, especially the impoverished Sherpas in the Khumbu region who had supported his expeditions.
In the early 1960s, Hillary led expeditions to Nepal that focused on improving the health and social welfare of the local communities. This included initiatives such as improving water supplies, building schools, bridges, and an airstrip at Lukla, and providing medical care and vaccination programmes.
One of his most notable contributions was the establishment of the Kunde Hospital (or Khunde Hospital) in the town of Kunde, Nepal, which opened in 1966. The hospital is situated 3,840 metres (or 4,000 metres by another source) above sea level in the Nepalese Himalayas and serves 8,000 people from the Khumbu district. The hospital was initially funded and operated by the Himalayan Trust, which Hillary founded in 1965, with support from the Lion's Club of Auckland, New Zealand, and his friends working in Nepal as part of the Trust. Doctors from New Zealand and Canada volunteered to staff the hospital until local doctors and health workers were appointed in 2001, and it is now fully staffed and run by local people, including Sherpa doctors and nurses.
The Himalayan Trust also built other clinics and hospitals in Nepal, as well as restoring Buddhist monasteries. The Trust's work continues to this day, aiming to reduce poverty in the Everest region of Nepal and improve access to healthcare and education for the local communities.
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Fundraising for the Nepalese people
Sir Edmund Hillary is known for his philanthropic work in Nepal, particularly for the Sherpa people of the Khumbu region. He first travelled to the Himalayas as part of a British expedition to climb Mount Everest, which he summited in 1953 alongside Tenzing Norgay.
Over the years, Hillary became increasingly interested in the welfare of the Nepalese people, especially the Sherpas. He returned to Nepal in the 1960s to aid in the development of the society, focusing on building schools, hospitals, and clinics. He also helped to construct airfields, bridges, and freshwater pipelines, all in response to requests from the Sherpa people.
To facilitate his philanthropic endeavours, Hillary founded the Himalayan Trust in 1960 (or 1964, according to another source). The Trust has built numerous schools, hospitals, and medical clinics in Nepal, as well as restoring Buddhist monasteries, including the Tengboche Monastery after it was destroyed by a fire in 1989.
Hillary's dedication to the Sherpa people earned him their respect and admiration, and he was known as "Burra Sahib", meaning "big in heart" or "great man". In 2003, as part of the 50th anniversary of his and Tenzing's climb, he was made an honorary citizen of Nepal.
In addition to his work with the Himalayan Trust, Hillary was also involved in other fundraising efforts for the Nepalese people. For example, he carried out a worldwide fundraising and rebuilding programme after the famous Tengpoche Monastery was destroyed by fire in 1989.
Through his various endeavours, Sir Edmund Hillary has left a lasting legacy of service and improvement to the lives of the Nepalese people, particularly those in the Khumbu region.
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Providing education and healthcare
Sir Edmund Hillary is known for his philanthropic work in Nepal, particularly for the Sherpa people of the Khumbu region. He founded the Himalayan Trust in 1960 to facilitate this work, and over the years, the organisation built schools, hospitals, and airfields. During his expeditions, Hillary noticed the needs of the local people, particularly for schooling and healthcare.
Between 1964 and the 1980s, the Himalayan Trust constructed numerous educational and healthcare facilities in Nepal, including 20 schools, two hospitals, and several medical clinics. Hillary was directly involved in this work, and his dedication to the welfare of the Sherpas lasted into his later years. He was even given the nickname ""Burra Sahib" or "great man" by the Sherpas.
Hillary's interest in helping the Nepalese people began after his famous ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, where he was supported by the local Sherpas. He returned to Nepal in the 1960s to aid in the development of the society, focusing on building clinics, hospitals, and schools. He raised funds for these projects himself, and they were carried out in response to requests from the Sherpa people, with their assistance.
In addition to his work in Nepal, Hillary was appointed "UNICEF Special Representative for the Children of the Himalayas" in 1991, further demonstrating his commitment to the welfare of the people in the region. He also established the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation, which sponsors young New Zealanders to participate in outdoor courses. Through his various endeavours, Hillary has left a lasting legacy of improving access to education and healthcare for those in need.
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Developing infrastructure in the Himalayas
Sir Edmund Hillary is known for being the first man, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, to scale Mount Everest in 1953. However, his legacy extends far beyond this, particularly in the Himalayas.
The Himalayan Trust, established in 1960, was a key vehicle for this work. The trust was set up to help improve services such as schools and hospitals in the mountains, and it facilitated the building of infrastructure in Nepal, including schools, airfields, bridges, hospitals, and clinics. All these projects were in response to needs expressed directly by the Sherpas.
In addition to his work with the Himalayan Trust, Sir Edmund also undertook other initiatives to help the people of the Himalayas. He raised funds for a worldwide rebuilding programme after the famous Tengpoche Monastery at the foot of Mount Everest was destroyed by fire in 1989. In 1991, he was appointed "UNICEF Special Representative for the Children of the Himalayas", further demonstrating his commitment to the region.
Sir Edmund Hillary's contributions to the Himalayas extended beyond infrastructure development. He also led expeditions in the region, including an expedition up the Ganges River in India in 1978 and a climb to its source in the Himalayas. He also completed a grand traverse of Aoraki/Mt Cook in 1971 and made the first ascent of Troglodyte Peak in 1974 with his son, Peter.
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Frequently asked questions
Sir Edmund Hillary built hospitals in Nepal to help the Sherpa people and improve access to healthcare services in the mountains.
Over thirty years, Sir Edmund Hillary helped build two hospitals, several medical clinics, and two airfields.
Yes, he also built schools, bridges, and Buddhist monasteries.
Sir Edmund Hillary became increasingly involved in work to support the Sherpa people, including improving access to education and healthcare services. He was known as "Burra Sahib" or "great man" by the Sherpas and was made an honorary Nepalese citizen in 2003.
