Even though we’re not traveling right now, Trek Relief’s impact is still making waves abroad. Our Patagonia sustainability project is thriving, thanks to the development and startup investment made during our last trip in March.

For now the reopening will come with restrictions and mainly be limited to those seeking to to climb or trek its famous peaks. Foreign visitors are a major source of income for Nepal and the closure has impacted the estimated 800,000 people who work in the tourism industry.

With a deep sense of care and responsibility, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone our second trip to Patagonia. While extended border closures played a role, the well-being of our beneficiaries, whose remote location has helped keep them safe, guided our decision.

During the #GivingTuesdayNow movement, Trek Relief highlighted The Midnight Mission and volunteering to make personal protective equipment for the frontlines as ways to support local emergency efforts. In addition, it offered its platform as a support vehicle for initiatives made on the individual level.

In response to COVID-19, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone our Nepal School Handover Ceremony and Mongolia program until 2021. This step prioritizes the safety of our beneficiary communities and supporters while helping to limit the spread of the virus.

As Chile moved to limit international travel with a state of emergency, we successfully completed our first Patagonia trip and officially launched the Sustainable Community Development Program in the Aysén region.

We’re excited to share that the Langtang Valley school rebuild project is nearing completion! After three years of dedication and perseverance, we’re on track to finish the school just in time for our 14th and final trip to Langtang Valley, where we’ll celebrate the official handover.