About Ten Friends
Mark LaMont
Rand Runco
Ten Friends began when two teachers and eight of their friends spent a summer in Nepal. It is now hundreds of people who have been involved in our work, and our door is always open for you
Every summer we travel to Nepal, often taking volunteer students or friends. Our first project was delivering stretchers to villages along the trekking paths near Mt. Everest so that injured villagers could be carried safely to hospitals.
We have seen how poverty, government instability, or natural disasters make it difficult for people to realize their hopes and dreams. Children are most affected by these conditions.
From the stretcher delivery project and other charitable opportunities that arose, Ten Friends Project was born. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit and donations are tax-deductible.
Ten Friends Project recognizes the human impact of economic hardship throughout the world. Our values are cultural respect, human dignity, increased quality of life, and environmental preservation. We are especially concerned with the challenges faced by children. These values will guide us as we seize opportunities to empower less fortunate people and enrich their lives. We all share a collective responsibility and together, with friends, we are prepared to act now.
"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
Edward Everett - U.S. Secretary of State, 1852
"If each of us tells ten friends about what is needed...and each of them tells ten friends...and each of them tells ten friends...then what we can accomplish has no limits. That's the power of Ten Friends!"
Ten Friends Motto
Portable Stretchers: Over 100 portable stretchers have been delivered by Ten Friends Project to villages in Nepal. Volunteers deliver stretchers to a central location in each village and educate villagers about their proper use. They are used to carry sick or injured people to medical posts and have been very effective in improving and saving lives in recent years. Stretcher sponsors are needed at $100 per stretcher. More...
Water Filters: Ten Friends has delivered and installed dozens of Eurogard water filters in orphanages. Thanks to donor support for our Water Filter Project more than 3,000 children in these orphanages are experiencing improved health. The cost to sponsor a Eurogard water filter is $200. More...
Community Sanitation: Student interns helped construct cement water basins at two of the wells in Siddartha, a community of tent-dwelling Indians that have immigrated to Nepal. Ten Friends has also helped in the construction of community bathrooms and showers. These projects have made dramatic improvements in water quality and health for these people. More...
Orphanages: In the last several years Ten Friends has developed a close relationship with the Hopeful Home Orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal, providing a large portion of their food budget as well as other durable supplies including beds, mattresses and water purification systems. Future plans include the construction of a new building for this orphanage. More...
Pre-school Tutoring: Some children who are old enough to attend school lack the basic skills necessary for enrollment. Ten Friends hires tutors for these children to provide pre-school training, then advocates for them with the school system to get them enrolled. More...
Student Sponsorships: Most orphanage children and children from poor families need financial support for school. Our School Sponsorship Program, under the direction of Dinesh Khadurel, has grown to over 50 sponsored children. More sponsors are needed for this vital program. A child can be sponsored for $200 for one year. Sponsorship provides a great way to educate and empower these less fortunate Nepali children. More...
Teacher Training: Ten Friends has partnered with Nepal Bhotia Education Community to provide higher education to young women in an extremely isoated and remote region of Nepal. These young women are receiving an education to become teachers back in their native villages. Ten Friends has provided over $6000 in support of this important project. More...
Through the efforts of the sponsors and volunteers of Ten Friends we are making improvements one child at a time, one family at a time, one village at a time. By providing medical supplies, water filters, improved public sanitation, support of orphanages, and educational opportunities we are empowering these gracious people to continue for themselves the work we have started. We have already seen how small efforts can bring about great change, from the use of stretchers in remote regions, to installation of water filters in the crowded city orphanages, to helping a child go to school. Please consider supporting the efforts of Ten Friends as we continue this effort for the people of Nepal.