Dolma Ecotourism serves visitors wishing to explore themselves as well as the world. It allows travellers to gain an intimate cultural, spiritual and natural experience in remote pockets of humanity, but staying at a level of comfort unimaginable for such areas, without causing environmental degradation. But Dolma is about mutual benefit. While the visitor learns the invaluable lessons of far flung societies, so those societies should benefit in kind. All Dolma holidays work in the local community to ensure local labour is used and that money is invested back into the community to empower the locals to defend their culture in changing times.
Why we started
Dolma Eco-Tourism was established as a partnership between Tsering Dhindup Lama, a Nepalese trek leader, and Tim Gocher, a British management consultant working on renewable energy and sustainable energy systems. The idea came from Tim's first visit. “The people of Bridim had a profound effect on me”, said Tim. “I had never felt such a genuine peace between people – a peace which they effortlessly extended to me. I came away feeling touched. From that moment, I knew I would be involved in Bridim for a long time to come.”
Tsering was looking to build on the development work he had done so far. After discussing the threats to the village culture, such as the aging of the village and lack of education and healthcare, we decided to act.
The third influential figure in starting the business is the girl who donated her name to the company – Dolma. Dolma is from Bridim and at 10 years old had not yet started the 10 year national curriculum normally commenced at around 6 years old. While she had attended local classes in the Bridim schoolroom, this is not a governmentally recognised school, and so any education would need to start from scratch. If she didn't start school then, it would probably have been too late.
Dolma helped the founders to realise just what can be done. The impact of an education in terms of someone's prospects cannot be underestimated. And no little girl deserved it more than Dolma. And so, she became the first of many, and the more Dolma Ecotourism continues to attract visitors, the more Dolmas will have a bright future.
Dolma News
Jangsem goes for heart operation. Health project begins.
Jangsem is an 8 year-old girl from Bridim. She suffers from a complex heart defect, present from birth, and had just months to live. Dr. Sean Keogh and Dr. Christine Bradshaw, two doctors who were invited by Dolma to Nepal in February ’04, examined her and immediately realised that her clinical situation was serious. Following the coordinated efforts of the Dolma Development Fund (DDF) and of Sean and Christine, Jangsem has now undergone heart surgery at Shahid Gangalal National Heart Hospital in Kathmandu. The operation was a success and she is currently recovering.
Press interest reaches Sunday Times & Harpers & Queen
As news of our model of mutually beneficial tourism spreads, these two publications have joined the growing list covering the Dolma Cultural Adventure. Harpers send editor, Lucy Yoemans, and an article will be published shortly. The Sunday Times feature was published in print in 27th June. It, & other coverage, can be read at:
