Nimdoma Sherpa raises the Zero Hunger flag in Nepal to kick off the campaign to end world hunger (World Food Programme photo)
Nimdoma Sherpa, at just the age of 17, became the youngest woman ever to climb Mount Everest. This was just the beginning of her amazing feats. She has gone on to scale numerous mountains with her team of Nepalese climbers called the Seven Summit Women.
Never forgetting her roots, Nimdoma has become an ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the largest hunger relief organization. As a child growing up in Nepal, Nimdoma received school meals from WFP. She knows firsthand what a difference food and nutrition can make for a hungry child.
Last year after devastating earthquakes struck Nepal, Nimdoma and the Seven Summit Women faced their greatest challenge. The United Nations also called upon Nimdoma for a special mission for Sustainable Development Goal Number 2, Zero Hunger. Read more in the following interview with Nimdoma.
Last September you were chosen by the United Nations for a special flag raising in Nepal. What was this mission?
Last September I was chosen from Nepal by the United Nations to raise the flag which represent Zero Hunger and the main mission was to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture around the world capturing the attention of the world.
Why did you select the town of Kerauja in Gorkha district to raise the flag?
Because Kerauja is one of the nearest village of epicenter of the first devastating earthquakes. And villagers were totally hopeless by losing their family, house, friends, domestic animals, farm, etc. So we give them a hope to survive and possibilities ahead.
When I reached Kerauja with the team and mules with the supplies villagers were so surprised and happy to see us besides the tough trail damaged by earthquakes. We made it. And community members welcomed us.
I shared with the villagers that I’m going to raise the Flag which represent Zero Hunger and the message is going to be transferred all over the world. Local Chandra Bagadur Gurung said after all the hardship our village has suffered following the earthquakes, we are proud to have been chosen to carry this message to the world.
Now you led a team from the UN World Food Programme to the village? What supplies did you bring to the village?
We reached Kerauja village with the supplies like rice, pulses, and cooking oil by using mules and the trail wasn’t safe.
As the Seven Summit Women Team are continuing rebuilding efforts in Nepal, what are the greatest needs you see?
Still the rebuilding process is going on and transferring from temporary school to permanent school. Funding is little more challenging and still students need more encouragement and motivation to come school. And school meal is helping students to come to school.
What would you say about the international response to Nepal’s earthquake? Does this give you hope that Nepal will rebuild in full?
International response gave a hope and energy to rebuild and to stay strong because of their support and help. Since tourism is the main financial source of Nepal now most of the countries are encouraging their people to visit Nepal and forwarding the message that Nepal is safe to travel which is going to help Nepal become financially strong in many ways.
Do you think it’s within reach of every child in Nepal to receive school meals? Could Nepal be the model for every nation?
After the devastating earthquakes to encourage children to come school and to stay, school meal is playing a vital role. And parents are happy to send their children to school and they don’t have to worry about food when children are in school.
Now in most of the remote places affected by devastating earthquakes school meals are served and especially WFP is working hard on that to keep children in school.
Yes, Nepal is already a role model for every nation because even after the hardship following the earthquakes, every single person are playing a very important role to rebuild and recover and to light the future of their children.
How many miles do you think you have climbed since the earthquake in order to deliver supplies?
Now emergency period has been recovered and now mostly permanent rebuilding process is going on especially rebuilding School, Trail, Bridge, community building, health post, temple, monastery etc. Besides the blockade of India, Nepal has suffered from crises of fuel, gas, medicine etc, but still managed to keep ongoing process.
To learn more about the Goal of Zero Hunger visit the United Nations.
Author William Lambers 