About Us

We believe, one day, mountain communities fuelled by love and critical consciousness will model development grounded in the dignity of all life where all species thrive in freedom and harmony.

Our Team

Mashqura Fareedi

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Mashqura is from Darjeeling. Her induction into the development sector was while volunteering for a local organization in Darjeeling in 1997. She pursued her Masters in Social Work from Mumbai University in 2004 and has worked with organizations like Kalpavriksh Environmental Action Group, Association for Democratic Reforms, Amnesty International and the Azim Premji Foundation in 18 years of her career. She came back to Darjeeling in 2021 with the objective of working in hills. Through Eastern Himalayan Foundation, she aims to create better oppoortunities of growth and learning to the youth in Darjeeling & Kalimpong, empower them to work on issues relevant to the hills and build resilient youth for resilient futures.

Mesang Sherpa

Sr. Program Manager

Mesang Sherpa hails from Darjeeling. She holds a B.Com degree from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and an M.A. Development degree from Azim Premji University. She has worked as a fellow for a non-profit called Vidhya Vahini and was a teacher educator at Sai Gurukul Academy, Pakyong, Sikkim. Since 2019 till present, she has been working with a non-profit organization named Pokhrama Foundation, where she worked as an educator (Math, coding and English). She has also conducted research on the topic of ‘community ownership and management of tea estate’ in Darjeeling. Above all, she is very passionate about working with and for the community that she comes from.

Abhilash Kumai

Sr. Program Manager

Hailing from the picturesque hills of Kalimpong, Abhilash is deeply passionate about education and people development. With a background in Sociology from Calcutta University, Abhilash began his journey in the development sector in 2016 through the Teach For India Fellowship, an experience that underscored the transformative power of education.

Over the years, he has taken on diverse roles—including teacher, coach, manager, consultant, and trainer—each contributing to their approach to empowering individuals and teams. After five years of working in classrooms and leadership, their curiosity led them to explore new landscapes in education, particularly in the ed-tech space. Their work has taken them across Northeast India, where they have collaborated closely with schools, teachers, and education leaders.

Additionally, he has had the privilege of working alongside the Education Department of Sikkim, supporting the implementation of key educational initiatives on the ground. Through these experiences, Abhilash remains committed to driving meaningful change in the education sector.

Pratik Dahal

Program Manager

Pratik Dahal has a degree in Political Science from St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling and M.A. degree in Natural Resources and Governance from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. He has worked with organizations like Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) in Gujarat and Rajasthan and has been involved with Ashoka's Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in Darjeeling and in Guwahati. He has done a research on the topic "Studying the changing availability pattern of the wild edibles and its relationship with the people, in Darjeeling Himalayas." Pratik is highly motivated to contribute towards the well being of the society.

Azar Ali Ansari

Accounts & Admin Manager

Azar Ali Ansari, born and brought up in Darjeeling, is a dedicated finance professional with a strong academic and professional background in accounting and financial management. He completed his schooling at Rama Krishna Siksha Parisad Boys H.S. School and pursued a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling. He further earned a Master of Commerce (M.Com) from IGNOU.

Professionally, Azar gained valuable experience as an Accounts and Audit Associate at Aman Chandulal & Co. (Chartered Accountant Firm) from 2021 to 2024, where he honed his skills in accounting, auditing, and financial management. Currently, he serves as the Accounts & Admin Officer at Eastern Himalayan Foundation, contributing to the organization’s financial and administrative operations.

Gyalden Tamang

Program Associate

Gyalden Tamang is an economist from Darjeeling with interests in education, development, and social change. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and has qualified UGC-NET in Economics. His professional experience spans education, community development, and youth-focused initiatives, including teaching at Glenmore International School and working with Marg NGO in Darjeeling. His early experience as a volunteer teacher in rural West Sikkim exposed him to educational inequities and resource constraints, shaping his continued interest in education and development in the Eastern Himalayas.

Sudanshu Thapa

Program Associate

Sudhansu Thapa is from Darjeeling and holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Salesian College Sonada and a Master of Social Work in Community Development from St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru. He has gained hands-on experience through internships with Bal Suraksha Abhiyan, Dream India Network, Echo Juvenile Justice Centre, Ashalaya Trust, and Sumita Cancer Society, working across community development, youth, child protection, and social welfare. His postgraduate research examined the socio-economic conditions and challenges faced by tea plantation workers in Darjeeling, and he has presented a paper on the role of vocational education in enhancing employability among underprivileged youth.