First Steps Himalaya was founded in 2008 by Durga Aran & Fionna Heiton to give Himalayan children access to quality early years education.

Why we founded First Steps Himalaya

Our Story

Durga grew up in a small village in the mid-hills north-east of Kathmandu, the youngest of eight children. Although he longed to go to school, his parents did not see the value of education. At just six years old, he was sent to care for his sister’s child instead. When he was finally allowed to attend school, the classrooms were poorly resourced, and teachers were frequently absent.

Secondary school was a two-hour walk each way down a steep track. At 15, Durga’s father arranged his marriage, and later Durga spent several years working in restaurants in Kathmandu. It was there, in 1998, that he met his future partner, Fionna.

In 2002, while expecting their twin babies, Fionna and Durga became acutely aware of the importance of early childhood education. Inspired by Durga’s own experiences growing up, they developed a strong passion for improving educational opportunities in rural Nepal and became advocates for high-quality education and its life-changing potential. By 2006, they had committed to launching an organisation, and in 2008 First Steps Himalaya officially began operating.

The organisation focuses on early years education, teacher training, and creating engaging learning environments where children can thrive, helping communities build brighter futures through quality schooling.

Fionna and Durga’s vision is clear and enduring: to improve education across rural Nepal so that as many children as possible can access quality schooling. Their ultimate goal is to empower families and communities to build brighter futures for themselves.

First Steps Himalaya so far..

Our Story So Far

First Steps Himalaya (FSH), working through its local partner First Steps Nepal, began with just three children in a small early childhood class in Sindhupalchok. Today, it has grown into a movement reaching communities across three rural districts of Nepal.

What started with classroom improvements and teacher training has now evolved into a holistic approach that also includes community education, menstrual hygiene, parent engagement and institutional strengthening. By addressing both schools and the wider community, we are helping create lasting change in rural Nepal.

Over the years, we have transformed the lives of thousands of children, giving them the first steps towards a brighter future. As these children grow, our Nepali team continues to train teachers, provide resources, and support schools so that learning standards keep improving.

In 2015, with our local partner, we completed our first purpose-built training centre using an inexpensive, eco-friendly, and earthquake-resilient building method. Just as it neared completion, the devastating Nepal earthquake struck. The earthbag training centre was one of the few buildings left standing, undamaged. Since then, working alongside local communities, we have rebuilt 17 classrooms of different sizes, as well as an accommodation centre for 24 trainee teachers.

In 2023, the accommodation centre was fully renovated, with an additional floor added to create a new, larger training facility. The original centre, which we had outgrown, now serves as our office and resource hub.

Looking ahead, First Steps Himalaya will continue expanding its teacher training and community education programmes, while strengthening First Steps Nepal to operate independently—broadening our reach and deepening our impact across rural Nepal.

First Steps Himalaya – Key Milestones

2002 – Fionna and Durga become aware of the importance of early childhood education and begin exploring ways to support rural Nepali communities.

2006 – They commit to launching an organisation dedicated to improving educational opportunities in Nepal.

2008 – First Steps Himalaya officially begins operating, working in partnership with the locally registered organisation First Steps Nepal.

2009 – First early childhood class opens in Sangachok Nursery, Sindhupalchok, starting with three children and quickly growing to 20.

2010 – Early childhood centres expand to nearby schools in Sindhupalchok; dedicated teacher training programme launched.

2014 – Early Years Education Programme expands to include primary classes for children up to 8 years old.

2015 – Completion of first purpose-built earthbag training centre, using eco-friendly, earthquake-resilient construction; survives devastating Nepal earthquake.

2015–2023 – Earthbag building programme rebuilds 17 classrooms and a training centre across Sindhupalchok and Nuwakot.

2018 – Operations expand to Nuwakot and Syangja districts.

2019 – Scholarship fund established to support children from families with limited access to education.

2021 – Launch of Community Resilience Programme in Nuwakot, evolving into broader Community Education Programme; Menstrual Hygiene Management Programme introduced.

2022 – Publication and distribution of Sita’s Search, a culturally relevant storybook for Nepali schools.

2023 – Renovation and expansion of Sangachok training centre; accommodation centre upgraded with an additional floor to create a new training facility. First Steps Nepal strengthened to operate independently.