Dawa Geljen Sherpa – Trustee
View Dawa’s story here…
Mike Hagen – Chair of Trustees
Mike first discovered its people and its mountains when trekking in the area in 2008. Mike is a retired Fire Officer and International Fire Safety Consultant having spent over 40 years in the fire sector. He has been Chair of CITC since 2013 and regularly visits all of the CITC supported projects.
Sarah Hagen – Secretary & Trustee
Sarah has supported CITC since 2009 following a trek to Annapurna Base Camp. She was a teacher for over 20 years, latterly in pioneering projects aimed at inclusion in schools for young children experiencing difficulties at home and school. She is the Education Advisor for CITC and the nominated Safeguarding Officer. Sarah regularly visits Nepal and the CITC supported schools and, like other trustees, travels from the UK at her own expense.
Dave Thomas – Treasurer/Trustee
Dave joined the team of trustees in 2021 and took over the role of Treasurer in 2022. Dave is a long standing supporter and advocate of CITC and regularly treks in Nepal, giving him a first-hand insight into CITC’s operations on the ground. He has worked in senior roles for a number of large organisations and uses his experience to support the professional development of the team along with undertaking the treasurer duties.
Lawrie McLaren – Trustee
Lawrie joined the CITC team of trustees in May 2015. Based in Brussels, Lawrie helps corporations and organisations communicate on sustainability and their purpose in society. An expert in Global Communications, Lawrie first became involved with CITC by completing a sponsored cycle ride with Mike Hagen in the Pyrenees in 2013. This was the first of many sponsored rides over the high cols of Europe that have provided fantastic support for CITC projects.
Alex Waller – Trustee
Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive for Cheshire Fire and Rescue, UK, Alex joined the team of Trustees in 2023. He brings with him a wealth of corporate expertise. Alex has been integral in supporting the work of the Cheshire Fire Cadets and Fire Apprentices who have been magnificent in raising money to build very many classrooms in Nepal.
Annette Roberts – Trustee
Annette, a former head teacher, has supported CITC for many years, particularly through the sister school project, fundraising and hosting teacher exchanges. She joined the team of trustees in 2021 and has been supporting CITC’s teacher training programme to enhance the well-being of the children and teachers in its supported schools, including safeguarding and behaviour management.
Cathie Bremner Owen – Trustee
Cathie has been a dedicated supporter and friend of CITC for many years and regularly visits Nepal to share her expertise in education and work hands on to improve the library provisions in CITC’s supported schools. Cathie has undertaken countless fundraising challenges for CITC and was appointed as a trustee in June 2022.
Sally Sixsmith – Trustee
Sally, a head teacher and long standing supporter of CITC joined the team of trustees in 2023. Sally has been to Nepal 3 times and has visited CITC’s supported schools. She has conducted teacher training for CITC’s sponsored teachers as well as leading numerous successful fundraising campaigns. Sally plays a key role in CITC’s UK teacher exchange visits, helping to enhance the team’s professional development by providing a comprehensive programme of activities at her school.
Samden Sherpa – Director of Partnership and Governance
Samden, The Director of Partnerships and Governance, is the figurehead for CITC’s operations in Nepal, responsible for developing relationships with partners at local and international level. Samden oversees CITC’s building work, ensuring the delivery of projects to the agreed quality, cost and timescales as well as the challenging task of obtaining government approval for all the new classrooms built by CITCNepal.
Samden says “ My parents had to leave my hometown just for the sake of my better education, now I have it, it is turn to share it to my community”. He has a degree in Social Work. After his graduation he became a part of Teach For Nepal, a movement initiated to end education inequity in Nepal.
Bikram Bista – Office Service Co-ordinator
Bikram joined the CITC team as Office Service Co-Ordinator in 2023 and is passionate about improving primary-grade education in rural of Nepal, drawing inspiration from his own experiences of growing up in the remote village of Rolpa, Western Nepal. Bikram previously served as a Program Associate at the Samanta Foundation, overseeing fellows, organising workshops, and leading overall development efforts. Bikram’s diverse experience includes working as a primary-grade teacher during undergraduate studies, serving as a Scanning Supervisor at the National Examination Board, and interning with organisations including Shikshya Nepal and OLE Nepal. Bikram was able to complete higher education with a full scholarship from the Samanta Foundation. This was further extended to bachelors degree and, although completing high school with a commerce qualifications, he chose Social Work for undergraduate study with a belief in paying good deeds forward. Bikram has always been keen to contribute back to the community that supported him so much.
Ang Sona Sherpa – Education Support Leader
Appointed in 2019, Sona joined CITC as a Project Support Officer, before moving into the role of Educational Support Worker in 2022 and progressing to Education Support Leader in 2023. Sona has assisted with the delivery of many aspects of CITC’s project work and is an excellent mentor to CITC’s team of sponsored teachers. Sona is from Dudhakunda, in the Solukumbu region of Nepal, she is career focussed and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work. She has a background of working with children as a Primary Grade teacher, understanding their developmental stages and the need for child-centred learning. She also has experience in finance and administration work.
Chhiring Tamang – Education Support Leader
Chhiring began as a CITC sponsored teacher in 2009, progressing to Educational Support Worker in 2019 and then Education Support Leader in 2023. She is outstanding in her role, acting as a mentor to CITC’s team of sponsored teachers accross the Solukhumbu region, sharing her expertise in child-centred learning. Chhiring is passionate about teaching, she has achieved a Bachelor’s degree and works hard to enhance her professional development to support her team to provide high quality learning opportunities for children.
Sapana Sunuwar – Education Support Leader
Sapana joined CITC in 2023 and quickly took to her role as Education Support Leader, acting as a mentor to CITC’s team of sponsored teachers. Sapana holds a Bachelors of Education and Masters Degree and brings a wealth of experience in the field of education, having previously worked as a teacher as well as various roles in diverse educational, youth, and community organisations. Her advocacy for children’s rights within educational settings, along with her proficiency in conducting training sessions, monitoring progress, and evaluating outcomes, further enrich her contributions to the team.
Kate Roberts – Communications Officer
Kate joined the CITC team in March 2017 and works alongside Sarah Hagen to provide news and information to supporters and donors. A trained Primary School Teacher, Kate supports all aspects of the UK operations of the charity and keeps in touch with everyone to share good news and updates.
Founding Members
In May 2005, a group of 8 people trekked together to Everest Base Camp. They were led by Dawa Geljen Sherpa, a Sherpa whose family have lived in Lukla for generations. Son of a Yak farmer, Dawa learnt early how tough it can be getting on in life without the benefit of schooling. His father died when Dawa was still in primary school and Dawa left school to start work to help support his mother and family. His dream to improve the education of children in his home town of Lukla became a reality when he met David Woods, Ian Lowrie, Graham MacDonald, Linza Corp and Michele Findlay on their life changing trip to Everest Base Camp.
From the inspiration of Dawa and the energy of the group, Classrooms in the Clouds was born and on 29th August 2007 Classrooms in the Clouds was registered as a charity with the Charity Commission.
NGO Committee Members
Dawa Geljen Sherpa – President (Founder of Adventure Thamserku)
Pasang Geljen Sherpa – Vice President
Nima Dawa Sherpa – Secretary
Ang Gombu Sherpa – Treasurer/Programme Director (Manager at Adventure Thamserku)
Pema Chhiri Sherpa- Member
Ang Tschechi Sherpa- Member
Sonam Sherpa – CITCNepal Engineer
Sonam, CITCNepal Engineer, designed and managed the installation of a clean water system in his hometown, Lukla. Sonam is part of an innovative group of young business people in Lukla who have been responsible for many strong initiatives that are changing the lives of the local people. They are the new generation of young educated leaders who have the skills and the knowledge to build strong futures for their communities. Sonam spent time in Japan learning techniques for constructing earthquake resistant buildings that have proved invaluable to CITC classroom building in Nepal.
Ang Gombu Sherpa – Treasurer of CITC NGO in Nepal
Treasurer of CITC NGO in Nepal and Co-Founder/Executive Operations Manager of Adventure Thamserku, has many years of expertise professionally managing a company. Gombu is Secretary of Dharma Peak Sherpa Community, one of the Local Sherpa Groups working for the betterment of Sherpas in the Lower Solukhumbu. He also holds a strong presence in the Sherpa Service Centre that is dedicated to the welfare of the Sherpa Community living in and out of Nepal.
Tom Fakler – Professional Photographer
CITC is honoured to have the support of critically acclaimed professional photographer Tom Fakler. His stunning photographs have helped CITC to showcase the beauty and capture the way of life in rural Nepal.
“My primary photographic interest is capturing people’s emotions, and the elegance and raw beauty of humanity.”
“My passion for helping people is on a par with my love for travel and adventure and photography. Whether volunteering for NGOs in Nepal and Cambodia, climbing peaks in Swiss Alps, traveling through Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert or exploring a market in Ho Chi Minh City, my interest is always the people I encounter—by appointment or by chance.
Since 2010, I have volunteered on several community development projects in Nepal and Cambodia, every one of them challenging and rewarding. I have been privileged to work with grass-roots organizers deeply committed to raising the standard of living and to building secure futures for the world’s children.
Many of my photographs are published in digital travel magazines, such as Anita’s Feast, Getting on Travel, and FWT Magazine. My contributions—as images and articles—bring a unique perspective to the exploration of cultural traditions, local color and food ways around the world.
A freelance photographer and photojournalist, I accept assignments worldwide.” – Tom Fakler www.tomfakler.com
