All Volunteer Project Team - - No paid staff

Pema and Nurbu Sherpa are our chief dreamers. They grew up in impoverished conditions in Nepal.  Through the help of education and sponsorships, they emigrated to the United States. They now own a nationally-featured Himalayan restaurant,  High Camp Taproom , in Sisters, Oregon.  Their kindness and caring and their continued embrace of Nepali customs and teachings are readily apparent to all those who have been fortunate enough to meet them.  

Pema and Nurbu first visited the Tilahi area in 2019. Since that time they traveled to the area on several occasions and have come to understand the area and the needs of members of the Musahar who live their.  They have worked hard to enact improvements in the area and are committed to making efforts to break the cycle of poverty.  Their vision and dreams for changes to the area are what drives the Tilahi Village Project.

Bob Haas is a member of the Ten Friends Board of Directors and formerly served professionally as an Urban Planner, Technology Manager and Project Manager for local governments and non-profit organizations.  

Jim Lanzarotta is a member of the Ten Friends Board of Directors and serves as the organization's Treasurer.  Jim is a retired CPA and worked in a leadership position for a national accounting firm where he headed up their governmental and non-profits auditing division.

The project team is fortunate to have a team of individuals who have extensive ties to Nepal. 

Pema and Nurbu Sherpa grew up in Nepal and maintain relationships with family, friends and former classmates who reside in Nepal.  

(PROPOSED) Mark LaMont is a founder of Ten Friends and has been the leading force behind the organization since that time.  He has made multiple trips to Nepal and has established a strong network of Nepal based individuals with whom Ten Friends works.  In the summer of 2023, Mark traveled to the Tilahi area and met with area residents and  observed first hand the needs of the community.

Jay Mandel is a local resident of the Tilahi area. He serves professionally in the role of a teacher / consultant / tutor in the local government run school.  He has met with Pema, Nurbu and Mark and has assisted Ten Friends in carrying out projects in the area.  Jay also was one of the early project dreamers and has probably the best insight into the needs of the local area and the best ways for enacting improvements.  

The Tilahi Village Project has its own Fund Raising Committee that is independent of Ten Friends' other fund raising efforts.  Members of the Committee include both Ten Friends Board Members as well as volunteers who support the project and who have ties to various businesses, organizations and foundations.  Members of the Committee include:

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The project implementation team has yet to be established.  Members of the team will be sought once it is clear that project has approval and funding for the project is available. The team will likely consist of Ten Friends Board members, a Nepal based NGO and perhaps an on-site representative who will receive a stipend for time spent working on the project's implementation.