Himalayan dreams come true

Posted on February 24, 2024 by Angus Mccoll - feature stories

Kirsty writes “Even as a youngster, Som always needed to find a way to occupy himself. He was not one to sit around idly passing the hours. It was as though he knew there was always work to do to make a situation better.”

Som Tamang, founder of the Friends of Himalayan Children charity, has an extraordinary life story to tell. A life story big enough to fill a book and he’s just 40 years old. That book is now a reality.

Award-winning former ABC journalist and long-term FHC supporter Kirsty Nancarrow has been working on the book since 2018.

She was inspired to write about Som and his work changing the lives of children in Nepal through FHC and Take on Nepal after volunteering in Batase for a month in 2016.

The book includes the stories of many of the girls and boys FHC has helped, as well as those of volunteers and of course Som’s own incredible journey.

Kirsty thanks Elizabeth McLean for generously supporting the independent publishing of the book through The Erudite Pen, and to the Cairns Regional Council and the Queensland Government.

Som and Kirsty were thrilled to receive proof copies of the book from managing editor Juliette Lachemeier, who is now going through the final stages of editing and getting the book ready for publication.

Pre-orders for ‘Himalayan Dreams: The Story of Som Tamang’ will open in early 2024 and the book will be available for purchase worldwide from March.

Further information will be available through our FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/friendsofhimalayanchildren.nepal