The Himalayas
We bring sunglasses to the top of the world
Among the planet’s highest summits people do not have access to eye protection or treatment. Locals have difficulties working on the fields, causing problems for their subsistence economy.
Consequently, communities are forced to settle in lower valleys and cities. We are told that ancient customs, languages and cultures are on the line.
SHADES OF LOVE contributes to the preservation of health, culture and sustainability in the Himalayas.
To reach affected communities we use motorcycles to overcome treacherous roads, great plains and majestic mountain passes.
We also conduct eye surgeries in clinical mobile eye camps to not only prevent but also correct ocular diseases, in collaboration with clinical non-profit organisations.
34°00'54.4"N 77°41'04.8"E
India
Ladakh is a remote region of the Indian province Jammu and Kashmir. It borders China, Pakistan and Tibet. Due to its cultural similarities, it is also often referred to as “Little Tibet”. Here we work in friendly collaboration with Buddhist monasteries and local officials.
We have been active in Ladakh for almost 15 years.
Together with a non-profit organisation of the Dalai Lama, The Tibetan Health Care Center, we conduct annual eye operation camps in the valleys of Ladakh to cure people with ocular diseases and to make them see again.
The non-profit organisation Ladakh Organic Farmers Foundation (LOFF) helps us with importing the sunglasses to India.
28°26'27.8"N 83°57'19.5"E
Nepal
Nepal is home to the world’s highest mountains and home to people living in extreme high-altitude regions. One of these regions is the Mustang Valley in North-West Nepal.
The ancient kingdom of Lo is related by religion, culture and history to Tibet. As Tibetan culture is in danger of extinction, the Mustang culture of Lo perseveres as one of the last Tibetan cultures. Until 1991 no outsiders were allowed to enter Mustang.
"A kingdom, lost to the world – remote, untouched, forbidden even"
Besides providing eye protection in Mustang, we also collaborate with the Tilganga Institute to set up the Nepal-Eye-Program and offer free eye operations to those in need.
39°15'09.6"N 72°13'31.4"E
Kyrgystan, Afghanistan & Tajikistan
We are working with the Kyrgysz government to set up an official agreement of cooperation to help the people living in the Pamir mountains.
The Pamir mountain range is a Northern extension of the Karakoram mountains and part of the Himalayan belt.
There, different small minorities live in beautiful nature and uphold ancient traditions.
27°58'34.2"N 89°48'20.9"E
Bhutan
In the most ecological country in the world we are collaborating with travel agencies, which use their eco-tourists to help with our distribution.
Here we mainly work in the Gasa Dzongkhag district in the North West close to the Tibetan border. Many regions in Bhutan are relatively low, but the North Western part is home to some of the highest unexplored mountains in the world.
If you plan to travel to Bhutan and want to help us, please email us.
