About Us — Himalayan Elders Project

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Our Mission

To provide love, care, and support to the elders of the Himalayan community by fostering a space for spiritual practice, social connection, and personal growth, while preserving our cultural heritage.

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Our Vision

We envision a future where the elders of the Himalayan community feel empowered, connected, and supported, with opportunities to practice Dharma, share life stories, and rediscover their independence.

Our Story

From a Small Gathering to a Multi-Country Organization

As the Himalayan community expanded in New York, elderly residents found themselves increasingly isolated and homesick — with limited social opportunities beyond the occasional annual gathering. Thupten Sherab and Thupten Chakrishar saw this firsthand and decided to do something about it, drawing on their backgrounds in social work and community organizing to create a welcoming space for elders.

Today, HEP operates five program areas across three countries, serving over 250 seniors. Three days a week we bring elders together for Buddhist studies, yoga, meditation, Zumba, art workshops, language classes, and culturally appropriate meals. Since 2012, we have served over 290,000 free meals. Everything we do is powered by volunteers and community generosity.

Two Himalayan elders smiling at a retreat

2011

Birth of an Idea

Thupten Sherab and Thupten Chakrishar began collaborating on a vision: a dedicated space where Himalayan elders could come together regularly — not just once a year, but as part of their daily lives.

One of the earliest HEP gatherings — elders sitting together in a small room in Queens

One of the earliest gatherings in Queens

2012

First Step

With blessings from Sogyal Rinpoche and community support, the project launched with a two-day picnic at Tongyi Nyingje Ling in Berne, NY. The first regular gathering took place at the Dhampa Sangay Center in Queens with just nine participants — but the word spread quickly.

Group photo from the first HEP picnic at Tongyi Nyingje Ling in Berne, NY — 2012

The first picnic at Tongyi Nyingje Ling, Berne, NY — 2012

2013

A Breakthrough

Sonam Sherpa, an advisor and current Board Chairman, introduced the newly renovated Sherpa Community Center as a permanent home. With support from the United Sherpa Association, HEP relocated there in November. Services expanded to include yoga, Dharma teachings, dance classes, city tours, musical performances, and complimentary meals throughout the day.

2014

A Step Forward

HEP was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in New York in November. That same year, the organization expanded internationally — partnering with community leaders to support destitute seniors in Tibetan settlements across India.

Today

Five Programs, Three Countries

What began with nine elders in Queens has grown into a multi-program organization serving over 250 seniors across the United States, India, and Nepal — with 290,000+ free meals served and counting.

Our Logo: Tse-phel (ཚེ་འཕེལ་)

Designed in 2013 by master calligrapher Jamyang Dorjee Chakrishar, the Tse-phel represents wishes for a healthy, prosperous, and long life for our seniors. The single brushstroke symbolizes the circle of life, created with sumi ink on vellum paper. The original artwork is preserved by the organization.

250+ Seniors Served

290K+ Free Meals Since 2012

5 Program Areas

3 Countries

13+ Years of Service

100% Volunteer-Powered

A Shared Vision

Inspired by His Holiness

The Himalayan Elders Project was inspired by His Holiness the Dalai Lama's vision of compassion, community, and caring for those who have sacrificed the most. His recognition of our work is a reminder that honoring our elders is not a program — it is who we are.

“Caring for our elders is not just a responsibility — it is a reflection of who we are as a community.”

What We Do

Three Days a Week, Every Week

Every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, our doors open for seniors to gather, learn, move, create, and share a meal together.

Nourishment

Complimentary breakfast and lunch served every gathering day — culturally appropriate meals that bring elders together around the table.

Wellness & Spirituality

Buddhist studies, yoga, meditation, Zumba, and guided exercise — nourishing body, mind, and spirit in a culturally familiar setting.

Volunteers preparing meals in the kitchen

Community & Connection

Art workshops, language classes, storytelling, games, and outings — combating isolation and keeping cultural traditions alive.

Our Founders

Built on Dedication

HEP was co-founded by two individuals who saw a community need and answered it — not with funding or fanfare, but with love and consistent, hands-on service.

Thupten Chakrishar

Co-Founder

Social entrepreneur and technologist. Founder of GunkTech, former CTO at MediaKite, and consultant for Ubisoft Montreal. Thupten brings a builder's mindset to elder care — designing systems and programs that serve the community with efficiency and heart.

Thupten Sherab

Co-Founder

Tibetan mixed media artist with over twenty years of experience specializing in traditional appliqué and thangka brocade. Thupten promotes Tibetan craftsmanship in New York, bridging contemporary and classical art forms while preserving cultural heritage.

HEP volunteer group photo at a Buddhist stupa

Our Volunteers

The Heart Behind Everything We Do

The Himalayan Elders Project is 100% volunteer-powered. Every meal served, every program run, every outing organized — it all happens because dedicated members of our community give their time, energy, and love without expecting anything in return.

From the kitchen teams who arrive early to prepare breakfast and lunch, to the drivers who ensure elders get home safely, to the countless hands that set up chairs, clean up, and show up week after week — our volunteers are the reason HEP exists.

To every volunteer, past and present: thank you. Your selflessness honors our elders and strengthens our entire community.

Our Instructors

Guided by Expertise and Heart

Our wellness programs are led by certified instructors who bring deep cultural understanding, professional training, and genuine care to every session.

Geshe Tashi Dorje

Buddhist Studies

Director of the Center for Universal Peace in New York. Born in a remote village on the border of Tibet and Nepal, Geshe Tashi Dorje joined Sera Mey Monastic University in South India in 1989. He received Getsul ordination from H.E. Kachen Lobsang Soepa and Bikshu ordination from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 1993.

After 17 years studying the Five Major Texts of Buddha's teaching, he served as Chant Master — the third-highest rank at Sera Mey Monastery — for nine years. In 2012 he received the Geshe degree and a Doctorate in Buddhism from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. That same year he was invited to the United States, where he teaches Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan language to elders and younger generations alike.

Kalsang Sherap (Gen Soepa)

Buddhist Studies

Of the Nechung Foundation — an official branch of Nechung Monastery in Dharamsala, India. The Nechung Foundation, NYC Center for Tibetan Buddhism and Culture, was founded in 1994 under the auspices of H.H. the Dalai Lama.

In keeping with the goals of the monastery, the Nechung Foundation is dedicated to preserving the unique cultural and spiritual heritage of Tibet and sharing it with the rest of the world. Gen Soepa brings this mission directly to HEP's elders through Buddhist teachings.

Amji Jetsun Chime La

Yoga Instructor

Born into the Gangkar medical lineage and recognized by Nyingma master Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche as the reincarnation of Jetsun Kushab. After over twenty years studying Tibetan Buddhism, she completed a six-year Traditional Tibetan Sowa Rigpa (medicine) program at Men-Tsee-Khang and worked as a doctor at clinics in Nepal, Brazil, and India.

Relocating to New York in 2004, she continued providing Tibetan medical services and founded Jetsun Kunphen Ling in 2016. A certified yoga instructor teaching five weekly classes, she brings over 26 years of public health and social services experience to HEP.

Konchok Tenzin La

Meditation Instructor

Konchok Tenzin La studied Buddhist philosophy at the Drikung Kagyu Institute and Dzongsar Institute, and received meditation instructions from H.H. Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and S.N. Goenka.

Konchok La teaches meditation at the Himalayan Elders Project every Wednesday, volunteering his time and expertise entirely free of charge.

Namgyal La

Language Classes

A graduate of the Central University of Tibetan Studies in Sarnath, Varanasi — the premier institution for Tibetan higher education, founded in 1967 by Prime Minister Nehru and His Holiness the Dalai Lama to preserve Tibetan language, culture, and Buddhist scholarship.

Namgyal La brings this deep academic grounding to HEP, leading language classes that help elders maintain fluency in their mother tongue and pass Tibetan literacy on to younger generations.

Yeshi Dolkar La

Zumba Instructor

Educated at the Upper Tibetan Children's Village school in Dharamsala, where she served as senior student guardian and participated in performing arts. After arriving in the United States in 2021, she completed her education at Jamaica Learning Center and obtained yoga and Zumba certifications.

Currently a second-year student at Queens Borough Community College, Yeshi teaches weekend yoga and Zumba classes through Jetsun Kunphen Ling and volunteers with the Dalai Lama long-life ceremony and social service organizations.

Join Us in Honoring Our Elders

Whether through a donation, volunteering your time, or simply sharing our story — every act of support makes a difference in the lives of Himalayan elders.

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Honoring Our Elders Since 2012