Nicole Niquille grew up in the foothills of the Charmey Alps in Fribourg. The Gastlosen area was her home and she knows all the rocks here.

Nicole lives together with her husband Marco in Charmey, at the foothills of the Jaun Pass.

Kathmandu

Her „godson“ from Kathmandu helps Nicole getting out of the small plane, after landing on the short runway at Lukla airport.

The Hôpital Lukla is located at 2850 meters above sea level and is the only first-aid facility here at the bottom of the Himalayas. The mountains and the lack of communication routes isolate the inhabitants of this remote region. There are still many people who do not receive medical care, medicines or health advice. The infant and maternal mortality rate in Nepal is the third highest in the world.

Nicole in a conversation with a Nepalese hospital director.

Women registering for visits to the doctor.

Ceremony for the 10-year anniversary of the Hôpital Lukla.

On the 3-day walk to Namche Bazaar, which is the main town in the Khumbu region and the gateway to the high Himalayas, Nicole is carried in turns by two Sherpas.

Above Namche Bazar with a view onto Mount Everest.

Nicole with locals in front of a temple.

Namche Bazaar.