Okhle Village Trust was set up in 2003 by Richard Backwell MBE, a retired teacher and expedition leader, and is coordinated by Nepali trek guide Bimal Gurung. The Trust runs a variety of projects in a cluster of villages in the Mahabharat hills of Northern Nepal. Its aim is to contribute funds, expertise and manpower to enriching the remote communities it enjoys close ties with, in both a sustainable and ethical way.

Projects to date have focused on water supplies, access roads, education and social development; ongoing projects include: