How education, community, and global collaboration are transforming lives- A documentary by HEF

A Beginning in the Hills is a documentary that tells the story of transformation in the remote Himalayan village of Chaukori, India. What began in 1998 as a small school in a cowshed by a 21-year-old woman, Devbala, has grown into a thriving ecosystem of education, opportunity, and empowerment. Today, Himalayan Inter School educates 890 students, with 40% on scholarships, making it the only private school in the region supporting children from economically challenged backgrounds.

This film also explores the journey of Himalayan Naari, a women-led initiative that provides livelihood and dignity to over 60 artisans, empowering mothers who once had no income. Supported by the Himalayan Education Foundation (HEF), this is a story of how education, community, and global collaboration can transform lives.