Rungee Chungee is owned and operated by Diane Fiddyment and Patty Kuehn. Diane and Patty are seen kneeling in the picture during their trek in the Annapurna region in October of 2006. Our items are hand-crafted in Nepal. Working with unemployed or underemployed artisan helps the Nepalese people bring their crafts and cultures to the U.S. while helping them to support their families. We import quality products from people we have developed relationships with and are secure in the knowledge that we are conducting business with artisans in a manner that we both consider fair.  

Diane had first visited Nepal in 1998, falling in love with the friendly people, the pace of life, and the breath taking landscape. Deeply affected by her experience, she committed herself to staying connected with Nepal. By 2000 she had built a primary school in the Solu Khumbu area. The first year far more students than anticipated were there to enroll.  In July, 2000, 85 students started first grade, including 5 teenage girls who wanted the opportunity to learn to read. Today over 300 children have continued on to higher grades at the school further up the hill.

Ten years after Diane's first trip she brought 7 friends back to Nepal for an adventure of a lifetime. Returning from the trip Patty and Diane came home with the idea of providing a place to market some of the hand crafted items made by the people of Nepal. Employment opportunities are scarce and exporting items that can be made in the home is one way for the people to supplement their farm income. Ninety percent of all Nepalis support themselves through subsistence agriculture.

Our business would also not be possible without the endless help and support of our friend in Nepal named Sonar Singh Karki. Sonar has spent endless hours helping our dream become a reality. Diane met Sonar on her first trek in 1998 and his trekking organization Himaland Adventure Treks was responsible for making our trip to Nepal in 2006 a memory that will last a lifetime. Please visit his website at www.Himaland.com and learn more about his organization.