Join the Project
Help build something that matters. From anywhere in the world. In any way you can.
Why Join?
The world has millions of people living in remote places with enormous potential — sunshine, rivers, fertile soil, hardworking communities — but without the tools and training to turn that potential into a good life.
This project exists to change that. Not with charity. With practical, open-source systems that communities can build, run, and own themselves.
We need people who want to build real things in real places. People who believe that knowledge should be free. People who want their work to outlast them.
Four Ways to Join
1. Become a Resident (On-Site)
Come live in Jumla, Nepal. Work alongside local communities. Build systems. Train people. Change lives — including your own.
Who we are looking for:
| Role | What You Will Do |
|---|---|
| Renewable Energy Engineer | Install and maintain solar, hydro, and wind micro-grid systems |
| Mechanical Engineer / Maker | Set up the plastic shredding and filament extrusion line |
| 3D Printing Specialist | Run the printer farm, design parts for local needs |
| Food Scientist / Food Technician | Set up the apple processing hub (cider, vinegar, drying) |
| Water & Sanitation Engineer | Install water purification systems in remote locations |
| Curriculum Designer / Educator | Turn technical knowledge into visual, multilingual training guides |
| General Builder / Technician | Help construct natural homes and community infrastructure |
What you get:
- Free housing in a natural home powered by clean energy
- A modest food stipend
- Access to the fabrication lab and tools
- Ground-level experience solving real problems
- Your name on open-source work used around the world
- A life-changing experience in one of the most beautiful places on Earth
What we ask:
- Minimum 3 months on-site (6-12 months preferred)
- At least 50% of your time applied to a defined project
- You document everything you do
- You train local counterparts until they can run the system without you
- You share your work under open-source licenses
How to apply:
Send an email to residency@mountaineer.fi with:
- Your background and which role interests you
- A short description of a project you would like to work on
- Your preferred duration and timing
- Any questions you have
We review applications together with community representatives. We are looking for builders, listeners, and people who understand that dignity and partnership matter as much as technical skill.
2. Join the Innovation Accelerator (Remote)
You do not need to travel to Nepal to make a difference. The Innovation Accelerator lets you contribute your skills from anywhere.
Remote contribution tracks:
| Track | What You Do | Time Commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Design & Engineering | Create CAD models, improve machine designs, review plans | Flexible |
| Documentation & Translation | Write guides, translate into new languages, improve clarity | Flexible |
| Data Analysis | Analyze sensor data, build dashboards, measure impact | Flexible |
| Market & Business Design | Develop branding, packaging, and business models for products | Flexible |
| Regional Adaptation | Adapt the blueprint for a new location (maybe your own community) | Flexible |
How it works:
- Visit our GitHub organization at github.com/FUMFGRP/mountaineerfi-remote-valley-os
- Browse open tasks in the rv-accelerator repository
- Pick something that matches your skills
- Fork the repository, make your contribution, and submit a pull request
- Your work is reviewed, merged, and deployed — sometimes to the field within days
There is no minimum commitment. Contribute for an hour or a year. Every contribution is credited. Every improvement benefits communities worldwide.
To get started:
- Join the discussion on GitHub Discussions
- Check the “good first issue” label for beginner-friendly tasks
- Introduce yourself and tell us what skills you bring
3. Become a Funding or Institutional Partner
Your financial support buys the equipment that makes everything possible. Solar panels. Water filters. Processing machinery. Training materials.
What makes this different:
Everything built with your funding becomes open source. It belongs to the commons. A water filter design funded today could serve a hundred villages in ten countries in ten years. Your contribution multiplies.
Partnership types:
- Equipment Sponsor: Fund specific hardware for the Jumla pilot
- Residency Sponsor: Fund a resident’s stipend and housing for a season
- Module Sponsor: Fund the development of an entire system module
- Institutional Partner: Provide lab testing, logistics, or technical expertise
- Academic Partner: Host research, publish findings, supervise student involvement
Contact: partners@mountaineer.fi
4. Adapt the Blueprint for Your Region
You do not need our permission. You do not need to apply. The blueprint is free and open. Take it. Adapt it. Build it.
If you are from a remote community anywhere in the world:
- Download the plans from GitHub at github.com/FUMFGRP/mountaineerfi-remote-valley-os
- Read the documentation
- Adapt the designs to your local conditions, crops, climate, and language
- Start building
- Share back what you learn so others benefit
We can help you:
- Answer questions about the plans
- Connect you with others doing similar work
- Share your story and adaptations
Contact: community@mountaineer.fi
What Happens When You Join
You become part of something bigger than any one person or one place.
Your work — whether you are in Jumla, in Kathmandu, in Helsinki, or anywhere else — becomes part of a growing commons of knowledge. A library of solutions for the places that need them most.
The code you write. The design you improve. The translation you create. The part you print. The person you train.
All of it stays. All of it grows. All of it belongs to everyone.
Questions?
- General inquiries: contact@mountaineer.fi
- Residency applications: residency@mountaineer.fi
- Partnerships: partners@mountaineer.fi
- Community adaptations: community@mountaineer.fi
- GitHub: github.com/FUMFGRP/mountaineerfi-remote-valley-os
- Website: mountaineer.fi
We are building something that outlasts us. Come build with us.