TANAHUN, March 9 -- It's a warm February afternoon and the last of the day's classes are over. A group of children play football at the Lekshed Tsal School in Tanahun, a few chasing 14-year-old Pema Wangyal as he heads straight for the goalkeeper. Pema dribbles skillfully past the defenders and as he nears the goal, he chips the ball and sends it flying above the keeper's head-and right into the goal post.

This is the first winter Pema has spent away from his hometown of Ghiling in Upper Mustang. This is also the first winter that Pema is actually attending school. In the hills of Tanahun, the winters are milder and the sun is warm. In Upper Mustang, winters can be unbearable and attending school regularly is next to impossible.

Pema's ...