The Sama or Sikkim Amateur Mountaineering Association was founded in 2002 as a non-governmental youth organization by Kunzang Gyatso Bhutia, the first person from Sikkim to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The goal of SAMA is to create opportunities for teamwork among youth, provide knowledge about sustainable mountain tourism, and give youth skills to be self-reliant while fostering friendship. SAMA is also involved in search and rescue operations in the Sikkim Himalayas.