The Shimshal Trust was established in 2002 by a small group of friends who had visited the village, some of whom worked there as teachers.

The aim of the Trust is to fund scholarships to support students from Shimshal with financial need and promising ability. These scholarships allow them to attend high school or university, or participate in vocational training in the larger cities in Pakistan.

The Trust has a special focus on supporting women, although male students are also funded to a lesser extent. The focus on female education is based on the research that indicates high social returns on investments in female education, especially in developing countries.