The team in action - Kiwis working with Nepalese to improve schools in
remote areas of Nepal. You will probably want to read
Part 1
if you have not already...
Fundraising efforts
On their return a team of New Zealanders under Barry's leadership sold seed
and gave lectures to raise money for a toilet for the school and a stone
wall around the compound. Barry's wife, Lyn, held the fort at Taunton
Gardens to allow Barry to travel on his fundraising tours.
Lincoln Rotary donate a wood burner
The Lincoln Rotary Club contributed a really efficient wood burner - a
Yunca. A plant auction organised by Barry and Rachel Vogan raised NZ$10,000
and this was used to pay the freight and duty to get the Yunca to Nepal
and by helicopter to Khari Khola. It was sent in pieces, most weighing
about 35 kg (77lbs), but the firebox weighing 75kg (165lbs). It had to be
trekked the rest of the way.
A team of Kiwis returns to Pangkoma
A group of eleven New Zealanders from different professions, including
plant people and a retired engineer and zoologist, accompanied the Yunca.
They were to assemble and install it on arrival.
Nepalese carriers solve a transport problem
At Khari Khola a serious problem arose. None of the eleven Kiwis was
strong enough to carry the firebox up the 45 degree slope. A young Nepalese man
of slight build picked up the firebox and with the help of a friend carried
it on his shoulders to Pangkoma.
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Nepalese carrier with the firebox on his shoulder
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Installation
Once there the wood burner was successfully installed in the school. The
stainless steel chimney had to be cut with a broken hacksaw blade as the
team had no spare blade with them, but they did the job. It will keep the
smoke out of the schoolroom and should reduce the number of children
suffering from conjunctivitis and respiratory problems caused by the smoky
atmosphere.
Nepalese carrier to the rescue again
When the team of workers found that they needed extra cement this was a
crisis. It had taken them one and a half days to trek from Khari Khola to
Pangkoma. They could not wait three days for another bag of cement. One
of the Nepalese men ran in the dark on the mountainous track and brought
back the cement on his shoulders doing the return trip in fourteen
hours.
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Nepalese student in a Rangi Ruru blazer
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Wonder and joy in the children's faces
The children could hardly believe this miracle that was installed in their
school. Their joy over the heater was only equalled by the wonder they
felt when given their own pencils and pencil sharpeners. Rangi Ruru School
for Girls in Christchurch changed their uniforms and sent many cartons of
their previous uniforms to the children at Pangkoma. Singapore Airlines
gave the group a freight concession, so each person took a carton of
clothing. The children wear these garments with great pride. We can
imagine the surprise when Kiwis trekking in the Himalayas meet Nepalese
children in an isolated village dressed in New Zealand school uniforms.
Communication between Kiwi and Nepalese children
The children of Governors Bay school sent paintings to the children at
Pangkoma and the Nepalese children sent their pictures in return.
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Nepalese people enjoy the warmth of the stove in the schoolroom
adorned with the New Zealand children's paintings.
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The Governors Bay children painted seaside pictures; the Nepalese painted
helicopters and eagles - each reflecting what was dominant in their
lives.
Firewood
New Zealanders shudder at the thought of rhododendrons being chopped down
for fire wood. This won't happen often at Pangkoma in the future. A
Nepalese student nurseryman has planted a wood lot which can be coppiced
and used for firewood, for desks and for wooden flooring. In the meantime
until these trees are ready for cutting the children are asked to bring a
piece of dead firewood to school each day to keep the stove burning.
School earns some funds.
With the dry floor and the warmth from the stove the building has become an
attractive place for trekkers to spend the night. The rent paid by the
trekkers will pay for some of the school's needs.
Another school project under way
En route to Pangkoma the work group passed Mera primary school. Here the
school was only a bamboo shack offering little protection from the
elements. During summer high rivers and many snakes and leeches make it
difficult for small children to go to any other school.
These people who had so little had a welcoming party to meet the group and
they had built an arch of welcome out of greenery. They presented the
group with wreaths of flowers and scarves.
More than US$2000 has been donated to provide a school there and they now
have a stone building with a stone roof. A further US$3500 is required to
complete the school and surrounding compound.
Betula utilis is a birch tree with bark which is used for paper. Proceeds
from the sale of plants of this tree will go towards completing the new
Mera primary school.
Visit to New Zealand of Sherpa Ngima Dorji
Ngima Dorji is at present visiting New Zealand to observe primary schools,
and give addresses on the challenges of improving education facilities in
remote parts of Nepal. Barry and his team are hoping that this visit will
bring increased future support for this worthwhile project. Ngima is also
promoting many trekking options for New Zealanders to enjoy in Nepal.
Anyone interested in information about the education fundraising and the
trekking can contact Barry at phone (03) 329-9746.
Read Issue 35 to
find out more about Ngima Dorji Sherpa...
