Help build a school in Nepal! Free trek!

[ostolop]

Friends,

Last time I posted on this forum was nearly six months ago, and I was planning a trek to Nepal. Many thanks go out to yakshaver and many others who provided invaluable advice! The trek (Gokyo Ri) was amazing. No less amazing was the companionship of Santaman, our guide.

To make a long story short, I was so touched by the plight of the indigenous populations of Nepal and by the personal stories from the people there that I decided to try and do something for them. Santaman and I have started a project - we are building a school in a remote village Kaaule in Lower Langtang.

The villagers have donated the land and timber, as well as their labor and various small materials. I am now raising the money (less than 15,000 USD needed in total) for the core materials (concrete, desks, blackboards, etc.). All the information about this project is on the website http://panchakanya.kaaule.googlepages.com. Pancha Kanya is the name of the school.

I desperately need help with the fundraising. If you can, help, please. If I had 15000 USD myself I'd give it to them gladly, and wouldn't have to ask anyone but alas...

As an incentive to donate, Santaman and I decided that we will offer a free 10 day trek to two highest donors. You only pay for your tickets to Kathmandu and back, and the rest (guide, porters, lodging, food) will be covered.

Even if you do not donate, I welcome and want very much to hear any comments on the project, the website, etc.

Happy trekking!

http://panchakanya.kaaule.googlepages.com
Pancha Kanya Primary School Project - Kaaule, Nepal

P.S. I put some Google ads on these pages. Obviously any money raised that way will go to the same cause.
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[yakshaver]

Ostolop, this is a big and very good surprise!!
It is excellent that someone has decided to take a very practical initiative and give something back to Nepal.
I have written you a private email, and pledged 1000 Euro to the project, to be paid within the next month (March).

I am also communicating with webmaster in terms of policy wether it might be possible to have a "button" on the home page.

Else, you might want to think about how to involve other people (maybe participants on this site...) in order to build credibility and create momentum.
I know you, and I know Santaman very well - and I have full trust - no issue there. I am thinking that if this project is to take off in a reasonable time (say within 6 months to a year) - then involiving other long term participants in the organisation and/or management of this project, might be a good idea - assuming they want to do that, of course...
I know, it is "your baby", just thinking about how to do it best and quickest...Just thinking aloud here...
If there are other ideas from other people, let us hear them.

For people who don't quite know a lot about the Tamangs...

They are one of the largest ethnic groups in Nepal of Tibeto-Burmese origin (like the Tibetans), about 6 million people - they have indeed been discriminated against over time. One of the main reason was that they fiercely opposed Prithvi Narayan Shah back in the 18th century when he conquered and united the various small kingdoms and ethnic groups that form Nepal today. Then Tamangs fought Prithvi in a number of battles, and were defeated in the end, when the king managed to rally other ethinc groups from the valley against them. They were the last large group to surrender to the Shah dynasty. As a result the king has forbidden them to ever be employed by the government in any public service, and have been generally discriminated against when it came to development - a situation wich is still tacitly happening today.

This is one of the reasons I think Ostolop's initiative is just spot on!!

[ostolop]

Yakshaver et al,

Thank you for your contribution! It warms my heart to see things starting to happen finally.

I'd to get people involved in this project, absolutely - I don't really want to treat it as "my baby" at all, all I want is for this school to happen.

Anybody who wants to get involved in any way at all, please, please do! I have hardly any time to dedicate to it (it's been happening mostly between midnight and 3 am the last several months), so any help will be much appreciated. Help promoting it is really necessary, as is improving the web pages, working on making it a sustainable longer-term project for the community, etc. I look forward to any help we can get.

Many thanks for your help!

Happy trekking!

http://panchakanya.kaaule.googlepages.com
Pancha Kanya Primary School Project - Kaaule, Nepal
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[Oli]

I've met up with Sanatman and am planning on visiting the village whilst en route back to KTM from Langtang. If anyone else is thinking of paying a visit then please note that there are at least two different villages called "Kaule" on the map and its somewhat off the regular trekking route. You'd need to contact Sanataman (santamn@hotmail.com) in Kathmandu and make arrangements to visit

Also, Ostolop has started a blog for news updates. Look here (http://panchakanya-kaaule.blogspot.com/)

[ostolop]

Friends,

This is an update on the Pancha Kanya Primary School in Kaaule, Langtang.
The project has been a success so far: we have managed to raise over 10,000 USD
as of a couple of days ago, and there are still a couple donations coming in!

You can check out http://panchakanya-kaaule.blogspot.com/ for the
latest news and photos on the project, but to summarize it briefly:


two school buildings have been constructed, plastered, painted and are
ready for students
basic furniture is in place, additional supplies being purchased and delivered now
playground and office room are being constructed now
money has been secured for an extra teacher's salary for 2 years


The official school opening date has been set: 2 January 2008. I am going
to Nepal on 30 December 2007 and will arrive in Kaaule on the 1st of
January. There will be an inauguration ceremony with representatives
from nearby villages, school teachers, district education development
department and so on. I'll post photos of the event and the school when
I come back, in the end of January - see the blog.

Together with my wife, we are taking some donations of soft toys and
books to Nepal, as well as a small scrapbook prepared by parents and
children at our daughter's nursery here in Cambridge. One of my ideas is to
have children in Nepal do something similar for us to bring back home
to show the children here in the UK.

The focus for this project for the next year will be on sustainability
and performance. This means ensuring that the school remains viable for
many years, with continued funding for teaching and resources, and
that the educational standard is reasonably high and serves the students
well.

More donations to the project are very welcome and needed! We are still
about $5K short of our goal (to cover books, furniture, toilets, etc.). The
offer of a free trek in Nepal for two highest donors still stands.

Again, thank you for your support!

--Misha

Pancha Kanya Primary School Project
http://panchakanya.kaaule.googlepages.com
http://panchakanya-kaaule.blogspot.com

Some pictures for your perusal. More on the blog page.

http://lh5.google.com/ostolop/R2ZPQbvhVcI/AAAAAAAAA0o/6XBOWAqcn1I/s400/inside%20building.JPG
http://lh3.google.com/ostolop/R2ZPO7vhVZI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/BfXRqJ7BJuQ/s400/DSC00230.JPG
http://lh6.google.com/ostolop/R2ZPLrvhVUI/AAAAAAAAAzk/XKPB5qk_YyY/s400/DSC00220.JPG
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