Nepal Schools Trust

Narayani Opening Day Celebration Dec 27th 2011

2012-01-20T12:16:00.000-08:00

December 27th 2011 was perhaps the Nepal Schools Trust's proudest day yet , being invited to Narayani Primary School to celebrate the opening of a new building and a filtered water system that donors, kids in UK and the Trust had helped to fund.

A brand new 3 classroom building awaiting the opening ceremony.
Don McLeod, new trustee, had brought his wife and three boys all the way from Rowlands Gill in Tyne & Wear, along with their aunt and uncle and three cousins.

L to R Robbie, aged 11, William, aged 9 and Ben, aged 11, of the McLeod family almost buried in garlands known as "malla" which are the Nepali form of greeting special guests. Mandy, John and Murray Peden sit behind.

Pupils, parents and other members of the community all turned out for the special day and there was a real party atmosphere at the school.

The children of the school put on a series of wonderful dances and songs.

Next Ben and William performed the official opening of the new building which was substantially funded by the wonderful generosity of Claire, nee Browne, and Dave McCraw from Scotland who asked their wedding guests to donate to this building project through Nepal Schools Trust in place of wedding gifts.

To rapturous applause all round.......

Robbie McLeod then performed the opening of the new filtered water system that had been installed by the Trust's efforts, making use of funds raised by Don McLeod's sponsored cycle ride from Lands End to John 0 Groats and the community of Rowlands Gill Primary School in UK.

Vicki McLeod, proudly takes pictures as Robbie is testing the water.

William McLeod with two of the school's teachers.

The water filter, is protected inside a locked cublicle, so that it is operated by the school only.

Inside is an industrial standard filtration machine that takes the normal water supply and....

...........and can deliver 600 litres of cystal clear filtered water in an hour.

The event proceeded with speeches and more dancing, here Chris Dickinson and Mukunda Raj Shrestha are enjoying the spectacle

Vicki McLeod presented the school with a display and other items from Rowlands Gill Primary School, including profiles from a class of pupils, written by the pupils themselves. We hope that Rowlands Gill and Narayani Schools will enjoy their contact with each other.

The whole of the visiting party, L to R Vicki McLeod in front of four teachers, including Sabitri Lamsal next to William McLeod, father Don behind him, Jamie Peden, Chris Dickinson with Murray Peden behind him, Robbie McLeod with John Peden behind him, Ben McLeod, Mandy and Callum Peden and finally Resham Bahadur Ranabhat, the Head Teacher.

A wonderful day and thanks once again to Claire and Dave, all their friends and family who helped and everyone at Rowlands Gill who helped make this day become a reality for the community at Narayani Primary School.

Swanmore College fund raising effort in 2011

2012-01-08T14:44:00.001-08:00

We are indebted to the members of Hawking House, at Swanmore College of Technology, in Hampshire for selecting Nepal Schools Trust as a charity to support last year, raising the wonderful total of £431.95

Click HERE to see the school's page on its fine fund raising efforts.

Games equipment for Nepal Schools - 2011

2012-01-08T14:43:00.001-08:00

This year we found a wholesale supplier of games equipment in Narayangadh, a nearby town, and filled three tin trunks with a variety of games, including badminton, cricket, skipping, and football.
The boxes being rickshawed through the street to the local bus service!

These were given to three schools, Narayani Primary School, Nawa Nepal Primary School and Surya Kiran Primary School.

If this proves to be successful we may be able to equip more schools in the future.

Milijuli building progress to 26th December 2011

2012-01-08T14:38:00.001-08:00

On this day trustees Chris Dickinson, and Don McLeod with his family, received a wonderful welcome at Milijuli Primary School to celebrate the progress towards building a new school to replace the bamboo, mud and grass structure currently in use. The new building can be seen in the background. You can see a short video of this visit by clicking HERE

As usual, it seemed like the whole community had turned out to welcome us.

We were also treated to lunch.....a wonderful dalbhat, traditional food of Nepal.

Earlier in November, Chris had visited to check on progress .....seen here between the head teacher (L) and chairman (R) at Milijuli.

To help the school further, Chris awarded another grant, to continue the work, much to the delight of these youngsters who will soon enjoy learning inside it.

By December the work had moved forward again, making use of the funds we had provided and we are very hopeful that the community can raise the funds needed to finish the ground floor of the school in 2012 and bring it into use.

In the picture above you can see the current school building in the background.

You can see a short video of this visit by clicking HERE

McLeod and Peden family's Nepal trip 2011

2012-01-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

Don McLeod, new trustee, took his whole family, and their relatives, the Peden family from Oban, to see Nepal and the work of Nepal Schools Trust in December 2011.

On their journey to the district we help they enjoyed adventures........and many wonderful sights..........including...........

The medieval city of Bhakatapur with its wonderful temples.......

Lake Phewa Tal at Pokhara, close to the Annapurna Range........

.......where they also cycled up Sarangkot to see the majestic peaks

Like the Fishtail Peak......................

Before setting off on a journey down the Kali Gandaki River by raft..........

Navigating the rapids for nearly three days...........

Camping on sandy beaches..................

Eating wonderful camp food cooked by our guide Mukunda.....

Soaking up sun during the day, although the trip included one raft flip!!
Playing at being captain of the raft..........

Until the peak of Devchuli came into view and...............

We started a trek through the Mahabharat Range of mountains.............

Crossing paddy fields, rivers with our porters ......................

Following ridges and.......................

Setting camp for the night.....................

Passing through mountain villages.............

Eventually to a base camp below Devchuli Peak...............

From where we all climbed to the peak to see the unparalelled panaorama.......

Of the majestic Himalayas to the north.

Finally it was time to descend to the south towards Pragatinagar.........

To the beautiful village of Kirtipur..................

Where we received a warm welcome from the local community............

Before starting our visit to the schools that are helped by Nepal Schools Trust.

I would like to thank Don and John and their families for taking the time to come to Nepal and explore the countryside that leads to the area we work and share experience of seeing how the funds that Nepal Schools Trust has raised are making a difference in Pragatinagar and Devchuli.

I would also like to thank them for their fund raising and donations and I know that they went on to enjoy visits to Chitwan National Park, where they saw rhinos, elephants and crocodiles, and Kathmandu, capital of Nepal.

Chris Dickinson, Chairman.

Devchuli School opening of new toilet block Nov 2011

2012-01-08T14:36:00.000-08:00

Chairman, Chris Dickinson, officiates at an opening ceremony for new sanitation facilities at Devchuli Lower Secondary School, that were part funded by a grant from Nepal Schools Trust.

Unveiling an acknowledgement of our input.

And...........cutting the ribbon. First time I have opened a toilet block!

This effectively doubles the facilities for toilets in the school, with the one older facility being used for boys only now and the newer one, seen here, for the girls. It was great to see the school getting the development finished at a good quality in quite a short time.

Recent achievements and 2011 Grants

2012-01-08T14:35:00.000-08:00

Chris Dickinson, Trust Chairman, visited Nepal in November and December 2011. During the visit he was able to see progress made in various schools from previous grant aid in 2010 (see some photos below) and allocate grants to schools from remaining funds available for the year. Seen here at Surya Kiran Primary School

The following is a Summary of Grants Awarded in December 2011

Grants were given in Rupees and sterling figures in RED are approximate

Balmeeki PS £320 Rs 40,000 to community teacher budget

Bhimsen HSS £1375 Rs 172,000 for showers/toilets and scholarships (22 x 1000)

Dibyajoti LSS £1400 Rs 175,000 for continuing building work

Kumarwarti LSS £520 Rs 65,000 for Year 8 teacher salary

Manakamana PS £320 Rs 40,000 to community teacher budget

Milijuli PS £1740 Rs 217,420 for building and scholarships

Narayani PS £260 Rs 32,500 for teacher salary plus box games equipment

Nawa Nepal PS £220 Rs 27,000 to community teacher budget & Box games equipment

Nepal Rastriya Sarada £800 Rs100,000 towards new building and £330 41,600 for teacher salary

Saraswoti PS, Kumsot £330 Rs 41,600 for teacher salary as per last year

Surya Kiran PS £310 Rs39,000 Community teacher salary plus games equipment

Total £7925 Rs 991,120

3 boxes of games equipment were distributed as above and this in addition to about £4700 given to Narayani Primary School earlier in 2011 for a new school building and a filtered water system meant grants for 2011 totalled about £12725

The following images show some of the achievements from 2010 Grants.

See also separate reports on Milijuli and Narayani Schools.

Dining tables and benches made for resident deaf kids at Jana Jyoti HSS

Computers and desks for each of the two deaf unit classrooms.

At Bhimsen Higher Secondary School we gave funds for three years to sponsor 22 children from very poor families through the school....here Sasmita is awarded her scholarship.

Science equipment purchased with our grant by Prithvi Secondary School

Dibyajoti Secondary School's new building still underway with some small help from us.

Some classrooms have been brought into use already as the school is so short of space.

Improvements to the Manakamana Primary School Nursery through grant aid.

At Laligurans nursery kids now learn on foam underlaid carpets and cushions and have a new supply of water on site (see below)

Balkiran Primary School, Chris in the nursery which was bare.

Carpeting and tables in the nursery (above) at Balkiran Primary and a retaining wall to
stop monsoon erosion (below) were mainly funded by us.

At Kumarwarti Secondary we funded this extra teacher for two years.

At Surya Kiran Primary we funded improvements to the roof of the school.

Books Abroad shipment arrives in Nepal

2011-10-22T04:45:00.000-07:00

We are delighted to report that Scottish Charity Books Abroad sent a couple of pallets of books by air freight to Kathmandu for our schools. The shipment was ready to leave Scotland in September. In October John Calder, of Books Abroad, visited Pragatinagar and Devchuli with Mukunda to see some of our work and meet Nardev Neupane, Head of Bhimsen Secondary School, who had offered to help coordinate the distribution of books.

John Calder being greeted at Narayani Primary School in Pragatinagar.

The reality of the shipment was that it did not arrive for some time. At short notice, Nardev Neupane, seen below with the books, headed for Kathmandu, with the Chairman of his school management committee, to secure the books from customs and bring them back to the village areas. They spent three days in Kathmandu before the books were cleared and transported by minibus back to the village for distribution. Nepal Schools Trust met their travel and board costs and the cost of the transport of the books down from Kathmandu.

Books were laid out at Bhimsen Adarsha Secondary School and a representative from each of the 16 beneficiary schools was invited to come and collect books.

On behalf of Nepal Schools Trust, Mukunda Raj Shrestha, our honorary trustee, went to the village to officially give out the books.......seen here giving parcels to Nardev Neupane, of Bhimsen, for his school.

Books went to all parts of the district.

Here the Principal of Narayani Primary School receives books from Mukunda.

The books had arrived and all been distributed when Trust Chairman, Chris Dickinson, visited the village in November 2011. In his visits to schools he was shown the books that had arrived and discussed with staff the importance of completing the feedback forms so that Books Abroad would have evidence both of their arrival at various schools and of how useful the books were to each school. The coordination of the return of these forms will be done through Nardev at Bhimsen.

The Nepal Schools Trust would like to say, on behalf of kids in Pragatinagar and Devchuli who will use these books, a big thanks to Books Abroad and all their generous donors.

New website is live

2011-10-22T04:36:00.000-07:00

Chris and Rebbecca have been working on an update to our website.

This now inlcudes more detailed information about Nepal Schools Trust, a link to our film, a googlemap of the area we work, a page devoted to grants made, illustrations and of course How to Donate.

As before this blog acts as a rolling newsletter.

We expect shortly to have a Paypal facility to allow online donations.

Have a look now at www.nepalschoolstrust.org.uk

Narayani & Milijuli building projects update report

2011-09-05T07:42:00.001-07:00

NARAYANI PRIMARY SCHOOL

In November 2010 Narayani Primary School had a foundation in place.

Since then Nepal Schools Trust gave them a £4000 grant to complete the building, funds coming from Dave McCraw and Claire Browne of Scotland on the occasion of their wedding.

The latest pictures show that the building has risen and will soon be having a roof installed.

All grant funds have been transferred to the school.

MILIJULI PRIMARY SCHOOL

In late 2010 we visited Milijuli for the first time after awarding then a grant of £8000 to erect a new building. The school was made of bamboo, mud and grass. In this picture taken in May you can see the new foundations in place. Part of the funds came courtesy of a grant from Erach & Roshan Sadri Foundation and also from Chris, Cody and his father in memory of Pablo Evans, to whom the new school building will be dedicated. The following pictures show the situation last week, i.e. late August, and there has been great progress. The final tranche of the Trust grant was released to the school in late August also.

Three trustees will be visiting the village between October and December this year and will look forward to monitoring the progress of these two building projects, and other projects in village schools.

New Trust film now completed by Kyle Hamilton

2011-09-05T07:03:00.000-07:00

The filming that was undertaken on ouir behalf by Kyle Hamilton of Canada, seen here, in November 2010 has now been crafted into a short film lasting 8 minutes. I would like to thank Kyle for this fine effort to help the Trust with its publicity needs and look forward to using the film to assist in fund raising events. If you would like to see the film just click HERE

Larry Grant donation

2011-08-09T18:03:00.000-07:00

Larry Grant, seen here (second left) yesterday at a West Seattle beach picnic, has made a kind donation to Nepal Schools Trust. Thanks Larry for your ongoing support.

Wedding raises funds for Narayani Primary School

2011-06-18T00:54:00.000-07:00

Wedding of Dave McCraw and Claire Browne in May 2011

We are delighted to announce that Dave and Claire, who asked guests to give donations to Nepal Schools in lieu of wedding presents, have raised more than £4000 for Narayani Primary School.

These funds are being given to the school to erect new classrooms on the foundation seen here.

Jackie Thomson, seen here in a Narayani classroom, awarded an initial grant of £4000 when she visited the school a week ago.

Needless to say they were both stunned and excited and have already ordered in building supplies to get on with construction.

Chris Dickinson, Chairman, will be visiting the school with Don McLeod, new trustee, towards the end of the year to see what progress they have made.

A massive thanks on behalf of the kids, parents and community of Narayani School to Dave and Claire and we wish them every happiness and good fortune in their marriage. We do hope that they will find time in the future to visit Narayani and perhaps open the building. I would also like to put on record our thanks to all the friends and family who made such generous donations.

Chairman, Nepal Schools Trust

Chairman raises funds through kayaking events

2011-05-23T02:20:00.000-07:00

Chris Dickinson, Chairman of Nepal Schools Trust, is one of Scotland's most experienced and accomplished white water kayakers. In the last month and half he has run a whole series of events, including river tours, British Canoe Union courses and safety courses which have helped raise funds for the Trust. Many thanks to all those who took part, your participation has raised a significant amount for schools in Pragatinagar and Devchuli VDCs.

Paddlers tackling the tricky Randolph's Leap on the River Findhorn, Scotland.

Free-falling over Right Angle Falls, River Etive.

Plunging deep into the magnificent Meig Gorge.

Running the infamous Headbanger drop on the Spean Gorge.

New Trustee for Nepal Schools Trust

2011-05-21T15:08:00.000-07:00

The Trust is delighted to welcome Donny McLeod as our fourth Trustee.

Don on a trip last year to Erraid/Mull and Iona.

He recently cycled Land's End to John 0' Groats to raise funds for the
charity.

We look forward to his ideas and contributions.

He is hoping, with his wife Vicki and three boys to accompany Chris to Nepal late in 2011

In his own words,

'Unlike the other trustees, I haven't yet earned my freedom and I am happily enjoying life as a Police Officer in the North East of England where I live with my wife, Vicki and three young boys. I have a great love of wild places, particularly the mountains and qualified as a mountain instructor in the mid 1990's - and love to take others, including my boys to such wild and beautiful places. I have worked in outdoor education on and off since 1985 when I met the chairman, Chris Dickinson. Since then, I have dabbled in the full range of adventurous sports such as sailing, and have, at various times in the past, been a committed kayaker, open boater and paraglider. As a family we enjoy all these activities, particularly climbing, skiing, kayaking and cycling and I take great satisfaction from seeing others enjoying and growing through these activities, even when it means the boys are better than their dad! My other interests include education and the inequality of development/underdevelopment which lead me to work as a secondary school teacher of Geography in Scotland, England and also Tanzania in East Africa where I saw poverty in the raw. Hence, for me, Nepal Schools Trust is an inspirational project from an old friend of mine, and it has allowed me, once again, to be involved in education and play a part in giving others opportunities they may not have had. I hope that our work will go some way to providing young people in Nepal, and elsewhere, with such opportunities and insights we all, as human beings should enjoy.'

Jackie Thomson delivers 2010 grant forms in village

2011-03-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

Jackie Dickinson, Trust Secretary, (seen here, centre, with the staff at Nawa Nepal Primary School), was in the village areas again after the Nepal visits in November and December last year, to take letters and grant award agreements to the relevant schools and also sign up some schools for help with library materials from Books Abroad.

We look forward to hearing more from her in due course.

Awards this year were issued with a new grant agreement form for schools.

The purpose of this is to set out the terms of the grant clearly, indicate to schools what verification evidence will be required in due course. School and Trust keep signed copies.

This will hopefully give all concerned an easy framework to follow in implementing projects that are funded by grant aid from Nepal Schools Trust.

Schools will only be eligible for grants in future if they follow this process through. We believe this process will ensure that grants are used 100% for intended purposes, that good evidence will be collected that this is indeed the case and that will also allow our generous supporters to be even more certain that donated funds are being used responsibly and effectively for the children of Pragatinagar and Devchuli.

Donny McLeod's cycling & Rowlands Gill Primary

2011-03-21T12:45:00.000-07:00

L to R. Chris, Ben, Tom, Donny, William, Anna, Ian as the funds raised are handed over.

The Nepal Schools Trust received a wonderful surprise last week.

Chairman, Chris Dickinson was visiting Don McLeod's house in Rowland's Gill, to be told that Don had recently completed a sponsored cycle journey the length of Britain, with proceeds going to both Nepal Schools Trust and the Rowland's Gill Primary School PTA.

I would like to thank Don for this incredible effort on our behalf, and also everyone at the PTA, school and especially everyone who sponsored Don for these great causes.

His ride raised £424 for the Trust and the same for the PTA.

The funds raised are to be spent on the installation of a filtered water supply for the pupils of Narayani Primary School in Nawalparasi, Nepal. More on this development to come :-)

Well done Don.

In his own words..................................

"Having torn my achilles in June 2010, I needed to lose some weight! With only a weeks notice, the challenge was to cycle Lands End to JOG, on my own, in winter, carrying all my own gear. 960 very cold and lonely miles cycled end to end between 16 - 28th Jan 11. 50% of the time camping, the rest B&B or with relatives. Would I do it again? Yes!"

Money raised was split 50/50 between the trust and Rowlands Gill Primary PTA.

You can read more about Don's epic cycle ride at:

http://www.rowlandsgillprimary.org/about_our_school/pta/

Focus on Narayani Primary School

2011-02-22T15:18:00.000-08:00

Shree Narayani Primary School, Pragatinagar VDC, Ward 3, Salghari, Nawalparasi, NEPAL

We are delighted to announce that ROWLANDS GILL PRIMARY SCHOOL, Tyne & Wear, is from 2011 going to link up with NARAYANI PRIMARY SCHOOL.

Shree Narayani Primary School, gets it's name from the great river which flows past just a few miles south.

The Narayani River combines the Trisuli, Kali Gandaki and Marsyandi Rivers that drain central Nepal, even drawing waters from Tibet and the catchment includes Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and the Langtang Himalaya. The school is also just a mile or so from the boundary of the Chitawan National Park, home to wild tigers and rhino.

Tul Bahadur Tsapa(left), Chairman of Management Committee, Chris Dickinson, Chairman of Nepal Schools Trust (centre) and Resham Bahadur Ranabhat, Principal, (right) during a visit in November 2010.
This is a government Primary School with 200 students currently, and classes from Nursery through Kindergarten and Primary 1-5. "Government" in Nepal means partly funded and so most building initatives are only partly supported by government and teaching complement likewise. Communities have to make efforts to raise funds to fill the gap in funding. The catchment for this school is a poor Dalit (low caste, untouchable) community who do genuinely find it difficult to raise funds or have political influence to effect the same. As you can see some of the classes do not yet even have furniture, something we wish to change in due course. We are also working with this school to link them to resources from Books Abroad, the Scottish Charity that helps sends books to poor countries.

Narayani has a particular problem with a 19 year old building that was on a poor foundation and is really no longer safe or suitable. The school and we have concerns that in a quake this building could collapse, or it may be taken down by monsoon rains. The building is currently used for Primary 1, 2 and 3 classes. Perhaps after demolition the site can be re-used.

Pupils are immaculately turned out, polite and enthusiastic. They deserve better.

Kids at this school even get fed twice a week as they come from such poor families. This is the only school in our area that does this and a local company provides the funds.

The water tank for the whole school, adequate, but will need replaced in due course and we as a Trust are working towards filtration for drinking water in the future.

Two of only 4 cubicles for toilets on site, for staff and pupils alike i.e. 210 people.
There are girls and boys urinals in place.

The school campus is very pleasant in fact, set in amongst the houses of the village, and with adequate areas for play, shade and buildings. It runs to 8 acres.

Chris's speedily drawn plan from his visit in November 2010 of the school site.

This view shows a new foundation completed by the school. They managed this by diverting funds granted by the education department for toilet improvements to the more pressing need for a new building. We observed all this and agreed with their need and Chris wrote to the school in December 2010, as follows:

"We note that the school wishes to complete a new building, for which you have a foundation. Obviously this is a large project. Nepal Schools Trust is prepared to search for funding from UK charities on the school’s behalf. We cannot promise that we will be successful, but we are very happy to try this for you.

In any case I will give priority in 2011 to helping you with this project.

To build a new school building, the school will need to seek funding also from the Education Office, VDC , NGOs and from within the community. Thank you for supplying a set of plans and costs for the project, which we understand to be a single storey 3 classroom block at a cost of approximately 500,000 Rs." (Note, this sum is equivalent to approximately £4550 at current exchange rates)

Chris and Jackie Thomson, in class, at Narayani Primary School in November 2010.

Chris is committed to finidng funding for this school during 2011 and we are pleased to announce that Claire Browne and Dave McCraw who are shortly to be married, have offered to raise funds for Nepal Schools Trust and Narayani Primary School in particular in lieu of wedding gifts. Many many thanks to them and any friends or family who support them in this wonderful gesture.

Canadian Donations - thank you

2011-02-16T06:31:00.000-08:00

Keith (above) and Pat Hamilton from Saskatoon were recently on the trip to Nepal with us and very generously indicated their wish to make an additional donation to Nepal Schools Trust. Keith also talked his bother Don and wife Gail, and sister Jill and husband Barry into helping.

Picture of (from left) Kyle, Craig (the sons!) and then Keith and Pat on the summit of Devchuli Peak last December.

Wonderful guys and we assure you that these funds will be put to good use in the near future.

Many thanks from Chris, Sally, Jackie and the kids of Devchuli/Pragatinagar. We love you all :-)

Kevin & Tana's wedding proceeds

2011-02-15T05:23:00.000-08:00

In true Larry Grant (pictured above) fashion, when I was in Seattle recently and Larry came out skiing with Sally and I, he pressed a cheque into my hand as a "wedding present" for Kevin and Tana's wedding last August, just 5 months late for the event but welcome at any time of course. This brings to $2000 the funds raised by Kevin and Tana for Nepal Schools Trust from the event and on behalf of the Trustees I would like to put on record our thanks once again for this kind gesture and wish them every happiness and we hope to see them in Nepal sometime.

Grants to be made in Dec 2010

2010-12-24T15:51:00.001-08:00

2010 Grants

NEPAL SCHOOLS TRUST

Balkiran PS – Wall to secure against flood (Grant Rs 55,000) plus tables for Nursery & P1 (Rs14,400). Last year's monsoon eroded a road beside the school and is threatening the foundations of one of the buildings (below).

Balmiki PS – Look for external charitable support for a building project

Bhimsen Adarsha SS (22000Rs) for 3 years scholarships for children of poor families, the school draws kids from Magar communities, especially in the hill districts. Here Chris Dickinson, Trust Chairman, is being given a warm welcome at Bhimsen by staff and students.

Devchuli LSS Grant agreed of Rs110,000 ( = 60% of donations needed) for additional toilet block. Current facilities are inadequate for school roll.

Dibyajoti LSS Make an external bid for £10,000 to finish new building on behalf of school. Structure now complete (background), but needs all finishing works. Been under construction now for two and a half years.

Hindu School – Look for charitable support for a building project from Hindus in UK. An accommodation building (below) is now unsafe and must be demolished.

Jana Jyoti Higher SS – No assistance until we hear schools has elected new committee. School appears to be in some sort of transition.

Jana Jyoti Model Girls School (80,000 Rs for Deaf kids) to improve living accommodation for kids in the deaf unit who live at the school. This is the major deaf unit in Nawalparasi District and draws students from all over the region.

Kalika SS – Improve and furnish nursery (Grant Rs 33,000).

Kumarwarti LSS (Rs 65000 + Rs 11000) with Rs 65000 for further year for full funding of a Year 8 teacher salary for 2 years @ 5000Rs x 13 and also offer that we would furnish P2 Class (below) if they can procure community wood for furniture and we pay carpenter.

Lali Gurans Playgroup – Ask costing for bringing down water (Grant Rs 40,000) and give help in providing materials for the playgroup.

Manakamana PS – Improve and furnish nursery (Grant Rs 33,000).

Milijuli (£8000) towards new building to replace bamboo and grass building (below) plus Rs6800 and Rs6800 for further year for scholarships for children from poorest families. This school receives the funding we secured from the Sadri Foundation and the new building is a commemorative project for Pablo Evans of Ecuador. We wish the school well in its development.

Narayani PS – Look for charitable support for a new building project to go on a completed foundation (below).

Nawa Nepal PS grant of Rs15000 for paint for classrooms and £540 for teachers’ pay, as 9 staff here share one government salary. Some of the teachers are seen here with Jackie Thomson, Trust Secretary.

Nepal Rastriya Sarada PS (Kirtipur) Rs 39,000 then next year Rs 41,600 to pay an extra teacher. Keen to progress a new building so we asked for all the details of plans… so we can look for external charitable support for the project. Local ladies in traditional dress are dancing for the assembled throng and us of course!

Pragati LSS – Look for charitable support for a building project. The school is seeking to expand its accommodation and replace an old building.

Prithvi Secondary (Rs 55000) for science teaching materials. The school wants to resource years 11 and 12 and is also in need of computers.

Saraswoti PS, Kumsot, Rs 39,000 then next year Rs 41,600 to pay an extra teacher for two years. Currently two classes are covered by a single teacher. The community recently completed a beautiful building, built entirely in local style.

Surya Kiran (Rs 55,000) for roof repairs to prevent water coming in during monsoon.

Virkuti English Boarding School – No grant this year, helped complete a building last year.

Total cost of immediate grants £14,660

These figures based on an exchange rate of 110.

Total of forward commitments in Rupees

March 2012 Rs 17700 (Sterling equivalent is £1609) ;

March 2013 RS 2200 (Sterling equivalent is £200)

A very very big thank you to everyone who has made donations or contributions to Nepal Schools Trust since its inception in December 2008. This is our second batch of grants. See previous post for details of 2009 grant verification visits.

Following my visit to the village in November 2010 I decided that Nepal Schools Trust should adopt a motto, which is,

“We help those who work hard to help themselves”

Follow up on grants made in 2009

2010-12-12T10:33:00.001-08:00

2009 GRANTS

VERIFICATION VISITS

In 2009 we made grants to four schools and here are details from our verification visits in November 2010. Chris Dickinson and Jackie Thomson carried out the visits. Sally Dickinson, Trust Treasurer, also visited Surya Kiran in December 2010.

Dibyajoti Lower Secondary

£1000, contribution towards building project made in late 2009

At our last visit in 2007 we saw only a collapsed building, victim of the last monsoon.

Since then we have seen photos of gradual progress.

In November 2010 the school building first storey was structurally complete, but requires all the finishing work, including plastering, flooring, doors, shutters, electrics, decoration and furnishing.

The building has been constructed on a foundation suitable for second storey in due course. Buildings of 2 or more storeys have to comply with local building regulations on earthquake standards. We hope to help them find funding for the remaining work. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for Dibyajoti.

Nawa Nepal Primary

£450, remuneration for volunteer staff.

Since starting this school, the staff had worked for two years part time without pay.

Our encouragement grant clearly did exactly that. In the interim the school has expanded, completed buildings and all those staff are still there. Extremely well done Nawa Nepal.

Nawa Nepal School Chairman, Shyam Sharma Bhusal, with Chris and the Principal.

Surya Kiran Primary

£1000, for furniture, electrics, decoration.

The transformation in this school was amazing and inspiring. A local carpenter had constructed new furniture with wood provided free from the community forest and done a beautiful job.

He had also repaired older furniture and given everything a bright lick of paint.

New furniture was made for the school office.

Fans and lights were fitted in classrooms and classrooms had been painted to brighten them.

Some classes had new boards and easels.

Congratulations to the school and the community for showing the way in how to improve the “in class” environment for students.

Virkuti English Boarding

£1000 to assist the completion of new building and additional toilet provision..

This school had a critical lack of space and a building under construction that required finishing.

This was one of the temporary classrooms.

It also had just one toilet cubicle for around 280 students and staff.

The school now has two toilet cubicles and has finished its new classroom block.

Well done to Virkuti!

Overall we were extremely satisfied with how all the schools spent the funds granted and are full of confidence for the 2010 round of grants. Nawa and Surya Kiran will receive further grants and we will search for external funding to help Dibyajoti (see next post on 2010 grants). We would like to reassure all donors to Nepal Schools Trust that your contributions really make a difference and go directly to the schools and students in Nepal.

14 day trip to Nepal, raising money for Trust, Nov 28th

2010-12-12T10:32:00.000-08:00

A fantastic response meant that the inaugural fund raising trip to Nepal had 20 people take part.

Chris Dickinson, Trust Chairman, Spean Bridge, Scotland
Sally Dickinson, Trust Treasurer, Spean Bridge, Scotland
Jackie Tomson, Trust Secretary, Norwich, England
Rebecca Vaughn, Norwich, England
Roddy & Maggie Glen, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Willie & Hazel Young, Dunoon, Scotland
Morna Knox, Strachur, Scotland
Brenda Grant, Corpach Scotland
Katherine Grant, Roy Bridge, Scotland
Nigel & Lisa Ginniff, Bolton, England
Keith & Pat Hamilton, Saskatoon, Canada
Craig Hamilton, Saskatoon, Canada
Kyle Hamilton, Fernie, B.C., Canada
Oleg & Olga Kuzmichev, St Petersburg, Russia

Just a matter of days before the trip started, Candace Wilson from Toronto had to pull out after falling from a camel in Jordan and suffering back injuries. We all wish her well in her recovery.

The trip convened in Bhaktapur, a medieval city SE of Kathmandu. We spent two nights there, enjoying the car free environment and wonderful buildings and temples.

Welcome to Bhaktapur.................... woof!

Sally, Keith and Craig at breakfast at Hotel Sweet Home.

Day two, taking a tour into Patan and Kathmandu.

We visited the holy Hindu site of Pashupatinath

.......and the largest Bhuddist Stupa in Nepal at Boudinath, before heading into Thamel for shopping and a spectacular meal and culture programme in the evening.

Next day we filled an entire plane en route to Pokhara and Hotel Holiday at damside.

In the afternoon we trekked up to the Peace Stupa above Phewa Tal with great views to the Annapurna Range.

Machapuchare, known as the "fishtail" takes centre stage. We returned across the lake by boat.

Next day was cycling day for some and local sights tour for non-cyclists.

Next day we headed east and then south towards the Kali Gandaki River and the Mahabharat Mountain Range. This range is the southernmost significant mountain range in Nepal. Taken by jeeps as far as the Kali Gandaki, we started a tent based trek.

Crossing the Kali Gandaki next morning by a monumental suspension footbridge.

Our porters crossing a side stream.

The party is greeted at a school en route to Arkala.

Wonderful views north to the Himalayas as we climb towards the ridge of the Mahabharat.

Finally the route traversed along and across the crest of the Mahabharat.

A fine evening view from near our "base camp" below Devchuli Peak.

Climbing up to Devchuli Peak with amazing views of Fishtail and Annapurna.

The unequalled panorama from Devchuli summit, highest point in the western Mahabharat.

The viewing tower on the summit of Devchuli peak.

On the descent. We finally descended steeply, the south side of the Mahabharat Range to the village of Kirtipur, passing this extraordinary tree..........................

..............................................and then on towards Pragatinagar, where we were met by Oleg and Olga who had just travelled by catamaran down the length of the Sun Kosi River.

We received a rapturous welcome at Milijuli School where we are helping to fund a new building to replace the existing bamboo and grass structure.

Perfectly turned out young students at Milijuli (above) and proud students at Surya Kiran Primary School (below), seated on furniture funded last year by Nepal Schools Trust, made from wood from the community forest and crafted by a local carpenter.

After our stay in Devchuli and Pragatinagar, areas where the Trust works with schools, we moved to Chitwan National Park where we stayed at Unique Wild Resort. Highlights were the canoe safari where we saw about six crocodiles and a multitude of beautiful birds including wild peacocks.............................

..............and the elephant safari, four to an elephant............ a perfect platform from which to see the wildlife of Chitwan, especially the Rhinos

Bath time for the elephants, against the backdrop of Manaslu.

En route back to Kathmandu, we took to the wild waters of the Trisuli River.

Before long we were plunging through wavetrains and holes

........and getting thoroughly immersed in it all!!

The final day of the trip was a "rest day" and nine of the group took a mountain flight to see Everest.
A view of the highest peak on earth from our small plane.

The trip rounded off with a final meal in Bhaktapur, before folks went their separate ways.
Many many thanks to all the participants. The contributions that were raised for Nepal Schools Trust as a result were in the region of £5,000, a wonderful addition to funds for schools projects.

Canadian, Kyle, makes film for Nepal Schools Trust

2010-12-12T10:31:00.000-08:00

Kyle Hamilton, and brother Craig, from Canada, dwarfing a local man at Daldale. Kyle came to Pragatinagar and Devchuli at invitation of Trust Chairman, Chris Dickinson, to help by making a film of the area, the way of life and the work of the Trust in local schools. We look forward to seeing the results and using the film for future fund raising.

Kyle in class at Milijuli Primary, a bamboo and grass building we are helping to replace.

The Milijuli teachers with Craig, who is 6'7" tall.

Kyle capturing the technique of a local fisherman in Daldale.

Local people carry leaves and straw, fodder for their animals and roofing material.

Trustees spend 8 days in Pragatinagar and Devchuli

2010-12-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

In mid November, Chris Dickinson, Trust Chairman, shown here, and Jackie Thomson, Trustee, spent 8 days in Pragatinagar and Devchuli VDCs. In that time they visited all 21 of the schools in the area. This picture shows the warm welcome given to them at Bhimsen Adarsha Secondary.

Here, Mukunda Raj Shreshta, Honorary Trustee, and Jackie, relax after a day visiting schools. The new Namaste Hotel, the first in the area, provided a comfortable base during our stay.

Chris and Jackie in class! The visit allowed us to complete an audit of all the schools, meet all the Principals and Chairmen, and listen to concerns. We also saw first hand many classes and made plans of many campuses, allowing us to best target grant funding for the future.

Students sitting proudy on and at the new furniture we funded at Surya Kiran Primary School. The benches and desks were made by a local carpenter with wood procured from the community forest. Classes were alse equipped with electric light and fans and brightened up with freshly painted walls. Just compare this to the class photographed on our last visit....below.......

Transport was often by motorcycle courtesy of locals. Here Chris is riding with the Chairman of the School management Committee of Manakamana Primary School.

A shot in a class at the embryonic Milijuli Primary School, a bamboo and grass structure that we have made a grant of £8000 pounds towards this year, to construct a new building.

A welcome from the students in the village of Kirtipur, one of our villages that is high on the slopes of Devchuli Mountain.

Mukunda, back left, and Jackie, centre front, with students of Dibyajoti Lower Secondary School. The school has spent the last two and a half years constructing this new building, after one of their original buildings collapsed. We agreed to represent the school in an external funding bid in 2011 to find the £10,000 required to finish the building.

Nepal trip in November imminent

2010-10-19T04:36:00.001-07:00

Chris Dickinson, Trust Chairman, is leading a trip to Nepal with friends and family. The trip has raised a very substantial amount of funds for the Trust's work in Pragatinagar and Devchuli.
He is leaving on 1st November for Nepal and will spend a couple of weeks in the village district this year, before most folks arrive for the trip. The following are taking part.

Chris and Sally Dickinson, Trustees, Spean Bridge, UK
Jackie Tomson, Trustee, Norwich, UK
Mukunda Raj Shrestha, Honorary Trustee, Kathmandu, Nepal,
Rebecca Vaughn, Norwich, UK
Nigel and Lisa Ginniff, West Houghton, Lancs., UK
Morna Knox, Strachur, Argyll, UK
Hazel and Willie Young, Dunoon, Argyll, UK
Katherine and Brenda Grant, Lochaber, UK
Roddy and Maggie Glen, Edinburgh, UK
Kyle Hamilton, Fernie, B.C., Canada
Keith, Pat and Craig Hamilton, Saskatoon, Canada
Candace Wilson, Toronto, Canada
Oleg and Olga Kuzmichev, St Petersburg, Russia

After spending time in Bhaktapur, Kathm,andu and Pokhara the group will trek south across the Mahabharat Range to Devchuli and Pragatinagar to see the village districts where the Trust helps schools and the trip will finish with a visit to Chitwan National Park, wildlife safaris, a Trisuli raft trip, before returning to Bhaktapur. Trip starts 28 November and finishes 11th December 2010.

5 Star Kayak Assessment - Dougie Shannon

2010-10-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

On 2nd and 3rd October 2010 Chris ran a 5 Star Assessment for three candidates. On Saturday we paddled theArkaig and Spean Gorge Saturday and Orchy on Sunday. Best of all, Dougie Shannon, seen below on the Orchy, external assessor, generously donated his fee for the day to Nepal Schools Trust. A big thank you to him for a kind gesture.

Dougie, Shannon, River Orchy.

Nigel Sanger running Headbanger in Spean Gorge

David Russell running the same rapid.

Lovely sunny day on Chicken Shoot on the River Orchy.

David Russell runs Easan Dubh, River Orchy

Callum Anderson running the same drop further right.

Sawtooth Rapid, River Orchy

Pablo Evans Commemorative Project at Milijuli

2010-08-29T02:35:00.000-07:00

The picture shows Pablo Evans on his frist ever descent of the Rio Damas in Ecuador.

Nepal Schools Trust has been raising funds for a school project to commemorate Pablo Evans who sadly died in a car accident in Ecuador a few years ago. Pablo had visited Nepal and Scotland and loved them both. He was a great friend of Trust Chairman, Chris Dickinson.

Milijuli Primary School will be the beneficiary school, in Devchuli District. The school has received news of a substantial grant to help them erect a permanent school building and the community is very excited about this unexpected assistance. Funds raised for the project as of today total just over £8,000 or US $12,100. Our estimate of the cost of completing an entire 4 classroom building plus water supply and sanitation is in region of £12,000 and so you can see we will already be able to fund 2/3rds of the cost of this project. We are expecting perhaps a few more contributions to arrive. Chris, Trust Chairman, will be visiting Milijuli School in the second half of November to discuss building plans with the school management committee. Thanks to everyone who has contributed funds so far and anyone who would like to add a donation in memory of Pablo is welcome and encouraged to do so. These funds will be spent on an incredibly good cause in a very poor community in Nepal, a community that will use these funds to the full to better the education of their children. If you want to contribute, UK donors go to our website at www.nepalschoolstrust.org.uk, overseas donors please get in touch with Chris at speanbridge@googlemail.com and he will give you any details you will need. Thanks again.

Pragatinagar & Devchuli Update

2010-08-09T04:36:00.000-07:00

As population of the area has increased, the Devchuli area of the Pragatinagar Village Development Committee has become a VDC in its own right. I think that this happens when an area reaches more than 10,000 on the electoral roll. The reality of the area that the Nepal Schools Trust seeks to help primarily has not changed, but it does now encompass two VDC's instead of one. In due course we plan to alter the Trust Deed document to reflect this. Our major support project this year, Milijuli School is in fact in the Devchuli VDC. There are now 8 schools in Devchuli according to Mukunda. Still trying to pin down exactly how many schools there are in Pragatinagar VDC!

Milijuli Grant Letter

2010-08-05T15:31:00.000-07:00

Wrote a letter today to Milijuli Primary School to inform them that we will be making a grant of a minimum of £6660 towards a permanent building in Devchuli. A proud moment for the Trust! Chris Dickinson, Chairman, holds up the letter of award.

Kevin Kaiser and Tana Beus get married!!

2010-07-30T07:13:00.000-07:00

Kevin, friend and supporter of the Trust is getting married to Tana in August 2010 and they have decided to ask friends and family to make donations to Nepal Schools Trust in lieu of wedding gift. This is a wonderful gesture and we can't thank them enough. More about this as it unfolds. We wish them the happiest of days and a wonderful future together.

Film for Nepal Schools Trust

2010-07-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

In 2010, Kyle Hamilton of Saskatoon, who will be visiting Pragatinagar as part of Chris Dickinson's Nepal visit, has volunteered to come to the village early for a while to help make a film about the area and the work that we are endeavouring to do. Great Kyle and be great also to have your brother Craig help. Maybe we can twist his arm to be a presenter or interviewer :-)

£6000 for Milijuli School has arrived!!

2010-07-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

The Erach and Roshan Sadri Foundation grant of £6000 has now arrived at Nepal Schools Trust and Chris, Chairman, is writing to the school with the good news and will ask them to draw up plans for the use of these funds in a project to put up a permanent school building.

Substantial Grant for Milijuli Primary School in pipeline

2010-06-24T15:30:00.000-07:00

An offer of a grant of £6,000 has been made by the Erach & Roshan Sadri Foundation to Nepal Schools Trust to support the development of Milijuli Primary School. This large grant will in due course be offered to this school, with the possibility of additional fuinding also, once discussions have taken place between the trustees and the school management committee.

The above photo shows a temporary school building that has been constructed. It is hoped that this funding will in due course permit its replacement with a more permanent structure.

We are extremely grateful for the confidence that the trustees of ERSF have shown in our charitable aims.

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Some views of Deurali trek recce by Mukunda

2010-05-11T02:18:00.000-07:00

Mukunda sent a few pictures back from Nepal of the Mahabharat region around Devchuli. These are taken in the hot pre-monsoon season. We can expect cooler and clearer weather in December with views back to the Himalaya. We will be trekking through this area for 5 days.

A smile amidst the hardship.........

Mahabharat Range

Magar kids at Devchuli base camp

Kids on their duty......grazing the goats.....no schools!!

Milhuli school in Devchuli, a temporary building, without water or toilets. The beginnings of a school education in this region. Bamboo and grass.

Callum Anderson 40th birthday - Many thanks!

2010-04-29T06:33:00.000-07:00

Many congratulations to Callum Anderson who celebrated his 40th birthday recently.

Deciding that he did not really need anything for his birthday he asked folks to make donations to Nepal Schools Trust instead. The trust received a very significant donation. Many thanks to all those who added to this donation and of course to Callum for this very generous gesture.

Argyll Mountaineering Club - Norway March 2010

2010-04-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

A cross country track ski week organised by Chris, Trust Chairman, for the Argyll Mountaineering Club, which Chris founded about 25 years ago, saw 7 members visit the Sjusjoen area above Lillehammer in Norway. Snow and weather were fantastic and the trip raised £150 for the Nepal Schools Trust, from a combination of funds left over and spare currency. Donors and participants were Chris (above second from right) and Sally Dickinson (above right), Morna Knox, Dougie Fletcher, John Ferrie (above left) and Hazel (above second from left) and Willie Young.

Chris on the tracks above Nordseter.

November 2010 trip fills up!!

2010-04-07T13:55:00.001-07:00

The trip to Nepal, organised by Chris Dickinson, that as part of the itinerary will trek across the Mahabharat Range to Pragatinagar and spend time in the village and see some of the schools that we help has seen an overwhelming response. Chris, Sally and Jackie, the Trustees are all likely to make the trip, with Mukunda helping as guide and a further 15 or so supporters. Watch this space for further details. If you missed this trip then consider coming in 2011.

Ewen Pryde, 3 Star Assessment, River Meig

2010-04-06T02:54:00.001-07:00

Ewen Pryde of Brora asked for a 3 Star white water assessment. Chris carried out the assessment in late March on the River Meig near Inverness and afterwards Chris and Ewen paddled through the tricky but spectacular Meig gorge (above Ewen running one of the gorge rapids). Ewen made a very generous donation to the Nepal Schools Trust, thanks to him for that, and Chris for carrying out the assessment which Ewen passed!

Books Abroad support for Pragatinagar 2010

2010-04-06T02:50:00.001-07:00

The Rhynie based charity, Books Abroad, have kindly agreed to send pallets of books to the schools in Pragatinagar Village Development Committee Area following an approach by Nepal Schools Trust for support. All the schools in our remit area are currently completing the necessary forms and we hope to see the books arriving in Nepal before the year end. Many thanks to Books Aborad and all their supporters for this wonderful support. Watch this space for updates.

St Andrews University Canoe Club - 2010 winter

2010-04-06T02:41:00.000-07:00

St Andrews University Canoe Club booked three courses with Chris during the winter, a 4 Star Assessment for Craig and Jonny, an Intermediate Course, seen here on the Spean Gorge, and a Beginners Course. This raised a significant sum of money for the Trust. Thanks to all those who took part and especially to Craig for setting things up.

Grand Canyon Trip Nov 28th 2009

2010-04-06T02:19:00.001-07:00

Chris organised a trip for friends to run the Colorado River through Grand Canyon. The launch was November 28th. Left to Right: Olga dn Oleg Kuzmichev (St Petersburg, Russia); Callum Anderson (Spean Bridge, Scotland); Doug Knapp (Everett, Washington); Larry Grant (Seattle); Tim Cox (Tacoma); Stephen Cant (Fort William); Chris Dickinson (Spean Bridge); Phil Dicken (Manchester UK); Kevin Kaiser (Bellingham, Washington). Surplus funds from everyone's contributions were donated to the Trust and raised nearly £600 for Nepal Schools. Thanks to everyone involved and for a great trip.

It was a winter trip and very cold at times, but pleasant for hikes and quiet.

Water level was excellent, in region 14-18,000 cfs........ Here Tim is rafting Granite

Chris, making his run down Horn Creek Rapid

Callum kayaking through the V wave going into Lava Falls.

From Cambridge to Nepal

2010-01-05T08:27:00.000-08:00

Rachel - one of the Cambridge Buskers (left of the photograph) went off to Nepal in November and spent some time trekking with Mukunda up into the Annapurna Sanctuary. Following this she did some voluntary teaching work in a school in Kathmandu, and then was interested to visit the south of the country - taking in Chitwan National Park and Lumbini - the world heritage site and birthplace of the Buddha. She was very keen to visit the village and see for herself the schools where we are helping. The photograph below shows her visiting Vrikuti - receiving the usual most wonderful welcome from staff and children alike.

Rachel has returned to UK inspired to help our schools in any way she can. Many thanks for that.

Generous Russian donation boosts funds

2009-11-27T17:14:00.000-08:00

Oleg and Olga Kuzmicheva, our wonderful friends from St Petersburg, have made a very large and generous donation to Nepal Schools Trust. The funds were handed over to Chris when they arrived in Flagstaff, Arizona, to join him on a private trip to paddle through the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. The trip starts tomorrow and will take 16 days. Many many thanks Olga and Oleg.

Sally, Olga and Oleg at home in Scotland when they visited in October this year.

Stefan & Carol visit Spean Bridge 29-31 Oct 2009

2009-11-04T14:38:00.000-08:00

Stefan Zucker and his wife Carol, who live in the Pyrenean foothills near Toulouse, made their first visit to Bla Bheinn.

They were very interested in the work we are doing with Nepal Schools and made a generous donation. Many thanks for that.... and we are looking forward to seeing you in the Pyrenees again.

Spean Bridge Walking Group 21st October 2009

2009-10-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

Chris planned and led a walk into Glen Tarff, near Fort Augustus, for the Spean Bridge Walking Group. We all enjoyed the magnificent autumn colours.

We had a brief break at Culachy Falls, a small tributary of the Tarff.

Lovely view to Fort Augustus and Loch Ness on the descent.

Afterwards we laid on tea and coffee at Bla Bheinn, and then Chris gave a presentation about the Nepal Schools Trust.

This was followed by a Nepali meal, masterminded by Sally.

The evening ended with trips into the hot tub and BBQ hut.

The event raised £163 for Nepal Schools and most donations came with gift aid forms which will bring in 28% more funds in due course. Thanks to all who attended and for all the generous donations.

October donations start with a bang!!

2009-10-01T07:52:00.001-07:00

Two very large donations came in today from Alan Picken (above) and Gavin Mitchell.

Many thanks guys and may all your mountain bike runs be steep!! (Downhill!!)

Donations during first year have now exceeded £5,000.

Violins for Nepal in Cambridge - 19 September

2009-09-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

And now we are getting musical courtesy of Rachel and Penny who with a couple of like minded friends took to the streets of Cambridge to entertain. They very generously sent their busking proceeds to the Trust. Very many thanks to all.

Rachel is on her way to Nepal in November where she will explore the country with Mukunda and also volunteer her teaching services in a Kathmandu school. Good luck with that - we look forward to hearing an account!

Horse and Dray Quiz Night - 17 September

2009-09-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

Very many thanks to Jaime, the Quiz Teams and all the staff at the Horse and Dray in Norwich for a brilliant quiz night. Much scratching of heads and we didn't always have the answers(!) but at the end of the night a grand total of £70 was raised for the Trust.

2009 Grants to schools

2009-09-24T13:19:00.000-07:00

An update on our 2009 grants, made to a total of four schools as follows:

Shree Surya Kiran Primary School has been awarded a grant of £1000 to be used to assist in furnishing class rooms for the school as some classes still have pupils sitting on the floor!

Kids at Surya Kiran seated on the floor

Mukunda will request timber from the village district forest committee and the funds will be used to employ some tradesmen to make the furniture up. The school will also use some of the funds to have electricity installed and to purchase and install fans in classrooms

Shree Dibyajoti Lower Secondary School has been awarded a grant of £1000 towards the building of a new section in the school. This large school of over 700 pupils has an urgent need for more accommodation and has been working on the new section for around two years now. Government funding is meeting part of the cost. We hope our grant will help the project move towards completion. The photograph shows the building works earlier this year. We are informed that currently the building has risen to the window tops! The school has grown considerably in recent years as both more pupils attend and additional secondary years have been added. This building is being designed so that in future when needs dictate, it will be possible to add a second storey of classrooms.

Shree Virkuti Boarding School was awarded a grant of £1200. The girls in the photo are standing against the wall of an unfinished improvement that is desperately needed. This grant will hopefully be sufficient to allow that building project to be completed and brought into use and also to address the issues of a clean water supply and toilet improvements.

Shree Nawal Nepal Primary School, where teaching staff have helped the school get established by working without compensation for two years. In September we made a grant to this school of £450 that will be split into 9 payments to each of 9 volunteer part time staff at the school, in recognition of their extraordinary commitment to getting this school established from scratch.

2009 Appeal under way

2009-09-06T14:16:00.000-07:00

Chris is currently sending out appeal letters by email to as many folks as possible to try and raise additional funds so that we can grant aid a nursery school where all the teachers have been working for two years without pay. Donations are very much appreciated. Thanks.

Spean Bridge Bible Study Group

2009-09-06T14:14:00.000-07:00

Received, with many thanks, a cheque for £50 from the Bible Study Group in the village.

Trust joins Voluntary Action Lochaber

2009-08-25T01:04:00.000-07:00

Nepal Schools Trust has joined VAL, a support organisation in Lochaber district for the voluntary sector. Chris met with the co-ordinator, Marion Smith yesterday.

Membership will give us access to advice, accounts support and auditing, reprographics facilities, fund search assistance and many other facilities for an annual fee of just £12.

Next week we are undertaking a fund search exercise for the Trust, to identify charities and trusts UK wide that consider supporting initiatives by a charity such as ours. This is a computer exercise that aids a search of charitable databases.

Norwich - Horse and Dray Summer Fair - 15th August 2009

2009-08-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

We were invited to join in with the fun at the Horse and Dray Summer Fair in Norwich in aid of UNICEF. We took a children’s craft stall – painting t-shirts and bags – we all had great fun!! This first event in Norwich successfully earned some funds for the Trust.

The owners of the Horse and Dray have kindly offered to host a benefit Quiz Night at the pub on September 17th – if you are in Norwich why not bring a team!!

Website goes live

2009-08-12T01:56:00.000-07:00

The Nepal Schools Trust website is up and running. Designed by Rebecca Vaughn, graphic designer and volunteer, from Norwich, the site provides all the information the giving public will need to see what it is the Trust does. It links to our blog, which is a rolling newsletter of happenings to do with the Trust.
Donations to The Treasurer, Nepal Schools Trust,
Bla Bheinn, Station Road, Spean Bridge, PH34 4EP

Visit from Nara and Sue Pandey 10 August 09

2009-08-11T03:14:00.000-07:00

Chris and Sally received a visit from Nara Pandey and his wife Sue. Nara, a Nepali, was the raft guide on the trip back in 1990 that Chris organised to the Karnali River in Nepal. It was on that trip that Chris first met Mukunda, who at that time was a 19 year old assistant raft guide. Sue was also on that trip and that was when she first met Nara and he later came to England where they were married. They have three beautiful young girls.

Even more interesting, is the fact that for 10 years Sue and Nara have been running a small charity in England, very similar to ours, and helping schools in the same general region. Nara's family comes from the next village district east of Pragatinagar. Their charity is called Children of Nepal and they have been involved mainly in helping schools finish building projects. www.children-of-nepal.org.uk

It was very useful and interesting to make contact with Sue and Nara and I feel sure that they will be able to help us with some of our initial questions regarding applying funds to projects in Pragatinagar.

Mountain Biking Weekend in Spean Bridge raises funds for NST

2009-08-08T07:33:00.001-07:00

Chris and Sally hosted a mountain biking weekend at Spean Bridge for "old" friend Alan Picken, seen here second from right, with some of proceeds going to Nepal Schools Trust.

Chris, Trust Chairman, joined some of the lads for a trip around the Aonach Mor world championship XC course on the Friday.

Saturday, the group, seen here setting off, made a long and arduous circumnavigation of the Grey Corries/Aonachs and Ben Nevis ranges. Their trip was eventful with Alan taking a tumble in Steall Gorge. On Sunday most headed out for one last blast at Aonach Mor biking trails.

Trustees Meeting in Norwich July 31st 2009

2009-08-08T06:41:00.001-07:00

Alice Thomson, designer of our A4 Nepal Schools Trust brochure, Jackie Thomson, Trustee, Chris Dickinson, Chairman of Trustees and Mukunda Raj Shrestha, Honorary Trustee in Norwich, England.

July saw a Trustees Meeting in Norwich at Jackie Thomson's home. All trustees were present. It was also an opportunity to see Mukunda, who was visiting from Nepal, and meet volunteer Rebecca Vaughn who designed our corporate image and website for us. At same time, Alice Thomson worked on an A4 flyer for the Trust. Thanks Alice for that.

The meeting reported on early fund raising efforts and progress to date. We should particularly like to thank Mrs Joyce Dickinson who recently made a very generous donation to the Trust. This was a landmark meeting for the Trust. For the first time we were able to discuss making grants to schools. At this time the following grants have been awarded.

Sally is greeted by a Surya Kiran pupil, with proud parents looking on

Shree Surya Kiran Primary School has been awarded a grant of £1000 to be used to assist in furnishing class rooms for the school as some classes still have pupils sitting on the floor!

Mukunda will request timber from the village district forest committee and the funds will be used to employ some tradesmen to make the furniture up. The schools will also use some of the funds to have electricity installed and to purchase and install fans in classrooms

Shree Dibyajoti Lower Secondary School has been awarded a grant of £1000 towards the building of a new section in the school. This large school of over 700 pupils has an urgent need for more accommodation and has been working on the new section for around two years now. Government funding is meeting part of the cost. We hope our grant will help the project move towards completion. The photograph shows the building works earlier this year. We are informed that currently the building has risen to the window tops! The school has grown considerably in recent years as both more pupils attend and additional secondary years have been added. This building is being designed so that in future when needs dictate, it will be possible to add a second storey of classrooms.

Shree Virkuti Boarding School was awarded a grant of £1200. The girls in the photo are standing against the wall of an unfinished improvement that is desperately needed. This grant will hopefully be sufficient to allow that building project to be completed and brought into use and also to address the issues of a clean water supply and toilet improvements.

It was also decided that if any further funds come in from our 2009 appeals, then we would like to support the Shree Nawal Nepal Primary School, where teaching staff have helped the school get established by working without compensation for two years. Watch this space for an update on this. We hope to be in a position to grant funds towards teacher salaries in September. Update: In September we made a grant to this school of £450 that will be split into 9 payments to each of 9 volunteer part time staff at the school, in recognition of their extraordinary commitment to getting this school established from scratch.

River Spean paddle July 5th 2009

2009-07-14T04:50:00.000-07:00

On July 5th Andrea and Laura from Norwich, Norfolk, came out for a guided kayaking trip into the lower part of the Spean Gorge. All proceeds from the outing went to Nepal Schools Trust
Laura meets some moving water for the first time in the lower gorge
Andrea trying out some manouevres.

Fund raising Event at Leavenworth, Washington, USA

2009-07-14T04:42:00.000-07:00

On the weekend of 15-17th May 2009, Chris and Sally hosted friends at their land at Leavenworth. Folks came to the land at Icicle Creek on the east slope of the Cascade Mountains to paddle and enjoy a themed evening with nepali meal, a film of the Humla Karnali kayak expedition, photos from Kevin from his treks in Nepal with Mukunda and apresentation about the Trust. Many people gave generously and the event raised over $1,700 for the charity.
A special thanks to Kevin Kaiser and Jackie Tomlinson who helped enormously with the food and to everyone for coming to support such a good cause.

Argyll Mountaineering Club at Spean Bridge - May

2009-07-14T04:30:00.000-07:00

The club from Dunoon came to stay at Bla Bheinn, Spean Bridge for a weekend and a nepali meal was laid on for the visitors. A percentage of the funds for the weekend went to nepal Schools Trust and there were also a couple of very generous private donations made.

Above you can see a typical nepali daal bhat meal and below our version, with a chicken curry, rice, daal, and gujerati style stir fried vegetables.

Members enjoyed a great weekend on the mountains and rock faces locally.

Irish Ben Nevis climb raises funds for NST Jan 9th

2009-07-14T04:22:00.000-07:00

Mick Hennessey and friends made a winter ascent of the Ben with Chris as guide and a percentage of the guiding fees went to Nepal Schools Trust along with a generous tip.
A pleasant day turned quite wild, windy and icy by the time we all reached the summit of the Ben.

Fundraising Trip photos added to Flickr

2009-05-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

I've added some fundraising photos to flickr, so we can link to the set when we talk about the trips on the website.

Flickr

DisturbMedia agrees to assist with web hosting our site

2009-03-06T06:19:00.001-08:00

Euan Millar of DisturbMedia has agreed in principle to host the Nepal Schools Trust website that is currently under construction by Rebecca Vaughn, a volunteer from Norwich. Many thanks for this.

Nepal Schools Trust Blog goes live!

2009-02-07T16:56:00.000-08:00

With the help of Rebecca Vaughan, Nepal Schools Trust has a live blog now. Supporters and friends of the Trust can keep in touch with Trust progress and news and developments from our schools and district, by looking in here from time to time. Rebecca has volunteered to help the Trust establish its website, for which we express our gratitude.

Mukunda Raj Shreshta

Chris Dickinson

Nepal Schools Trust, is a charity registered in Scotland. It was set up because of a friendship over two decades between Chris Dickinson and Mukunda Raj Shreshta, born in the village of Pragtinagar, the district that the Trust intends to help. They met through Chris's kayak expeditioning in Nepal for which Mukunda has acted as a guide on a number of occasions.
Chris's sister Jacqueline and his wife Sally joined with him in setting up the Trust in late 2008

The enthusiastic and optimistic faces of Pragatinagar children

Committed teachers, some working as volunteers in Pragatinagar schools. These are the people we really need to help, as they are the providers of education to the youth of the district.

A view of a classroom in a primary age school. A temporary website is currently hosted at www.chrisdickinson.com but shortly will appear as a dedicated Nepal Schools Trust site.
www.nepalschoolstrust.org.uk