In December 2008, just before we closed for the Christmas break, we received a request from Kat Heathcote's (Director at WSIL) Auntie Hazel. Hazel had taken up trekking in various far flung parts of the world as a means of keeping old age at bay and, on a previous trip in 2007 she discovered that her teaching skills would be greatly appreciated in the area and on the 7th January 2009, she went back there for seven weeks to an area near Kathmandhu (yep I know, Seven Weeks in Tibet!) to teach basic english to older sherpas for 3 weeks.
She advised us that during the trip she would like to borrow a laptop, ideally with a CD facility, but the prefrerred option had been to try and raise sufficient funds and ideally she would like to then leave this at the local school, which is currently trying to raise funds for a science block and library. So as a small Christmas appeal with two days to go before breaking up for the holidays WSIL and their shareholders raised the funds to purchase the new laptop. While it was a comparatively small amount we raised it did have great meaning and function in Nepal. You can see some pictures of the sherpas using the laptop to assist in their language training and the school where it was donated to after the course. 
Hastily constructed classroom to teach twenty two Sherpa's basic English. 
58 year old Sherpa Student using a computer for the first time. 
This man 'Phure Dorgee' is a Sherpa who has been to the Everest summit no less than six times. 
Last day of teaching the Sherpa's. Kats Auntie Hazel, who is a retired head teacher is on the far right of the picture. 
The school where the laptop was donated to, after the course with the Sherpa's was finished. 
A 15 year old student tries out the laptop. 
A group of 15 year olds on the laptop. In the background of the photograph is the extent of the school library. 
The schools nursery class. |
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