Group 2 reach first campsite
We have arrived at our camp in the village of Chitti Tilahar after a wonderful day’s trekking past terraces of rice, millet and green vegetables.
It is now raining but the temporary inconvenience to us is nothing compared to the difficulties experienced by the villagers in relation to their school. The main buildings are 40 years old. One is in a state of collapse and another is so dark inside that students find it almost impossible to read. Each classroom has a single bare bulb for lighting. One building has been improved by painting the interior white and providing a new concrete floor. Classrooms are equipped with only a blackboard. There are no cupboards and there are too few desks for the number of students – up to 60 in a class.
The English teacher, Ram Sharan Sharma said:
“We don’t have enough English books and no reference books. When I read a word in an English book that I don’t know I have to phone someone in Kathmandu.”
Earlier we had a humbling experience when the whole school of more than 800 students welcomed us with garlands and flower heads. Some students performed dance and songs for us, while others posed for photographs and giggled at their own images on our digital screens. Many were keen to talk to us in English and to ask where we were from.
Last week Heather Gray announced that Who cares? Scotland will provide funds for a new water source for the school. This week Jeff announced that we will also fund new toilets. That brought a cheer from the assembled children.
Nothing could have prepared us for what we saw today. The gifts we brought were gratefully received but they were neither adequate to the needs nor to the welcome of our hosts.
29 Comments to “Group 2 reach first campsite”
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Your blog looks good. It was nice going through your blog. Can guessed that the gifts we brought were gratefully received but they were neither adequate to the needs nor to the welcome of our hosts.
A message for Brian Murphy from the Kelly”s. Enjoy the experience and watch those Lamas! Let us know how things progress and we will follow your progress on the blog. Good luck and best wishes, Martin, Claire , Ciaran an Eamonn
We need a way to keep this connection and continue to provide support to the school from the Scottish residential child care community. This could be such a mutually beneficial relationship.
Judy
Hi Jamie ,all fine here !after readin blog very moved I can imagine how you feel!!!Hope you are all well !!keep goin it matters and now you know why!!!love from me and girls xxxx
Hi everyone I hope the rain doesn’t last too long. I feel quite emotional again reading about your visit to the same school we visited on the first trek – I’m sure like us there wasn’t a dry eye throughout the welcome presentation they put on.. The future project of providing funds for the water source is really exciting. I can’t wait to hear more about your trip via the blog. Take care Kirsten x
Hello Trek 2 trekkers. It’s great to hear your news. I know how humbling the poverty is but you are giving and this will really make a huge difference. Keep your chin up and your feet blister free. I look forward to following your journey. Dawnx
Hi Luke and Michael,
Just a message to say hi. You prob wont even get it but thought we would try. Michael Martin just showed everyone a pic of you at camp and everyone says you look so camp. Chris says hi and so does everyone else. Have fun see you soon.
Clyde staff and boys
For my Grandad Brian Murphy,
Auntie Claire and Uncle Chooch are missing your Friday night chilli. My mummy is making fajitas for everyone instead!
Missing you loads, love Maia xxx
p.s. Hope everyone is enjoying the experience – we wish we were there with you!
Hi to Nicola and Paul, hope all is going well. I will follow your journey with great interest. I wish the whole group a safe and enlightening trip. Take care Lynn x
Quick hello to Nicola and Paul, hope you guys are enjoying your trip, we following your progress and all envious of your adventures.
Nicola, we looking forward to hearing all the stories and seeing your pics.
Have fun and take care.
Linda xx
Hi to team 2 and especially to Hevva, sounds like the school had a big impact on you today, glad you are all safe. Enjoy and learn from the experience of a lifetime. Looking forward to treking with you on your journey. Gill x
Hi Fife Trekkies! Well done in reaching your first campsite! It’s raining here too so nothing changes! What a fantastic welcome you have recieved from the local people! Need to see your moves “hot legs” Hatten and Cale, hope you’re taking note of the dance steps for the next fundraising!!! Are you managing to keep up with these two Steve? Bet Neil and Jordan are having the best time enjoying this new experience. Hope everyone on the trip is enjoying the adventure. So, from a very wet and windy Glenrothes, keep on trekking and i’ll keep an eye on the blog.
Love Corinne
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Brian
Hope you’re enjoying your trip so far. Following the blog daily and looking forward to seeing your pictures and video.
Hello Grandad
I’m missing you and I’ve got a surprise for you when you get home.I was staying with gran last night. Mummy went to the Station with Frances and Alison. Love Maia xxxxx
Judy
You are so right. There is much to learn both ways and a sustained link would be great. The first aim is £6k. But the greater aim is better understanding.
Best
Angus
Jamie and all the group
We are following your progress and finding this site amazing. The personal stories are both moving and humbling. Hope you are coping and keep going we are all proud of you and what you are doing. Stay safe and good luck C,A,S and K
Hi Marianne and Gemma We are following your progress every day. Primary 7’s in Linlithgow (Miss Nelson) and Alloway (Mrs Clarke) are also following your progress. Enjoy the trip. Marianne your Mum is also following this epic journey.
dad
hi trekkers hope u are all doing well .Dad are u haveing a ball hope you and Anthony are loveing every minite of it love donelle xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To my brother Paul and Nicola Lovely to see you are all having a great trip, look forward to hearing all your news when you return.
Love Annette and John Plymouth.
How are the Dundee trekkers doing, Barbara are you ok, no blisters yet ????
big hi LUKE and Michael
hope you are both having a ball good luck and best wishes for you adventure. form all in North
Heather,Hope u have an experience that will last a long time ,Take Care…lv the sives
Hi folks hope your all having a great time and enjoying the trip.Everyone at Maidstone says a big hello and we hope Niall is still doing his independant living!!!!!
Hi Janice (Gould) – hope the trek is going well and you’re not missing home comforts too much. Namastes, garlands and smiling children should more than compensate the cold water, latrines and blisters! Look forward to hearing all about it, take plenty of photos so we can share your experience. Karen xx
Hi folks, hope all is well and everyone is enjoying the trip. Can someone let Niall know that his beloved Pars won 3-1 on saturday.Take care everyone.
Judy. A good idea about establishing links to support the school. So much could be done. Graham-hope your legs are holding out! Scotland is looking for a new leader- I don’t mean Salmond. George Burley has been sacked.
thanks for comments….hello No 4 and Maidstone….cebo!!having a ball.. hey no 4 girls..mashed tatties first day and rice pudding yesterday YUK!!!!!!!!ha ha
Hi Heather, OMG you’ll be back soon. I hope you’ve had an unforgetable experience and taken zillions of photos to show us when you get back. Hows your tummy holding up? Had any “local cuisine ” yet ???
look forward to seeing you when you get back. Take care
Diane, David, Charlotte and Roo XXX
Many thanks for the comments from my friends and collegues. Dundee group are coming home. We are sitting in the lounge at Bahrain airport waiting for our connecting flight to London in a few hours time. Very tired but enjoyed trip tremendously but we will all be glad to get home after the long flights and train journey. See you all soon. Barbara X.