Rotary Club Opens School in Nepal.

Four hundred children each carrying a garland and flower petals to welcome their guests, lined a steep path for half a mile to their school in Simpani in a high and remote village in the Himalaya in Nepal. A band with Nepalese mountain horns filled the valley with music to accompany the guests as they arrived after a gruelling climb of some two hours from the nearest track which is a poor excuse for a road.

Clive Bradburn, President Elect of the Rotary Club of Maidstone Riverside and his wife Sue were representing the club who had raised funds to pay for an extension to the school. Along with financial assistance from Maidstone Grammar and Sutton Valence Schools they had also paid for another school in East Nepal which replaced one that burnt down a few years ago. It is only now that the political situation has quietened down sufficiently for the schools to be visited and officially opened. The Rotary club were the guests of the Pahar Trust a charity dedicated to building schools throughout Nepal. It is run in Nepal by an ex- Ghurka who was once a Warrant Officer stationed for a while in Maidstone in the Queen's Ghurka Engineer Regiment.

Nepal is a country of absolutely spectacular beauty- Simpani sits in the shadow of the mighty Annapurna range and is dominated by the famous Fishtail Mountain one of the few mountains that have never been conquered. Ironically, Nepal is also a country of great poverty. Latest figures (World Bank 2006) show the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of £17,500 for the UK compared with £135 for Nepal. 40% of the population live in poverty.

There are no roads to the high villages, everything is carried on the back. It is a hard life and many children do not go to school because they are needed by their parents to help work on the land. Rice and millet are the main crops grown locally on terraces. During the visit it was rice harvest. Should it rain again the crop could be wiped out and there is no food for the villagers for the winter. It is a tightrope existence.

Simpani is not on a tourist route and doesn't benefit from tourist income. This was the first time that many of the children would ever have seen a white European.

Despite their poverty the Nepalese are forever smiling and are incredibly respectful of their elders and guests. The opening ceremony lasted for several hours with Clive and Sue being dressed in national costume and even joining in the dancing display that was put on by students in their honour. A wall plaque commemorating the opening was unveiled and gifts were exchanged. Riverside Rotary presented the school Chairperson with an engraved silver plate along with a club banner and even the Maidstone Borough tea towel to show what our County town looks like. In addition some pencils and pens were given which were gratefully received.

The following day, after sleeping rough on the school floor, Clive and Sue climbed higher to nearly 3000m where they spent time in other villages and watched children learn at another of the Pahar Trust schools. Unfortunately, even though the school buildings are being provided, there is only basic furniture and of most concern, there are very few books. In Simpani the library shelves looked adequate at first glance until one was told that they were all donated and were of far too high an academic level for any of the children at the school so they would never be used. Similarly a computer had been given to them many years ago – but it is out of date, doesn't work and nobody could operate it anyway.

However, through a Friendship Scheme run by the Pahar Trust, Simpani School has now twinned with Horsmonden Primary School near Maidstone in Kent. Carolyn Bassett the Deputy Head Teacher, is also a member of the Riverside Rotary Club. As a result of the visit it is hoped that some funds can be raised next year to pay for some books to be bought for the school in Simpani. In the meantime pupils at both schools will be writing to each other telling of their own very different cultures. There will be much to learn at both schools. A photo album was presented from Horsmonden with notes written by the children describing their countryside and what they do at school.

Due to the remoteness and poverty many people suffer ill- health. In Simpani alone Clive and Sue met a young boy with polio and a woman with leprosy was in the crowd watching the ceremony. There is no health centre nearby although Pahar Trust are starting to set up one or two in some areas. However, the state does not provide for anything, everything comes from donations.

On their way back Clive and Sue took the opportunity to visit the Ghurka Museum in Pokhara. It re-inforced their already great admiration for these wonderful Nepalese soldiers who have over the years given so much in lives and support to the British and Indian Armies.

Visitors to Nepal should not be deterred by stories of political unrest. At present all is calm and it is a great time to visit. The monsoons have finished and the skies are clear. The Nepalese need the income that tourism brings despite the fact that many very remote regions such the Lamjung District where Simpani is, do not see as many tourists as they would like. Clive was privileged to meet many Rotarians both from Nepal and even one from Poland. who was trekking. He met also with other Rotarians from Bristol who were also helping the Pahar Trust this time with the provision of a health centre in east Nepal.

Clive will be giving a slide presentation to his Rotary club and guests in January and will also be visiting Horsmonden Primary School to tell the children about their link school. He is happy to give the presentation to other clubs and organisations on request. All he asks is a voluntary donation to the Riverside Rotary Club Charity Fund. You can contact Clive on 01622 747819 or email clive@clivebradburn.com