October is approaching at light speed. I don't think I'm 100% ready yet. But I'm super excited, not just for the mountains, but for the other project we have planned.
Romi thought it would be good idea to help out in some way the communities affected by the two big earthquakes that hit Nepal earlier this year. We had a fund-raising drive just a week after the disasters struck, and we were able to send a modest sum, which went to the initial relief work by our friends in the field. But we could do more.
After consulting with our trip coordinator, Dawa (Dream Himalaya Adventures), it was suggested that we could help rehabilitate a school in the village of Monjo, the Shree Yeba Brasha Lowe Secondary School, which was severely affected the tremors. Monjo is a gateway village to the Mt. Evererest trekking area, between the airport town of Lukla and Namche Bazaar.
As is common in the region, these buildings are made up of stone bricks, which could collapse under very strong vibrations.
To date, the school children are still having their classes in temporary shelters. Under these conditions, they are very vulnerable to the effects of the monsoon season. As winter approaches, it becomes more important to get the schoolrooms back in working condition to make sure the kid's education doesn't get affected any further.
Romi launched the Monjo School Rehabilitation Project in Facebook a while ago, and we have been campaigning to raise about $10,000, which is just enough to rebuild one of the four school blocks that were severely damaged.
Through some help from friends and generous individuals, we are making some headway in the fund drive. But we still have a long way to go. At this point, any contribution is welcome and appreciated.
We are accepting donations in both peso and US dollar denominations. If you are interested to contribute, please email me so we can work out the details how you can hand over your donation. Any referrals to companies who might want to donate will also be a tremendous help.
As a secondary part of this project, our trek team will also be spending a day or two at the school site to lend a hand. This part is particularly exciting. A good way for us to acclimatize and further learn about the communities we often only see in photos.
Cece in Monjo, 2012
So we hope you can be a partner in this project. We may have our own problems here in the Philippines that need our attention, but it's also good to show the world that our kindness transcends national boundaries.
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