Other major goals have
been to fund a school library with Nepali, Tibetan and English books and
to initiate a scholarship fund for village children whose families
cannot afford the $10-$20 per month that it costs to send a child to
school. At the Chaurikharka School, students learn everything from
reading, writing and arithmetic to science and geography. The
mission of the school is to nurture self-motivated students - and
teachers - who yearn for knowledge and share a common desire to preserve
their ancient culture. The curriculum prepares students for the
challenges of both traditional village life and the fast-changing world
that surrounds Chaurikharka.
The Himalayan Project is
helping to raise critical support for the expansion of one of only two
schools in the Everest region that go through grade 10. The school,
founded by Sir Edmund Hillary, is attended by hundreds of Sherpa children -
some of whom trek up to three hours a day to attend classes. The
Himalayan Project has raised funds to construct an enclosure that will
shelter the entire school during the many months of the year when inclement
weather reigns: monsoons in the summer and snow in the winter.
