NEWS LETTER

Annual News Letter 2006:

Dear Friends,

Sorry for the few days delay in sending of our news letter 2006 due to technical problems in the Internet Server of our region.

The year 2006 became a historical year with the restoration of peace after 10 years of Maoists violence and establishing huge political changes in Nepal. The 238 years rule of the Nepalese monarchial institution is made to be a defunct one in the current political arena and its existence will be decided only by the result of the Constitutional Assembly Election projected in June this year.  The Maoists arms will be locked in containers and its army will be confined in several camps and these will be monitored by the United Nations Arm Management teams. Within next few weeks time, the Maoists are to be inducted in the interim government for the Constitutional Assembly Election.

Despite of the continued political turmoil in Nepal for most part of the 2006, Himalayan Trust has been able to carry out its regular activities in Solukhumbu District without significant hurdles.  We have delivered the annual school supplies for 63 schools, rebuilt two schools, maintained the visit of two teacher trainers in these schools and providing scholarships to students for higher education and vocational training.

Pangboche School built by the Himalayan Trust in 1963 required rebuilding due to its wear and tear plus to add more facilities with proper insulation and light in the classrooms.  It is located at 4000 m on the way to Mount Everest.  Another school rebuilt is the Loding Lower Secondary School built by the Himalayan Trust in 1972. It had to be rebuilt as the entire buildings have been completely destroyed by fire accident in April 2006. The rebuilding will be competed by February this year before the new academic session.

Pangboche School new building blocks

Loding School under re-construction

The year 2006 was a great academic success for the five high schools supported by the Himalayan Trust in Solukhumbu in the final year examination of the school leaving certificate (SLC).

Khumjung High School sent 31 students for this examination,  22 passed in First Division, 7 passed in Second Division  ( 94 % ) and two failed.

Chaurikharka sent 25 students for the examination,  14 passed in First Division, 7 in Second Division (84%) and 4 failed.

Junbesi sent  18 students,  17 passed in Second Division  ( 94%) and 1 failed.

Kharikhola High School sent  20 students,  1 passed in First Division, 8 in Second Division ( 45% ) and rest failed.

Nunthala High school sent 19 students,  only 6 passed  (32 % )  and rest failed.

However,  students who have failed in 1 to 2 subjects in SLC examination,  they are allowed to sit for the reexamination in the same year.  All the students who failed from these five schools have passed in the re-examination.

Khumjung High School is going to be rewarded with Rs. one hundred thousand by the Ministry of Education of Nepal for its best result in SLC among the high schools in the 18 remote Himalayan districts of Nepal.

In the health sector, the Trust looks after the two hospitals and several village health clinics.  Dr. Kami Temba has looked after the Kunde Hospital very efficiently but his assistant Nepali doctor could not stay at Kunde long enough.  Two doctors have been changed in one year. Understandably, these young doctors feel lonely as they live in a complete different situations both with geography and culture. A young Sherpa doctor, whose parents come from the same area has left for Kunde Hospital to assist Dr. Kami Temba Sherpa for next six months or longer with full of commitment to work for the Sherpa community and we hope with his Sherpa culture background, he will stay for the full term of the contract.

Lots of physical improvements have been added in Kunde Hospital in the last three years. In 2006,  a new block has been built for the patient’s waiting room during bad weather situation.  Most of the time,  patients love to sit in sun in the open courtyard of the Hospital when waiting for their turn.  This new block is also to be used for classroom for refresh training for the village health workers around Kunde Hospital from time to time.

Patients' waiting room in front of Kunde Hospital

The three important village health clinics at Thami, Portse and Monzo villages have now full trained health workers now.  Under the government health policy, all health workers must have official training with certificate and must have registration number in the Health Association in order to practice as health workers in the village health clinics.

Another important hospital supported by the Himalayan Trust since 1975 is the Phaplu Hospital in the district capital of Solukhumbu. Dr. Mingma Gyalzen Sherpa, a local resident has managed this hospital efficiently for 24 years.  He has been promoted to a First Class Health Officer in July 2006 and has been transferred to the Ministry of Health. Phaplu Hospital has missed him badly but also he has to build his own career in future for a better position. However, he has been supporting the Trust with all his rich experiences of the management of Phaplu Hospital in future.  A new Phaplu Hospital Management Committee has been formed recently and within next few days, two new doctors will be posted at Phaplu Hospital.   Remaining medical and administrative staff is same as before.

In the cultural support project,  the Himalayan Trust has fully financed to rebuild the large rock wall of the Thami Gompa courtyard.  This rock wall was built by the help of the Trust in 1971.  Also a new kitchen and dinning room for the 40 monks has been built with the full support from the Trust. This gompa stands at a wonderful location in Thami valley with magnificent views of the mountains.

View of the new Thami Gompa Rock Wall

Sir Edmund Hillary and Lady June Hillary have visited Nepal in April 2006.  It is very important that they are able to visit Nepal once a year when they can discuss many important issues related with the Himalayan Projects in Nepal.  During their stay in Kathmandu, they had formal and informal meetings with the Himalayan Trust Advisory Committee members and many other old friends from Solukhumbu.  Sir Edmund Hillary also visited Khumbu by helicopter where he met many his old Sherpa friends. We wish their many returns to Nepal in future.

Sir Ed. Hillary  welcomed by Thame Rinpoche in Kathmandu

The American Himalayan Foundation in San Francisco, one of the largest donors for the Himalayan Trust projects in Nepal has celebrated its 25th Anniversary in November, 2006 in San Francisco. Mr. Ang Rita Sherpa, Chief Administrative Officer of the Himalayan Trust has represented the Himalayan Trust to receive the 25th Year AHF partnership Award.

Finally, We would like to send our best wishes for a very Happy New Year 2007 and thank you for the continued generous support from each of you which have enabled us to continue our work for the change of life of each person living in the Himalayas of Nepal.

By : Himalayan Trust Family