Archive for August, 2010

Our volunteer in Phyang, a village that was badly affected by the flash flood, has sent us the following report:

”..some parts of the village are very badly affected: 3 houses have been completely washed away in a part below the monastery. Also at the top of the village there has been some severe damage. IThe heavy rain only lastet for one hour, but apparently it was a cloud burst, so that there hardly has been any warning. The night before it …… rained and thundered heavily, so that my guest family and I moved to their old house which is just below the monastery located at a hill.
We only had rain coming in through the roof which wasn’t a real problem. Unfortunately in the incident 16 people died in my village.
The school itself was in good condition, it just rained in thorugh the roof so that all the carpets were full with mud. Also, the school was closed for aout 5 days, as the children were involved in prayers for the dead people. I had to be quite proactive to initiate the cleaning of the school so that the lessons could be restarted soon. Until today the carpets are lying outside the school because I am told that it is too difficult to get a car to drive to the river and clean them…
Yesterday both teachers were not at the school, as the one visited his family and the other had to visit the school in Shey …. The morning was fine and I had all the 5 classes under control. …..
As ever so often there were tourists coming to visit the gonpa I have started to lead them though the school, let them take pictures of the kids (which they always really enjoy) and was able to convince them of my project to buy a photocpying machine for the school. They were generous with donations, and so far I have been able to collect about 13500INR. Unfortunately there does not seem to be an opportunity to buy printers in Leh, so it has probably be bought in Dehli. I am sure we will find a solution for that.
Also I found out, when I was staying with the children in the monastery after the flooding, that they hardly ever brush their teeth and some did not even have a toothbrush. Thus, I bought new toothbruhes and toothpaste and the students now have to brush their teeth in the morning before school, after lunch and after dinner. The small kids especially seem to enjoy it:) Unfortunately the children do not seem to have anything to play with in their freetime so I will try to buy a football etc. for them.

Concerning your offer for new books or for affected families: Most of the children’s families live very far away so I assume they are ok, also the children’s families in Phyang seem to be ok but I will doublecheck. Most of the studying material is in good condition so there is no need for new books.

It is unfortunate to know that once I will leave Tashi will often be the only teacher there for all the 5 classes, he has told me that another teacher would only cost 6000 to 10000 INR per month, which they unfortunately do not have.”

One of our volunteers in Ladakh has sent us the following update:

“Just to let you know that it has been confirmed that one of the junior school teachers at the school has died. School has been cancelled this week as a lot of people have been affected by the floods or have family that have died or lost their homes.
I am spending my time volunteering in the local vaillages doing relief work. We have been digging mud out of the houses and also entertaining the children in the villages who have now found themselves homeless. It is all very sad. There is a march tonight in honour of the people who have died which I will go on and I have also donated some clothes and supplies to the villages so I am trying to do my part.
I am hoping that the roads will open again soon. I think people are starting to worry about food and water supplies but hopefully it will all be okay. I went back to my guest house last night and although it rained during the night the water levels in the river didn’t rise which was a good sign.

Hopefully everything will be fine by September. It would be great to meet you when you come over. Keep me posted on your plans.

I will email again once I have some more news and will let you know how everything is going.”

I’m pleased to report that our volunteers in Ladakh are safe and sound. One is ensconced in a monastery in the village if Phyang, and the other, based in the capital, Leh, has sent the following news:

“Everything is okay here. Today was the first day I managed to check my emails.
Part of the town has been destroyed by the mud slides and I have been helping there and at the one hospital which is still open as the school has been closed for the last few days.
Everyone got evacuated on Friday night so we had to spend the night outside on the top of the mountain which was an experience. The entrance to my guest house got flooded so I have been staying with friends up nearer the top of the mountains for a few days but the river looked like it had gone down a bit today so hopefully I will be able to move back soon.
Mr Tondup is fine as well. He has been looking after the pupils at the school. I think one of the teachers is missing and a pupil so hopefully they will be alright. We will have to wait for news.
I will keep you updated on any developments but for now everything is okay. I think that food supplies are running out so I am having to live on eggs and bread at the moment and I have stocked up on water just incase.”

There have been serious floods in Leh and outlying villages. We are currently trying to make contact with two volunteers we have out in Ladakh, but communications networks are currently down.

Dear friends of HELP,

This is to let you know that I am going on a trek in the state of Uttarkhand, in north west India, this October (2nd-10th October) and would like to invite you, readers of this blog, to join me. Here is the itinerary:

KUARI PASS ( CURZON’S TRAIL)

Popularly known as Curzon’s trail after Lord Curzon’s trek to this region in 1905, this trek still remains amongst the most popular in Garhwal. Passing through dense forests of oak, pine, rhododendron, deodar, bugyals – wide open meadows with flowers which are typical of this region. Enroute , we also get to see the high snow clad Himalayan peaks of Trishul, Kedarnath, Kamet, Chaukhamba being among a few and of course the famous NandaDevi is viewed clearly after crossing Kuari pass.

Day 01: Arrive Haridwar early morning from Delhi by overnight train. Meet with vehicles and drive to Ghat ( 6 hrs) stopping at Rishikesh and enroute Meet with trek team. O/N Camp

Day 02: Ramni ( 1982m): A fairly easy walking day of about 5 ½ to 6 hrs through deodar forests and Bhotia villages. Camp is near the village school at Ramni. O/N camp

Day 03: Begin with a steep climb through a rocky path up to the meadows from where it is a more gradual climb to the top of Ramni pass (3080m) from where we can look north towards Kuari pass . We may see many shepherds with their flocks of sheep on either side of the pass. From the pass it is a steep descent through forests with some small clearings to Semkhar from where we continue further to camp following an up and down path to camp in the small village of Jhenjipani ( 2075m) – 6 – 7hrs.

Day 04: We descend from camp to the suspension bridge across the Birehi ganga river which we cross to make a steep zig zag climb out of the narrow valley to a ridge at 2300m. The path levels out and it contours around to camp above the village of Pana (2700m) – 4 to 5hrs. The afternoon is spent enjoying the surrounding views.

Day 05: Climbing further on a gradual trail we follow the ridge through forest for about an hour and a half before descending to another valley from where we can get a glimpse of Kuari pass which we cross tomorrow. The trail opens to the Siyartoli meadow where we descend to a stream before climbing steeply on a good zig zag path just above the treeline and camp before the pass at Dhakwani ( 4 / 5 hrs).

Day 06: We leave early to get clear morning views. The steep path gets for about an hour and a half to a col at 3650m from where the panoramic views dramatically unfold. To the east you can see the Nandadevi sanctuary and to the west the peaks of Kedarnath and Badrinath. The views from the Col are indeed stunning but you still have to continue for another 40 minutes to Kuari pass ( 3650m) to see what Eric Shipton said “ One of the grandest mountain views in the world” – a truly awesome sight as you see an amphitheatre of the Himalayan peaks of Dunagiri, Changabang, Hathi Parbat, Gori Parbat , Chaukhamba, Nilkhant, Kamet and Trisul. You still have to descend further to feast our eyes on the grandeur of Nandadevi. Its an easy descent to camp just below the treeline in the meadows of Chitrakanta ( 3200m). 6 hrs

Day 07: The breathtaking views remain as we descend on a fairly narrow trail which traverses the hill side with superb views of Nandadevi. The trail then quickly opens up to wide meadows carpeted with flowers as we reach the ski slopes of Gorsain and then through forests to the scenic ski resort of Auli , a lovely place to end this wonderful trek. ( 5 – 6hrs. We will drive 3 hrs to Pipalkoti

Day 08: Drive to Haridwar ( 7 hrs). It’s a very scenic drive as you pass through the pilgrimage towns of Nandprayag, Karanprayag, Rudraprayag, Devprayag . Take the overnight train to Delhi.

Day 09: Arrive Delhi very early in the morning.

Cost: US$900/- per person (including $140 donation to HELP)

The price includes: train fares, hotel in Pipalkoti with all meals, camping with full trek services – tent on twin sharing, foam mattress, dining tent, toilet tent, kitchen tent, all meals, cook, guide, ponies to carry luggage. It also includes a $140 donation to HELP in support of its educational projects in the region. You should be able to raise this amount easily by asking a few of your friends and family to sponsor you.

The price does not include: meals en route, services in Delhi, items of any personal nature such as drinks, tips, etc.

If you are interested in joining me in this walk in the Himalayas, please contact me through the ‘contact’ page of this website.

Even if you can’t make the trek, would you be willing to sponsor me? Any amount would be gratefully received. Just go to the ‘donations’ page of our website: http://www.help-education.org/donations.html to make your payment.

Jim Coleman

Director

First class. Professional guidance was provided in the early stages, the application process was straight forward, I was met at the airport, taken to my accommodation, introduced to the school and constant communication during my placement to check everything was ok and to provide a sounding board to bounce ideas off.

An ethical organisation that provides a great opportunity to get to the very heart of a community and to hopefully make an impact.

(Mark Coddington, Spituk Monastery School, Ladakh:2010)