AFTER raising around $200,000 for the Australian Himalayan Foundation (AHF) in Nepal over the last six years, a group of locals led by Dick Estens AO are at it again.
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Dick and fellow AHF founder Roger Butler will host a lively Himalayan-themed dinner next Tuesday, which will raise funds towards improving teacher training through Nepalese organisation REED in a number of isolated schools in the Everest region.
“It is inspiring to see the school kids as young as five years of age walking, sometimes running and singing, three hours each way to get to school,” Dick said.
“For them education is everything.
A lot of their classrooms make even rural 19th century Australian schools look luxurious.”
The schools receive no government funding, and were established by Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to reach the summit of Everest.
Hillary’s son Peter is a director at AHF, and has long been a supporter of the initiative, joining Dick and Roger on three fundraising treks to Nepal.
A family affair, Dick’s children Sascha and Mitchell, his brother Bruce and partner Lillie and Roger’s son Damien have all participated in the treks, along with Howard and Linda Meppem and Dr Scott Finaly.
“The people of Nepal believe that the right man summited Everest because his father (Edmund) and Peter went on to change the whole of Nepal,” Sascha said.
A filmmaker, Sascha interviewed many Nepalese sherpas, and asked them their main goal in life.
“All of them said to get their children educated.” She said the children loved going to school, and many had aspirations of becoming doctors and footballers. It’s really great to see kids of such a young age with these enormous goals and with the help and the work of the Australian Himalayan Foundation, it’s achievable.”
Sascha said it was heartbreaking to see young children carrying heavy loads to help put food on the table, and that education could provide a better life.
“Nearly half of Nepal is illiterate and most of those are children. There is no future for them if they cannot get an education,” Roger said.
Bhim Bogati, the director of REED will make the trip to Australia for Tuesday’s dinner and will give a talk. Sascha’s latest film will also be screened.
Locals are invited to come in their best Nepalese costume or mountaineering gear, with a prize up for grabs for the best dressed.
Tickets are $60 per head and everyone wishing to attend should RSVP to the office of Cole & Butler (opposite the police station), phone 6752 1677 and collect their tickets.
