A NORTH-EAST Fife woman who is continuing to work closely with rural schools in Nepal has appealed for further help from Scotland with the provision of more much-needed facilities.
Jackie Taylor, of Kemback, runs a trekking business in the Palpa district, close to Kathmandu.
She said her charity, the Palpa Trust, continues to be almost entirely supported by Fifers, including the Rotary Club of Cupar. Consistent support has also come from the Sophie Butler hairdressing salon in St Andrews.
Jackie said that, since she first became involved in 2002, readers of The Courier have responded generously to appeals for help and lasting links have now been set up with five schools.
“Through generous donations from donors in Fife and the Rotary Club of Cupar the Palpa Trust has been able to continue with the work being done in Palpa, Nepal.
“During my recent visit I had the pleasurable task of attending the opening of the latest drinking water project funded by Rotary Club of Cupar. This was for a very remote school which, when I first visited it two years ago, it had no water at all now it has two catchment tanks and a source of fresh water on tap.
“For those of us living in the western world it is hard to imagine surviving without this basic necessity, but of course there are many schools in the countryside of Nepal who suffer the same deficiency.
“Although Nepal has a very rich water resource, it is often far from where people live and necessitates a long walk.”
Jackie splits her time between Kemback and Nepal with climate-dependent trekking seasons in March/April/May and October/November/December.
Over the past decade around £16,000 has been raised from Fife. Support for a single school at Karnadhar has now become support for five schools. This helps towards the schools’ development, or simply provides finance for teachers’ salaries.
Jackie said the Nepalese Government provision is often inadequate and although the communities contribute towards the teachers, it is always insufficient.
She added: “We have repaired a school roof in 2012 to safeguard the books donated by a Ravi Tours client, the charity Room to Read and Sophie Butler St Andrews hairdressing salon, which contributes hugely to the trust. This library is dedicated to Sophie Butler and bears her name.
“See shree-karnadhar.org for information on Karnadhar School, where I have been instrumental in setting up many developments over the past 10 years.
“The company Ravi Tours is very active and, in addition to clients being given a personal insight into trekking in the Himalaya, they are also privy to visiting the schools, meeting the communities and being offered hospitality in village homes.”
Jackie said she is always on the lookout for more donations, whether it be money, clothes, pencils/pens or even toothpaste.
For further information go online at thepalpatrust.com or email Jackie by at jacitay.taylor@gmail.com.
malexander@thecourier.co.uk