Sherpa helps Nepal kids reach greater heights
KATHMANDU: Apa Sherpa has stood on top of the world more times than all but one other person.
Now he wants to make sure no one feels compelled to follow in his footsteps.
As a boy growing up in Nepal, Sherpa dreamed of becoming a doctor, but poverty and lack of education steered him to a far more dangerous path – working as a guide on Mount Everest, carrying climbing equipment and helping foreign mountaineers scale the world’s tallest peak.
Now retired in the US, Sherpa returns every year to his roots in the foothills of the Himalayas to provide financial assistance to village schools and try to show children from the Sherpa minority group that they have options in life.
“Sherpas take big risks in the mountains to earn a living for their families because they are unable to take up any other jobs,” the 59-yearold said.
“My main goal is to ensure children in the future don’t have to take up climbing like we did.”
Sherpa tribespeople were mostly yak herders and traders living deep within the Himalayas until Nepal opened its borders to foreigners in the 1950s.
As adventurers began arriving to conquer the country’s famous peaks, the Sherpas with their mountain experience found themselves in demand as guides and porters.
They are an indispensable part of Nepal’s climbing industry, which brings in US$300mil (RM1.25bil) to the country each year.
But advocates say Nepal’s estimated 350,000 Sherpa remain marginalised, with many living in remote, impoverished villages connected to the rest of the country only by footpaths and small airstrips.
Access to schooling beyond the primary level is rare.
The Apa Sherpa Foundation, set up in 2012, has been seeking to change that, paying teacher salaries in several villages to ensure schools remain open and providing hot lunches, computers, books, pens and warm clothes to motivate children to attend classes.
“Most people in the area have now realized the value of educating their children and they do their best to send their children to school,” Sherpa said.
“But many schools face difficulties, so we try and help them whatever way possible.”
When Sherpa was growing up, the school in his village, Thame, offered education only up to the second grade.
He continued his studies in another village for two more years, walking the mountain trails for six hours each day, but had to drop out when his father died and he had to take on the responsibility of feeding his family.
By the age of 12 he was working on climbing expeditions.
At age 30, he summited Everest for the first time.
He repeated the feat almost every year after, becoming one of Everest’s greatest guides and earning the nickname “Super Sherpa”.
The work has earned the Sherpas prestige, as well as income far above average wages in Nepal.
But Sherpas also bear the largest brunt of the danger and death that go hand-in-hand with the industry.
In addition to making sure children have access to school, there is also the issue of ensuring teachers are hired.
“It is really difficult to find qualified teachers to move to remote villages and we don’t have enough money to pay all their salaries,” said Khagendra Shrestha, the chief education officer for the district in charge of Thame.
Sherpa’s foundation mostly collects funds from donations, talks, dinners and screenings.
Last year, it raised US$80,000 (RM334,438). It also has sponsorship from the outdoor equipment supplier Thule thanks to Sherpa’s fame.
“Apa’s vision was that he wanted the children to have a choice through education,” said foundation board member Valerie Littleton.
“He is very passionate about giving back to the country he loves.”