Gurkha group’s Nepal quake school appeal

HELPING OTHERS PriMary raiSeS More than £900

Help is needed to rebuild a school that was completely destroyed by the devastating earthquakes in Nepal.

The Sagarmatha Youth Committee (SYC), based in Ashford, are aiming to re-build the Shree Chundevi Secondary School, which is in Chunikhel village, in the Kathmandu district.

Around 90% of the homes and buildings in the village, including the school, were destroyed after Nepal’s earthquake on April 25.

The quake, which killed thousands of people and injured thousands more, was followed by a large number of aftershocks, including one that measured 7.3 on May 12

Now, the Gurkha group is trying to raise as much money as possible to rebuild the school, which provides free education to more than 600 children.

SYC youth adviser Chiran Rai said: “We chose this particular school as it’s one of the schools that provides free education to children from the poorest backgrounds. The future of 650 pupils depends on it.”

Since the earthquakes hit, more than a ton of medical and emergency supplies have been donated by the people of Ashford to be sent to Nepal.

Mr Rai, manager of the BP garage in Beaver Road, explained how important that aid was. He said: “When our team reached the village to distribute first-stage emergency food and medical supplies, people there, including young children, were surviving on whatever they could find to eat, including possibly harmful wild berries as their food stock was completely buried.”

Temporary shelter has now been provided in the village ahead of the rainy season after building materials were sent over.

The SYC’s next plan is to raise funds for the new school.

Mr Rai added: “Our aim is to build an earthquake-resistant school for those needy children from poor families..

“It’s a bigger project than ones we have completed before, and we need even more help.”

To support the project, search for ‘Help4Nepal Rebuild Schools : Chundevi Ma Bi’ on Facebook or call Mr Rai on 07984497536 or Dawa Sherpa on 07533 602762.

You can also donate at www.gofundme. com/sz7vk8.