Nepal
In 2016 I visited Nepal for work. I had wanted to visit the landlocked country for several years to do voluntary work but found the cost prohibitive. I took this opportunity to extend my stay. For the first week I was based in Kathmandu with work. I then travelled to the city of Pokhara where I spent three-weeks volunteering.
Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia bordering the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to its north and India in all other directions. It shares Mount Everest, that at 8,848 m above sea level is the highest point on Earth, with its northern neighbour – the summit marking part of the border between the two countries. In 2015 Nepal and its surrounding neighbours experienced its worst earthquake since 1934. With an intensity measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale it killed 8,962 people across the region and injured 21,952. Its epicentre was about 85 km northwest of Kathmandu at a depth of circa. 8.2 km below the surface.
One Year On.... / Kathmandu (Bagmati Province) - NEPAL
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. It sits at an elevation of 1,324 m and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world – dating back to the second century AD. Pokhara is the second most populated city in the country. Situated 200 km west of Kathmandu at an elevation of circa 822 m above sea level it lies close to the Annapurna mountain range and Annapurna itself that, at 8,091 m above sea level, is the 10th highest peak in the world.
Shree Annapurna and Street Kids
My voluntary work took me to Shree Annapurna Primary School and Street Kids. Shree Annapurna is a small primary school catering for approximately 25 pupils aged between four and ten years who came from the poorest of families. Children are split into four classes based on age. I spent the time with the youngest assisting their class teacher Anita. Although the school is government funded it lacks many basic schooling materials and, like many others, it semi-relies on the charity of others through volunteer work and financial support/donations.
Although five is the official minimum age it was not uncommon for children to bring their younger siblings to school because there is nowhere else for them to stay – their parent(s) having to work during the day.
Street Kids is a foundation that looks after boys and girls who have either lost their parents or have found themselves homeless. One orphanage was based in Pokhara itself and solely for boys. The other orphanage was for both boys and girls and based in the countryside about an hour’s drive and walk out of the city. The children attend school just like all other children but have the orphanage as a home and sanctuary.
Machapuchare / Pokhara (Gandaki Province) - NEPAL
At 6,993 m above sea level Machapuchare is not one of the highest peaks of the Annapurna mountain range but it is the most sacred. Revered as the home to the god Shiva the mountain is off-limits to anyone seeking to climb it.