Support Group > Report following the visit of UK Sermathang Project Founder, Anthony Lunch, in April, 2000

It had been ten years since we visited Sermathang. On that occasion, we were there to see our son, Nick, on his ‘Gap Year’ project but fell in love with the village and Yangrima School. The enthusiasm of the pupils, dedication of the teachers and vision of its founder, Gopal, captivated us. So much has happened at the school since 1990 that it seemed important to make another visit and to renew the personal contacts that have made this project such a unique experience.

Change and No Change! The village seemed almost as we left it in 1990; the same hospitality, same welcome, the same enchanting smoky fragrance. A few solar panels were evident but little else had changed. As for the school, however, WOW!

It seems impossible that what started ten years ago as an idea to pay for just one extra Nepali teacher to work in the small crumbling building with just 38 pupils has grown into a 12 teacher, 150 pupil operation, employing 7 villagers in support roles. With its range of new buildings perched on the hills above the village, visible like a beacon from miles around, Yangrima School has become a real 'motor' for the village as a whole.

Amongst other things it is buying food produce from the local farmers for the 40 boarding students. They, along with the day pupils, are fed in the new dining block, which doubles as classrooms when needed. This is just one of the building put up since 1995 with finance from the ‘Project’ and physical labour from the village community.

Students, Exams and Exchanges: As we arrived, six students from Class 10 were sitting their Secondary Certificate. This is the second year that pupils have been entered and contrasts with 1990 when pupils over 11 had to be sent to Kathmandu to continue their education. Meanwhile, another younger pupil was being prepared for an exchange programme in Norway and a group of eight students are lining up to come to UK in June 2001 for an exchange with Buttershaw School in Bradford!

If this wasn't enough activity, another class were on a trek with pupils and staff from Wellington College and a Newcastle school. The trekking idea is a new development which Gopal is pioneering. The aim is to provide employment for some of the students when they complete their education at Yangrima and to develop a more cultural and environmental style of trekking. A new web site is being developed to promote the idea.

All in all, an amazingly international dimension from a small school in the mountains!

Old Pupils Keep Contact: In Kathmandu, we met a group of ex-pupils who were setting up the first Yangrima Old Pupils Association. Two of them, including Chiring, who many will remember!, are well into their A level course; the first Yangrima pupils to take this huge step. The Sermathang Project is giving a small grant to support the ex-pupils group and to help towards the costs of books etc for the A level course.

The Volunteer Programme in Action: A particular pleasure was meeting the three current volunteers, Stephen Svanholm, Ann Henderson and Sam Hargreaves, as well as Colleen Norman, one of four new ones just arriving. Two recent volunteers, Patti Bory and James Taylor were also in Sermathang, and in Kathmandu we saw Tim Kruger, a volunteer from 1991 (who has done so much over the years to help with fundraising and the new buildings). The volunteers make a huge contribution to the school and to the village as a whole. The fact that so many return says much for the welcome they receive!

Needs for the Future: Many new developments were discussed. Gopal and I visited the British Embassy and British Council. Both were impressed by the model we have all created in Sermathang. Could it be reproduced in other parts of Nepal? We also met environmental groups who liked the sound of the new trekking operation.

On the academic front, we visited several Kathmandu schools to see how we compare. The atmosphere is very different and the air a lot cleaner in Sermathang! Encouragingly, however, Yangrima seems to rate pretty much on par for teaching. Now we need to face up to the challenge of A levels. Can we start to offer these at Yangrima? Gopal and Norchung are already having discussions on this and some help is being obtained from the UK.

The problem of recruiting and keeping teachers is always with us. It is not easy to attract and retain good quality staff in a remote village. One immediate action we have taken, in consultation with Norchung and Gopal, is to provide extra money for a Provident Fund. This will create a lump sum bonus payable after two years or more in post. We are also planning to improve facilities at Snowfall Lodge so that staff have a recreation room and better lighting to enable them to develop more activities in the evenings.

Boarding House: There is an encouraging trend for Hyolmu families in Kathmandu to send their children back to Sermathang to be educated. This is a complete reversal of what has happened for many years and is a massive vote of confidence in the way the school is developing. However, we badly need more space to accommodate boarders, whether from Kathmandu or from other villages in the Helambu region. A bigger boarding house is a priority.

Volunteers: The demand from potential volunteers in USA, Australia and UK is leading us to explore new postings in schools in adjacent villages such as Kokani. This will help to spread the benefit of the Project to wider communities.

Finance: Whilst we have steadily increased contributions from the Sermathang Project, and now provide one-third of the running costs (sponsors and parents provide a further third each), we know that costs are bound to rise as the school expands. Equipment is often rudimentary, buildings need upkeep, and staff must be paid a fair wage (some are currently paid less than £25 per month). Help from our supporters with regular income is invaluable.

Final Thoughts! To see with ones own eyes the enormous steps that have been taken by this small mountain school over the past ten years is truly extraordinary. It is particularly a tribute to Gopal, Norchung and their colleagues, as well as to all those around the world who have helped, whether with money or as volunteers. They can be justifiably proud!

However, there are plenty of challenges to keep us busy over the next decade and ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet’ as they say!

Anthony Lunch