A mountain-top library

Roger Stoakley, a retired librarian from Somerset, provided the expertise.  Andrew McCabe and Joy Gurung, purchased shelving and desks and arranged transportation up the mountain. Amazingly, with tremendous joint efforts, the McCabe Educational Trust supported school in Nepal now has a library.

Roger writes: we invited two teachers to come to Kathmandu and help us choose books. We went to the biggest book shop in the country and spent 60,000 rupees on books. As well as these, we bought hardware and teaching aids. These two teachers were so excited and I have no doubt in my mind that they are now so fired with enthusiasm that they will make a splendid job of the new library. I am convinced it will become an oasis of culture and learning amidst the beautiful landscape and charming villages of the Himalayan foothills.

Buying the books was one thing; they still had to be delivered! We knew the books would have to be unloaded, carried over the Madi River footbridge then re-loaded on to another vehicle on the other side. What we didn’t anticipate was our vehicle nearly coming off the road in a quagmire, requiring it to be unloaded, pushed back on the track and loaded again before we even got to the bridge! The late monsoon, together with transportation difficulties, also meant that the flooring and other essentials for the library couldn’t be delivered until sometime later.

The villagers gave us a fantastic welcome and their excitement on seeing the books for the first time was overwhelming. It made me realise how starved of educational material these children were and what a difference the library would make, not only to the current pupils, but those in years to come.

The school and the library in Daduwa are just two examples of how we, with your support, have made a real difference to people’s lives. Thank you.

 

For more than twenty years, The McCabe Educational Trust has been creating partnerships with inspiring people we have met on pilgrimage.  A special thank you to McCabe pilgrims who helped us raise £15,836 during January. An excellent start to a new Year.

With your ongoing support we will continue helping those in need we encounter on our travels.