11 February 2019
Students from Highlands College will be spending two weeks in Nepal coordinating an English and Sports development programme for children of the Shree Guanda School.
In association with the Gurkha Welfare Trust Jersey, Highlands College is aiming to raise £40,000 to enable 15 students and 4 members of staff to embark on the project in the Lamjung region of Nepal.
John Pinel from the Gurkha Welfare Trust Jersey, who deliver financial, medical and community aid in Nepal said: “The Gurkha Welfare Trust Jersey has so far raised funds to build 4 schools and 3 community centres in Gurkha Communities in Nepal, which were destroyed in the 2015 or an earlier earthquake. We fully support the Highlands College team taking part in a once in a lifetime experience. The group will leave Jersey on 28 April and return on 12 May and for the two weeks will be teaching at the Shree Guanda School in the hills of Nepal. This will be a challenging but really exciting opportunity for the students and we thank them for their kind support.”
This is the second year Highlands has organised a trip to Nepal, after an earthquake devastated the country in 2015. The Shree Guanda School has been rebuilt so the project’s focus is to ensure the school is sustainable and has adequate resources for the children.
The Highland’s students will be responsible for planning and delivering lessons, with the support of staff. Implementing an English and Sports Development programme for the local children will help to inspire hope and ambition amongst the community, subsequently improving their overall wellbeing.
Matthew Corbin, CEO of BDO Group in Jersey said “BDO is proud to partner with Highlands College and the Gurkha Welfare Trust to support this project. It provides an opportunity for Jersey students to gain a unique experience, an adventure that will provide new perspectives. At the same time it supports the important work of the Gurkha Welfare Trust and provides direct support to the Shree Guanda School.”
The trip will cost in the region of £50,000 and the team needs to raise £40,000 of this to ensure the trip can go ahead. A number of planned events have been organised including an evening of dinner, dancing and entertainment. The ‘A Million Dreams Fundraising Ball’ takes place on Friday 29 March at the Royal Yacht Hotel. Tables of ten are available at £65.00 a ticket and can be purchased by visiting www.nepal2019.eventbrite.com.
The event is proudly sponsored by BDO Jersey the lead sponsor for the trip and in partnership with The Royal Yacht Hotel, the Disco Sensation, DramaLab and Mailmate Group. Tom Machon from BDO said: “On behalf of BDO we are so pleased to be able to offer support for such an amazing project. I urge members of the public to support the fundraising events planned and we wish the students the best of luck. We eagerly await to see the fantastic results I’m sure this project will achieve.”
If anyone would like to make a donation towards the project or would like any further information they are to contact Aaron Labey at Highlands College on 608666 or aaron.labey@highlands.ac.uk. Any additional funds raised over this amount will be put towards sports equipment for the children of the School.
Students will also be bag packing at Marks and Spencer on the following dates and welcome any public donations:
• Sunday 3rd March at Marks and Spencer, St. Peter
• Sunday 10th March at Marks and Spencer, St. Clement
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