Big Brothers Big Sisters Everest Base Camp Trek Dispatch
May 12, 2010 – PART 2: School Visit
Thanks Trevor!
Our goal after our blessing from Lama Geshe was to visit Pangboche school, which is located quite high above Upper Pangboche, surrounded by majestic mountains.
Trevor, who is part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in Lethbridge, has brought a suitcase of gifts to the local children. We suggested giving them to the Pangboche school, which is smaller and doesn’t usually get as much visitors as the Khumjung or Namche schools.
We passed by a home on the way to Pheriche
and saw a girl wearing her gift.
Trevor was absolutely amazing today. He was in his element with children all around him, and you could tell that he was in love with all of them. His choice of gifts for them was excellent; he brought plastic balls, jumping ropes, and badminton kits, just to name a few. We opened all the bags and tried to organize the gifts on the table. Separating them the best we could.
Berg Adventures always supports the bringing of gifts to the schools, because it helps the children relate school to something positive and fun. Giving gifts to children on the trail can have a downside; they may decide it is just as well to stay at home since they can get free gifts from tourists, as opposed to going to school. It is sad to see children begging for pens and candy on the trail. But I am happy to say that I see less and less of that.
The school visit will always be a great memory for us and for the kids who really enjoyed our visit.
As we were leaving Pangboche, we passed by a Sherpa home and there we saw a child running out to say goodbye to our team. She was proudly wearing a Canadian flag headband in her hair. Her happiness was contagious.
Good job Trevor, you made a difference in the lives of many children this morning!
Leila joins the group in Upper Pangboche.
The amazing view from the school on a mountaintop
First Treor had to unpack all his gifts and organize them on a table.
Will this child one day be a famous Nepalese comedian?
She might become a professional flute player.
Left: Enjoying his gift, a frisbee; Right: Future badminton player.