I am attempting to summit Mt. Everest this upcoming climbing season in May with Adventure Consultants and complete the last of the 7 summits. I have completed 6 of the 7 summits in just over 12 months. (The highest mountain on each of the 7 continents)
As part of my Everest climb i also wish to help raise money for dZi Foundation, which is a great organisation that is having a real impact on peoples lives in very remote villages of Nepal. Thank You for Your support for this great cause!
All of the funds we raise together through this CrowdRise effort will go directly to dZi to build the Shree Chandra primary school which will accommodate over 100 students for 50 years.
I have donated USD$10,000.00 of my own personal money to this school project
To learn more about the school and the people we will be serving, read on:
Shree Chandra Primary School, Sungdel, Nepal: Project Synopsis
Background: The Shree Chandra Primary School is a small primary school with 100 students studying in classes 1-5. The school is in the extremely remote village of Sungdel – a two-day walk away from the nearest road. Students currently walk up to two hours to attend this school. The surrounding community of 1,000 people established the school over fifty years ago. During the first three decades, the school building was simply a bamboo hut. The Nepal Government supported the construction of a new building with seven make-shift rooms twenty years ago. The entire building was constructed for only $400.
Today, this school building is literally falling apart – the rusted roof leaks and the classrooms are dusty and dark. The walls are not secure, and even a minor earthquake could destroy the school, causing untold injury to the students within. Children are currently missing school – especially during the monsoon months – due to the lack of adequate infrastructure.
Community Need: This year, the community of Sungdel approached the dZi Foundation with a request to build a new eight-classroom building. The new building will be built to a high construction standard that incorporates seismic safety (Nepal is one of the most earthquake-prone countries on Earth) and will last for at least fifty years. The new classrooms will be airy, light, and clean – thus providing an excellent learning environment for students all year.
In response to the great need for a new school building, local residents have pledged to contribute the equivalent of nearly $7,000 in local labor and materials. This number is incredibly significant, as the majority of this amount is manual labor, valued at only $7 per day.
Beneficiaries: The new school will benefit over 100 students, and will last for the next 50 years. Indirectly, the local population of over 1,000 people will benefit from this project.
Outcomes: 100 students will study in a vastly improved learning environment that will be safer and more conducive to learning.
dZi has been working in Sungdel for the past five years, and have an unparalleled connection with the community. This project will compliment, and be supported by, a wide range of other support and services that we provide for the community – including improved sanitation, health, and school management through Parent Teacher Associations.
Timeline: July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016.
Construction will begin immediately after the monsoon season ends in July, and the new school will be completed, handed over, and in use within one year.
Total Budget: USD$49,082.69
Note: Donations are only Tax Deductable from the USA and UK. Donations from Australia and New Zealand are not Tax Deductable (dZi is not a registerered charity in Australia or New Zealand). However dZi is a great charity and this is a worthy cause.
INCREASING COMMUNITY PROSPERITY IN REMOTE VILLAGES OF NEPAL
dZi Foundation takes a holistic approach to social change in rural Nepal that is rooted in community choice. Our partner communities first invite us to work with them. Over time, we work closely with community members to identify their priorities and to design projects that address them. This allows us to develop deep relationships founded on trust so we can work together toward enhancing overall community prosperity in some of the most resource-poor regions of Nepal.
Learn more at: www.dzifoundation.org.
About Marmot
Marmot is among the World’s premier manufacturers of specialized outdoor clothing and equipment. Marmot supports various non-profit organizations dedicated to promoting education, knowledge, and awareness in the outdoor industry and beyond. We are involved in partnerships that not only help climbers, skiers, mountaineers and others pursue their sport in a meaningful and safe way, but also help all types of people and groups throughout the world through social initiatives. Learn more at:www.marmot.com.