During a recent trip to Nepal with friends, I was overwhelmed by the hospitality and spirit of the Nepalese people and especially the children, who despite their obvious hardships were never short of a smile or a friendly gesture.

I was drawn back shortly afterwards for a second trek, and again the experience was both rewarding and inspiring.

Thakur Khamal, our trekking guide asked me to return and visit his home village, Tandrang in Ghorka District. Once again, within a matter of weeks, I found myself in the foothills of the mighty Himalaya, this time in the shadow of the "Mountain of the Soul" Manaslu, the world's eigth highest peak.

This third visit and my encounters with the local Nepalese had a profound effect. The generosity and warmth extended by individuals who had little beyond the food grown on their plot of land was a reminder of the inherent compassionate nature of the human spirit which is all too lacking in our modern sophisticated society. I was compelled to return the hospitality shown.

When asked what the need was, the response was always the same. Not money, not techonology, but “give our children an education and a better future”

With limited resources, no electricty and minimal aid from central government, the villages of Tandrang, as in other remote areas of Nepal, do their best to provide an education for their children. However, facilities are woefully inadequate. Schools have and are literally falling down (see the school gallery), classrooms are overcrowded, desks are old and in disrepair, teaching aids are little more than chalk, blackboard and the enthusiasm of the teacher. 

Fresh water supplies during the summer months is scarce, and sanitation for the children is simply abysmal.

I know all these issues cannot be addressed overnight. We will start small, one school, one child at a time, knowing that every step we take is a move forward to-wards a better future for the children and people of this beautiful but neglected corner of our world.

The joy that comes from the simple fact that we have shown an interest in their lives can be seen clearly on the faces of the children in my photos. The light is dazzling from the smiles of children in the shadows of Manaslu. Join me in keeping them smiling.

Banyabath! (Thank you !) 

John