Lucky enough to go to school

Lhakpa Sherpa lives in the small mountain village of Surke in the Solukhumbu district. His walk to school takes him over an hour, and he has to watch his step across the steep and uneven mountain paths.

Lhakpa’s school was seriously damaged by the earthquakes last year, but thanks to our supporters, the rebuild is already underway.

He knows he is lucky and is thankful for the opportunity to go to high school.

“I know I’m very lucky to be able to go to school. Many children here don’t get to go to school, because their parents can’t afford to send them.”

When he finishes high school, Lhakpa is hoping to study medicine and eventually come back to work as a doctor in the Solukhumbu region.

Too many young people in the region face a lifetime of poverty and disadvantage because they can’t get anything more than the most basic education. Cutting short an education crushes hopes and keeps entire communities trapped in poverty.

For young people like Lhakpa in Solukhumbu, opportunities after leaving school are limited. Many young people feel lured to the lucrative but highly risky work of mountain guiding. But the tourism industry can be unreliable and work as a guide is no longer guaranteed.

A good education is the window to new opportunities. With your support we can build and equip schools, fund hostels for students who live too far from school to make the journey every day, and provide training for teachers.

(*Names have been changed in this article).