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Updates from Pemba Sherpa – March, 2024
Over the next couple of years, the Sherpa Education Project will have 4 students who may want to continue their studies past Plus Two. We will also have another three who might be attending Plus Two in a couple of years. Then there’s the remaining eight students who will be in regular school (up to Grade 10), with the last ones ostensibly looking at Plus Two as late as 4 or 5 years from now. Amazing! May we all stay in good health.🙏
Pemba will go to the Solu in the spring to distribute funds.* He will also speak with each family, in particular to learn if any of their daughters want to attend post Plus Two studies. We have discussed that this is not college attendance, which can be very expensive. Rather it is their attending a “skill-based” training program so they can get work.
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Thanksgiving Appeal – November, 2023
Dear Friends,
As you may already know, the Sherpa Education Project (SEP) has been sponsoring girls’ education in the Everest region (the Solu-Khumbu) since 2010.
A group from our board traveled to Nepal in March and met the families of the students we sponsor. In one encounter, with the help of one of our older students as translator, I listened to a mom talk about how she felt about her daughter’s schooling. With tears streaming down, she told me that, being illiterate, she had no options in life, and that giving her daughter the promise of a fuller life meant everything to her. We all had tears in our eyes by the end of that conversation.
When we educate a girl, we give her the tools to make her own life choices. And we protect her from the suffering that can result from no education—lack of income, child marriage, or worse, potential sex trafficking.
The work reminds me of the adage about the child throwing beached starfish back into the sea—someone approaches and asks why, that it can’t possibly make a difference. The child picks up a starfish, tosses it into the water, and declares, “Made a difference to that one.”
Thank you for being part of SEP’s efforts to make a difference. Please help us continue with a donation of any amount. You can give directly at sherpaeducationproject.org or send a check to Sherpa Education Project, PO Box 770659, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477. ALL contributions go to supporting education; travel and administrative expenses are always donated.
We wish you a joyous Thanksgiving and holiday season, full of gratitude not only for our own good fortune, but for what it enables us to share with others.
With thanks,
Valerie Davia, Secretary, and the SEP Board of Directors: Ed Gondolf, President; Carol Wert, Vice President; Warren Luce, Treasurer; Pattie Moon, Project Director
PS: Please visit www.sherpaeducationproject.org to learn more and see photos. Want to know more about Sherpa life? Check out Pattie Moon’s recent book, Tough and Cheerful, The Life and Times of Kanchha Sherpa, Last Living Member from the First Ascent of Mount Everest. Available on Amazon. Your purchase price directly funds the SEP!
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Commendation for Pemba Sherpa SEP Nepal Project Manager:
Pemba’s extraordinary ability to take an idea and really make it into something much bigger. We see him doing this more and more, which really is the whole point of our organization. He knows the culture and the people, and we want to acknowledge his participation and creativity.
Pemba was the key lead organizing the computer classes which were held in his mother’s house. He hired the teacher and has extended the program the include Excel, Word and design certifications for the students taking the class. The children love coming to class.
A young boy named Tshering who is handicapped and is awkward with the use of his hands attends class and has enjoyed the interaction with the teacher and other students. Tshering is learning to use his hands better and smiles more having something positive in his life. Tshering’s family life has been difficult. His father was a Sherpa guide and porter and has climbed Everest 11 times. Unable to physically continue to ascend Everest, Tshering’s father began driving dzopkes (yak/cows) that carry goods up the Khumbu, but with no tourist due to COVID he has had no income. Tshering’s mother who was blind recently committed suicide to take the burden off the family.
We are glad that Pemba has made a positive impact in Tshering’s life. Small steps one person at a time! Pemba’s efforts exceed our expectations and we feel he will continue to guide our organization.
Mid-Year Update: July 2022
The Sherpa Education Project (SEP) has returned its focus to supporting girls’ education in the Everest region of Nepal (SoluKhumbu). For the past two years, schools were closed due to COVID, so SEP assisted our students by setting up tutoring centers in people’s homes. We also launched an emergency funding appeal that provided food relief to offset the shutdown of tourism (the main source of income).
Director Visits Students in Nepal
Our Project Director, Pattie Moon, traveled to Nepal this past spring after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. On her self-funded trip, Pattie visited all the students SEP currently assists. SEP-supporter Tracy Zuschlag and our local Nepali Project manager Pemba Sherpa accompanied her.
The threesome trekked through the Himalayas to reach the villages and schools of all 13 of our students. Scholastic reports showed impressive progress over the past several years, especially in English. Pattie could speak directly with all the girls instead of through an interpreter. With Pemba as translator, she and Tracy were also able to visit with each family of our students.
The SEP scholarships have numerous social benefits. With an education, the girls can be employed and move beyond a menial existence. Their education can also serve as a substitute for a marriage dowry that poor families cannot afford. It also precludes young girls being sold into sex trafficking if they do not marry.
Excerpts from Student Letters
- I would like to express my gratitude for giving me such a golden opportunity for being a student of your sponsorship. Your support and encouragement turned by life from darkness to light.~ Mingma Doma Sherpa, aged 18, recently graduated with honors from 12th grade
- I like dancing, drawing, and singing in my free time. I want to be a doctor in the future. Thank you for your continuous love and help to me, even during the pandemic.~Lhamu Sherpa, aged 15, just started 10th grade
For the progress and status of our individual students, click here for May 22 Post at the SEP website.
The Student Monks
The SEP group also visited the Buddhist Monastery at the center of the small village of Mera, where half of our scholarship girls live. Local boys enter this teaching Monastery as young as 6 years old for up to twelve years of spiritual training. Thanks to the SEP, the Tawas (young monks) also receive a secular education. Using funds specifically donated for this purpose, the Monastery has hired a teacher to give lessons in English, math, science, computers, and social science.
Book Talks and Celebration
As we mentioned in our previous update, Pattie Moon recently published a book of particular interest to our SEP work: TOUGH AND CHEERFUL: The Life and Times of Kanchha Sherpa, the last living member from the first ascent of Mount Everest. In December 2021, Pattie gave a talk about the book to an audience of nearly 100 at the Steamboat Library. As a bonus, the 89-year-old Kanchha Sherpa appeared via Zoom. Kanchha himself said in his thanks for the book, “It offers an inspiration to the younger generation of Sherpas and an appreciation of our Himalayan culture.” A month later, at a celebration for Kanchha’s 90th birthday, the book was featured at the event in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.
From Reviews
- A moving personal account of a remote mountain villager who saw his life and country change dramatically over his long life.
- Fresh insight on the impacts that climbing Everest has had on the Nepali culture and economy over the years, alongside the contrasting perceptions of European and Sherpa climbers.
- Among the stories of survival and adventure, Kanchha generously provides insight, hope and perspective that benefit family, country, and a changing planet alike.
Tough and Cheerful is available at Lulu.com, Amazon.com and local bookstores. All proceeds support the Sherpa Education Project. Click here for book information flier.
DONATIONS
We continue to welcome your support to sponsor girls’ education in this coming school year, as well as to expand the number of girls we can help. Any amount is appreciated and goes a long way. Some donors have chosen to sponsor an individual girl for a year or part of a year: Average cost for a girl is $833 per year. This includes tuition, room and board, required uniforms, books, and supplies. You can make a donation through our website, SherpaEducationProject.org (see “Donation” button on the upper right) or mail a check to SEP, PO Box 770659 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477. Thank You!
For information on the Sherpa Education Project, see https://sherpaeducationproject.org/.org.
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May 2022
Pattie Moon, SEP’s Project Director, traveled to Nepal this spring meeting many of the girls we support through the Sherpa Education Project. Pattie was very impressed with the progress our students have achieved over the last year. The children are advancing through their grades with high marks. Pattie was accompanied by Pemba Sherpa our Nepali Project Manager who effectively manages support for the SEP students.
Pattie and Pemba also visited the Mera Monastery. The progress over the last 3 years to implement an English based curriculum with the monk and tawa spiritual education has been a great success. The older monks and teens now speak English well and can easily carry on a conversation.
Girls of the Solukhumbu
Our first and oldest student, Mimga Doma, has successfully graduated. Her English is excellent, and she is now living and working in Kathmandu. She would like to pursue a career in business.
Our second oldest student, Dali, is finishing her first year of plus-two studies at Jagamaci School in Salleri. She will start grade 12 the next school term. She is bright and independent, and her goal is become a teacher.
15 years old Pema Doma will start the tenth grade for the next school year. Her English is excellent. She dreams of becoming a trekking guide. She is extremely creative and excels at the arts.
Lhakpa Doma is 14 years old and will be starting grade 6 at the Mount Everest Boarding school. Her goal is become a doctor.
Our youngest student is 12 years old Dali and is the younger sister of our Mingma Doma who just graduated and moved to Kathmandu. She will be starting grade 6 at the Mount Everest Boarding school. She is very shy but is an outstanding student.
Girls of the Solu
Pasang Diki is 15 years old. She has been attending the White Hills Private school in Salleri and will be starting the ninth grade. She is an exceptional student, and her English is very good.
Doka Doma has been attending a school in her village which does not go past the grade 8. Her parents would like her to continue her education in Salleri with the other girls we support. Once she passes her placement exam, we will enroll her. She will live is Salleri with the other girls.
Children of the Khumbu
Pattie visited the Shree Sagamartha Secondary School in Chaurikharka. Typically known as the Hillary school. It was the second school built by Sir Edmund Hillary in the 1950s. The school campus is newly updated with funds donated by a Swiss organization. Pattie met with all the children and discussed their classes and advancements.
We support one boy in the Khumbu. He is now a star placing fourth in his grade.
All the children speak good English and will improve with each grade advancement. The curriculum at the school is English language based. The Khumbu is a tourist hub for those trekking or climbing in the Khumbu (Mt. Everest region). Speaking and understanding English will present these children job opportunities once they complete their education.
Mera Monastery
Over the last 3 years Khenpo the head Monk at the Mera Monastery has implemented many education changes for the Monks and Tawas. He has hired a talented teacher from India to teach English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Computer Science. The monks and tawas continue to study Nepali and Buddhist studies. The older Monks and teens now speak English well and can easily carry on a conversation. There are many new monks and tawas who have joined the monastery in the last few months. The monastery curriculum offers these monks and tawas a science & math based education, but also a spiritual education. Both are needed to succeed.
We are so proud of our girls. Their progress is to be admired. We at SEP are so glad we can support and provide the funds for these girl’s education.
The monastery has made great progress educating their monks and tawas. SEP is proud to support the Mera Monastery.
Thank you to our donors for your contributions!
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End of Year Report – 2021
Dear Friends,
Our work with the SEP continues to address the Covid-related food crisis in the Nepal Himalayas as well as our ongoing support of the village girls’ education. For this, we sincerely thank our generous donors during this difficult pas year.
We were able to distribute nearly 200 66-pound sacks of rice to families in need via mule train from southern Nepal. Photos and information about the food distribution can be found at
https://sherpaeducationproject.org/posts/ and https://sherpaeducationproject.org/photo-gallery/.
We also provided school fees, uniforms, and books to 14 students in the Solukhumbu region. Individual sponsors assisted 3 other children of Sherpa guides. Another special donation provided several students with laptops to continue their education while schools were closed due to covid. (The following two pages show photos of our students.)
In addition, the Sherpa Education Project paid for an English teacher and school books for the Mera monastery. Mera is the hometown of Dawa Sherpa, an original founder of SEP/Maya Sherpa Project. The monastery educates and trains young boys, as well as serves as a community center for the local village.
Pattie Moon, a founder of SEP, recently completed her book, Tough and Cheerful, about Kanchha Sherpa, the last living member of the 1953 Edmond Hillary/Tenzing Norgay ascent of Mt. Everest. ALL proceeds from the book support the SEP’s work in Nepal. A recent book signing event in Steamboat Springs, CO concluded with a surprise visit from Kanchha himself, zooming in from Kathmandu! If you would like to help organize a book event in your community, please get in touch at info@sherpaeducationproject.org. Books may be ordered at amazon.com.
Thank you so much for your continued support! Our very best wishes for a wonderful 2022.
The Sherpa Education Project Board of Directors
Carol Wert, President
Warren Luce, Treasurer
Edward Gondolf, Vice-President
Pattie Moon, Project Director
Valerie Davia, Secretary
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Relief Distribution Program – July 31, 2021
Rice Sack Distribution a SUCCESS for Our Covid Food Relief Distribution Program
Our Food Distribution Program in the Khumbu was a great success last weekend! Each of the 175 families received a sack of rice. Additional items will be purchased in the near future to continue our distribution effort to help support the Sherpa families.
Those who received the rice were very happy and thankful!
Thanks so much to those who contributed to our cause!
Again, thank you Pemba and your family for getting this project off the ground.
Please see Our Images and Video page (see link below)
https://sherpaeducationproject.org/photo-gallery/
Current Status in Nepal – July 30, 2021
Update from the Sherpa Education Project – Relief Distribution Program
Namaste!
Covid is still seriously impacting Nepal. Our food distribution program is in progress and is being directed by Pemba our project manager. With help from his mother, father and sister, Pemba has purchased and transported much of the food to Lukla in the Khumbu region. All rice sacks were brought in by mules from Kharikhola. The mule transport was much cheaper than purchasing the rice in Lukla.
Pemba has received permission for the food distribution to be given to the local families who have applied for food relief from the local government officials. He will be distributing the food on Saturday July 31, 2021 to 175 village families. The food will be a great help to support these villagers as Covid continues to impact their livelihoods. Pemba has designed a SEP Banner and it will be displayed during the food distribution.
We would like to offer our appreciation and thanks to Pemba and his family for their hard work to make the Food Distribution Program a success!
The Sherpa Education Project Board of Directors
Status in Nepal – April 24, 2021
Thank you very much for your all hard work. It took 5 days to transport all rice from by mules.
A Post from Pemba Sherpa our Nepal Project Manager for the Sherpa Education Project
Nepal is on high Covid alert again, as the new variants are spreading into the country from India, which has a huge and rapid rise in the virus. They try to close the border with India, but that is virtually impossible, as anyone can cross in the jungle. As of yesterday, I heard that the country “has closed down again.” It is not clear whether businesses and shops are operating at this time. Apparently, the international airport (KTM) is closed until April 30th. There is also a 14-day quarantine being imposed at this time when entering Nepal.
Expeditions to summit Everest are still going on, as all the 250+ permitted climbers and support staff (total about 3-4,000 people) have been in Base Camp for some time now. I was there a week or so ago (with a trekking client) and was told that the various climbing groups (sorted by expedition companies) have circled their tents and no one else is allowed into that area from another group. I am not sure what they will do on the trail when the weather breaks!
Except for the Everest expeditions, there is very little tourism money coming from international trekkers. The Sherpas in the Solukhumbu (guides and porters) are going to do without any income for the third straight season. This puts extra pressure on them for schooling their children, to say the least. All over Nepal, people are suffering from lack of jobs.
Schools are open as the year-end final exams start soon. Schools are closed while their tests are scored. The current plan is to start the new school year in mid to late May. More will come as to the school opening status.
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Pemba is planning on traveling to the Solukhumbu around mid May. He will visit the schools and the students in their homes. They hopefully will have their scores by then and know what grade they will soon be entering, as well as the costs. He has asked that we send him with the money in advance to distribute personally when he visits each family. This is because the school won’t take them until the fees are paid, and the parents are unable to do so. He will estimate* what it might be, then reconcile after.
Students/Projects – January, 2021
A Post from Pemba Sherpa our Nepal Project Manager for the Sherpa Education Project
Namaste!
As of January 1, 2021, the Maya Sherpa Project organization was renamed the SHERPA EDUCATION PROJECT (SEP). The mission of the organization remains the same as before: to support the education of youth in the Solukhumbu (Everest) region of Nepal. Our new name emphasizes our focus on providing schooling for those families who can’t afford it, particularly for girls.
We are convinced that educating girls is an essential component of building strong communities. Our work is a continuation of the request from Maya Sherpa, an American-Nepali girl from Colorado, who wanted to help the children she met on her first visit to Nepal when she was 8 years old.
Our volunteer board members have all traveled to Nepal and have met many of the scholarship students in the Everest region. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at info@sherpaeducationproject.org. We welcome your interest and also appreciate donations to continue the work. As always, every penny of your contribution goes directly to Nepal and our projects.