INSPIRATIONAL TREK…
Northcote’s Craig Jackson and Kaye Mathew recently returned from a challenging trek in the Himalayas where they participated in various projects to help the Children of the Mountain charity
The Children of the Mountain Trek and Volunteering Programme began almost a decade ago in a bid to support children in Nepal, building schools and giving them access to an education that will take them through life.
Northcote’s general manager Craig Jackson and marketing director Kaye Matthew became aware of the charity through Mike Smith with whom they worked last year planning a dinner at Northcote to raise funds for Children of the Mountain.
“Mike told us he was planning this trip to Nepal and we both put our hands up for it straight away,” recalls Kaye. “It turned out to be a life-changing trip for both for us.”
The pair joined 11 other fellow trekkers who recently flew out from Heathrow to Kathmandu via Delhi: “Kathmandu was complete madness – so busy! But we got to know our fellow travellers before flying in a small plane to Pokhara the next day to begin the trek.”
After landing in Pokhara, Kaye and Craig and the group then had to travel three hair-raising hours by minibus to start their trek.
“There were no real roads, it was like driving through a quarry but there wasn’t time to be nervous, it was chaos! It was a pretty eye opening journey – we joked it was like Whacky Races with mopeds weaving in and out of the traffic,” explains Craig.
When a van broke down and traffic began to back up on the ravine track, the trekkers made a decision to begin their trek there and then, as Kaye recalls: “It was a decision we all had to make so we agreed, ‘This is it, we’re ready!’”
The group trekked for almost five hours before heading up 3300 steep rocky steps to their teahouse accommodation in Ulleri where they spent the night.
“The tea houses are pretty basic,” says Kaye. “They are quite challenging but the people who run them are so lovely – so kind.”
“We had dalbat – a regional dish that is eaten for lunch and dinner which has different elements that are assembled and eaten with your hands. It consists of green vegetables, lentils and a spicy sauce – it was delicious.”
“And while the tea houses were basic, you could look out of your window to views that were epic and so peaceful.”
Day two trekking brought more wonderful views with glimpses of the beautiful Annapurna South summit, which dominates the skyline at 7219m.
Day three of the trek and the group awoke at 3.30am to climb to the top of Poon Hill to see the sunrise over the Himalaya. Quite literally the high point of their trek, they witnessed the mountains bathed in the early morning sun: “It was stunningly beautiful!”
Day three was also to be the toughest of days – the group trekked for 14 hours and it was on this day in particular, that the pre-trip training that Craig and Kaye had undertaken in the Lake District and on the sand dunes of the Fylde coast, really paid off!
“We set off in the dark and finished the day in the dark. It was tough,” admits Kaye.
“But we were all doing it for a common cause. We were doing it with a great group of people. It was also a digital detox too – no emails or phone calls which was bliss!”
The final day of the trek followed a river back to Naya Pul where the trek originally started and where a mini-bus took them back to Pokhara where hot showers and clean clothes awaited.
The second half of the trip saw the group arrive at the Children of the Mountain site where they were to spend the next three days in Bandipur.
The group received enthusiastic welcomes when they arrived at the schools: “From the moment we arrived the children were clapping and putting marigold garlands around our necks.”
“It was almost overwhelming. The children are just so happy even though they have nothing. They are always smiling – a complete inspiration,” recalls Craig.
During their visit the group helped paint the grey cement school building blue, planted gardens and delivered uniforms and football tops.
On their final day they organised a Sports Day in a communal area of Bandipur that had once been a military camp. With six different schools taking part, the children enjoyed egg and spoon races as well as enjoying birthday cake to celebrate the birthday of trek organiser Mike.
“The children wanted to wrap up their cake to show it to their family when they got home.”
In total the group raised £50,000 for Children of the Mountain, which will make a huge difference. The painting of six schools around Bandipur will be completed, along with organising creative classrooms in all the schools offering the children full facilities in creative learning, including furniture, dual language books, teaching materials, flooring and teacher training.
It is also hoped that a basic kitchen will be introduced in the schools with a villager to cook food for all the children each day.
“If each child can be given one meal each day it will make such a big difference. It is well known that children learn more if they have eaten so this will be a huge boost,” adds Craig who with Kaye, agrees that the highlight of the trip was meeting the children.
“Most definitely the children were the highlight. It was such an amazing opportunity to be able to help these youngsters living in the hills of Nepal. Their families have faced such dreadful challenges, so to be able to raise money and help was an easy decision.”
“It really was amazing – the trip of a lifetime!”
