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Eighteen Wellington College pupils from fourth form and lower sixth embarked on an action-packed 10 day trip to Nepal last term as part of our Global Education programme.
The volunteer pupils have been collaborating with the community of Sermathang through The Nepal International Development Project. The aim of the project is to promote community action, cultural exchange and enrich students’ understanding of international issues.
This was the first time Wellington pupils had visited since 2018 due to Covid so it felt particularly poignant. During their trip the pupils stayed in Kathmandu and then in Yangrima School’s Eco-Lodge and threw themselves into a varied itinerary of project work, trekking, cultural evenings and workshops.
A long standing partnership
Wellington has a 20-year relationship with the Sermathang community which began when Old Wellingtonian, Tim Kruger, spent several months volunteering at Yangrima School in the village. In 1998 he organised the first group of Wellington students and teachers to visit, helping to clear land to build a Girls’ Dormitory.
Sermathang is located in one of the most underdeveloped regions of Nepal, known for its spectacular Himalayan scenery and Buddist monasteries. A group of educated locals and ambitious Gopal Lama established Yangrima School in 1986 to provide a holistic and practical education that reflected the values and cultures of the local people. They understood that providing quality education for marginalised communities, including girls, is one of the most effective ways to bring about positive social change.
The goal of our visit was to meet the needs of the community, forge lasting bonds, build on our understanding of the Nepalese culture and exchange ideas.
Working with students from Yangrima School
Wellington Pupils spent nearly four days with pupils at Yangrima School taking part in exchange activities and interactive projects. Whilst we were there, we repainted the entire hall, which doubles as the boarding house for female pupils at Yangrima. On the dividing wall we painted a combined mural with contributions from both schools to signify our long lasting connection. The centrepiece was a huge tree with leaves signed by everyone and a plan that more leaves will be added during future trips.
Wellington pupil Tierney D spoke about the experience:
“Not only was the trip a fun, adventure filled way to gain friendships, but it was an inspiring experience filled with lessons and enlightening moments. I will always remember this trip and the bonds we made with the students of Yangrima, they were amazing to connect with. The hiking also made me feel accomplished as I pushed through the challenges and made the happiest memories.”
Another project involved replacing an old polytunnel at the school. All the food in Sermathang is grown within 5 miles of the school, including spinach, mint and potatoes on site. Their existing polytunnel was in disrepair so Wellington bought the steel poles to build a substantial tunnel that will last for many years. Staff and students cleared away the dilapidated structure, removed rocks and weeds from the area and helped as the footings for the steels were put in place.
We also brought the materials to build a sensory glove and robotic hand that students from both schools assembled together. Computer Science is very important to the community as it enables people to work from the village rather than having to relocate to major cities in Nepal and India. It’s hard to get hold of the materials for computing projects locally, and Wellington will continue to work, remotely, with the school on these initiatives.
Julian O’Loughlin, Educational Visits Coordinator at Wellington College said: “You can read about what life in a different culture is like, but nothing can match actually living there for a week, talking to the students and working side by side with them to create something together. The warmth and friendship that was shown by the staff and students from Yangrima is tremendous and we will all remember this trip for years to come.”
Community and Culture
Beyond the grounds of the school, Wellington pupils had the strong desire to help the wider community in Sermathang and one way we did this was to spend an afternoon walking around the village collecting plastic litter that would not biodegrade.
When the sun went down, it was time to have some fun and our evenings were spent enjoying rooftop dinners, dance nights and cooking exchanges. One evening, the women from the village came up to the school to teach Wellington students how to make momos, a traditional Nepali dumpling involving some complicated folding. Our pupils had mixed success with the folding but they tasted delicious! In return, Wellington pupils cooked pancakes for the whole village and then enjoyed dancing together to Nepali tunes as well as classic dance floor fillers from the West.
Sophie D M shared her reflection on the trip:
“There were numerous aspects of the trip that had a profound impact on me, but the most significant one was the time we spent with the children of Yangrima School. They were all so welcoming and kind but as well as that extremely talented. It was amazing to see them paint, dance, cook, and play football and even better to be allowed to be a part of it. This trip changed my outlook on life in many ways and I am so grateful that I could experience it.”
Exploring Nepal
In a jam-packed itinerary, pupils had the chance to visit temples and monasteries in Kathmandu as well as completing some epic mountain treks. One day we hiked to the Sherpa village of Tarkeghyang, and on another we climbed to the summit of Ama Yangri (3770m) to discover the colourful prayer flags and sacred Buddhist stupas at the top. If it wasn’t for the clouds we would have had incredible views of the Langtang and Manasul mountain ranges!
Reflecting on an incredible adventure
During their visit, every pupil kept a journal of their experiences. Upon returning home, they reflected on their learnings and on the ways we can continue to work alongside the Sermathang community. We plan to return every eighteen months to Nepal and we’re hoping to be able to bring a few Yangrima students over to visit us in Berkshire in the future.
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