Lessons at the highest altitudes

Education in remote mountain villages in Nepal

Namdo, a small village in the Upper Dolpo Region in the highlands of Nepal is about 4,000 metres above sea level and is one of the remotest places on Earth. It can be only be reached by long treks. Until 1993 foreigners were not permitted to cross the 5,000 metre passes to get to this enchanted area. This political and geographical isolation preserved a very original Tibetan culture, but also stood in the way of the connection to the rest of Nepal.

Background

A major problem of the Upper Dolpo Region is a lack of presence and support from the government. While the state provides two teaching positions for the school in Namdo, this requires constant and extensive negotiations and persuasion. Hospitals do not exist. 50 per cent of the population is living below the poverty line. Only 34 per cent (20 per cent of women) is able to read and write.

Dolpo is also characterised by Tibetan Buddhism and the people are linguistically and culturally in the minority. The native language in the region is Tibetan and the people have to learn Nepalese as a second language. This poses a considerable challenge to pupils attending school, because they have to learn a completely different alphabet. But it takes solid Nepali for children to grow up to become active citizens.

The good deed

By making the operation of the village school in Namdo possible, this good deed will reach children in the most remote areas, where aid usually does not get to. Children and young people in these inaccessible areas cannot and do not take education for granted. But education allows these future adults to take responsibility in their region.