At the end of the summer term, pupils, accompanied by Mrs Britten and Mr Monk, departed for Nepal on a once in a lifetime school trip experience. Over the course of two weeks, pupils explored the vast array of landscapes within Nepal, including tours of ancient temples, a visit to the Gurkha Welfare Trust, and various mountain hikes offering breath-taking views.
One of the key activities pupils took part in during their visit was their volunteer work at Shree Siddha Secondary School in Pokhara Ram Bazar. The school does not have access to enough drinking water for its pupils, and so, our pupils got to work by helping to dig a deep hole which was needed to install water storage tanks. The team put in a sterling effort and the visit really made them consider how fortunate they are to have access to readily available drinking water in the UK.
Other activities included a visit to the International Mountain Museum, offering an interesting insight into the various tribes of the Himalayas, as well as the geographic history of the impressive mountain range.
Pupils stayed in a variety of accommodation, including base camps at various heights on the mountains. After climbing 3,260 rock steps to reach camp in Ulleri, pupils were rewarded with a glimpse of Annapurna South, a 7,219m high snow-capped mountain – a real highlight for many!
Whilst hiking on the mountains, pupils also discovered beautiful waterfalls and steep valleys and it was clear that exploring such a vastly different landscape to that in the UK was inspiring for many. Amongst this beautiful environment the pupils also caught a glimpse of a troupe of lemur monkeys in the trees whilst passing through the rhododendron forests near Tadapani.
Pupils sampled many local foods during their trip, including Daal Baht for dinner in Ghorepani, which was encouraged to be eaten traditionally – with (clean!) fingers only, something the pupils thoroughly enjoyed.
From lively discussions about conservation versus tourism, to learning about monks seeking a ‘higher state of enlightenment’ in the Koran Buddhist Monastery, this trip was packed full of experiences.
The pupils were a credit to themselves and the School throughout. A big thank you to all involved in the organisation and execution of this trip, one which will certainly have provided life-long memories for our pupils.
“[Our son] has had the most amazing, life changing experience… Thank you for everything you do in school to support and encourage him and everything you do to make amazing memories for our son.” Parent
