Volunteer News

This is the new blogspot for information and progress updates about the ongoing projects supported by Classroom in the Clouds at Shree Lukla Primary School.  This blog has been set up by Emma and Guy while volunteering in Lukla.  We hope that it will be of interest and fun to read for all supporters of Classroom in the Clouds and everyone at Shree Lukla Primary School. If anyone has any comments or suggestions for future projects please leave a comment on this site.

Week 1 – Our arrival in Lukla

We arrived in Lukla and were greeted by clouds, rain and more rain – the monsoon is in full swing here.  But through the clouds we could just about see the spectacular mountains and glorious valleys and were very pleased to have the opportunity to be here.

Shree Lukla School

We quickly got to know some of teachers and went to visit the school.  Since our arrival in Lukla has coincided with student exams, our efforts have been concentrated on work in the computer room.  So we set to work tidying, de-moulding the room (unfortunately the monsoon season brings with it many problems with damp), cleaning up the computers.  After one week, one hundred power cuts and crazy uncontrollable power fluctuations (another consequence of all the rain!), we have nine happy computers.  Re-installed with Windows XP, Microsoft Office 2007 and looking neat and tidy.  We have set up one master computer, connected to the new printer/photocopy machine.  Guy also three computers in the “PC hospital”, diagnosis to follow.

Guy tidying computer suite

We see huge potential in the computer suite, the school is very lucky to have this facility.  Therefore we have some plans to increase its usage.  Creating step-by-step user friendly help manuals, making displays to help with basic computer terminology, and hopefully running some help sessions for anyone with an interest in computing (students, teachers and the local community).

Emma with some spectators at the PC hospital!

With functioning computers, Emma has set to work creating some resources for the school and is in the process of photographing local objects for an “A to Z of Lukla” resource, as suggested by Sarah.  The computer manual and displays for the computer room are also in progress.

On Thursday morning we received news that the playground equipment had arrived at Lukla airport.  After exams a weather-brave team of about twenty students commanded by Bikram, the head teacher, headed to the airport to collect the steel structures.  Our photographs tell the story, the rain was pouring and great teamwork and strength got the job done!  All pieces of the playground are now safely at school waiting for a coat of paint.

 Playground arrived at the airport, along with a great monsoon rain!

Construction is now complete in the new library, and it looks like it will be a great asset to the school.  We had plans to commence painting of the library and computer room this week, but due to the dampness the decision has been made to wait for a couple of weeks for things to dry out.

So overall we have had a happy welcoming to the school and a successful week.  We hope that next week, when teaching restarts, we will get more involved in school life and meet more of the teachers.

These boys carrying the slide were most courageous - Well Done