Charity spices up their fundraising to build new Gurkha schools in Nepal

Tuesday 15 March 2016

A local charity is spicing up the week and raising money to kit out a school in a remote part of Nepal they hope to open this summer.

The Gurkha Welfare Trust Jersey (GWTJ) is holding a big curry night on Thursday at the Army Reserve Centre.

The meal will be served by Gurkha chefs to 130 guests including the Island’s Lieutenant Governor, His Excellency Sir John McColl KCB CBE DSO and Colonel William Shuttlewood OBE, Director of the Gurkha Welfare Trust UK.

The charity was set up towards the end of 2014 and raised over £95,000 towards a new school for 500 pupils aged between six and 16-years-old. They sent £50,000 of it to boost the relief effort after the tragic earthquake in Nepal last year.

They've now committed a further £90,000 to the school project, thanks to their fundraising being matched by the Jersey Overseas Aid Committee. Work started just after Christmas and the school is due to open this summer and there are now plans to build a second school.

John Pinel of the GWTJ said: “This event is an excellent opportunity for people to find out more about where and how Gurkhas live, and how money raised in Jersey goes directly to projects supported by us.

“It is very exciting that our first school is nearing completion and that our second school could become a reality thanks to the generosity of Islanders.

“Now only does this deepen our relationship with the Gurkhas, we believe these projects will bring greater opportunities for younger Islanders as we work on a programme that could see students travelling to the school, for example to provide sports development or English language teaching. There will also be a chance for local schoolchildren to develop links with their counterparts in Nepal.”

The charity is also organising two local guided historical walks next month to mark Gallipoli and a Climathon at Mont Orgueil Castle in the Autumn.

If you want to donate to the charity you can send a cheque payable to Gurkha Welfare Trust Jersey to the Treasurer John Pinel, Athlone, La Grande Route de la Cote, St Clement, JE2 6FT.