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The Namche Conference: May 24-26,
2003 Participants and Presentations:
Anthony Freake |
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Anthony Freake (New Barnet, Herts., UK) Founder and Director, Phortse Community Project; President, Austrian Alpine Club (UK); Department of Geography, University of North Texas ; email: tony@freake.fsnet.co.uk Abstract Phortse Community Project I formed the Phortse Community Project in 1990 having visited the village in the previous year. In fact I went to Nepal to climb a mountain and fell in love with the Sherpa community who I have been helping ever since. In fact I have visited Nepal and the village of Phortse some 21 times. At the wish of the village community, over the past thirteen year, have raised money, designed and built a Gomba, Medical Post, Primary School, Teachers Hostel and converted the old school into a Youth centre and telephone office. Recently my wife and I have been host in the UK to a young Sherpa girl, Dawa Yangjin Sherpa from Phortse. Yangjin is the first young person from Phortse to have passed the SLC and a Diploma Course to teach at primary level. Yangjin is at present in her 2nd year Higher Diploma Course at college in Kathmandu. The Himalayan Trust, who I support, are paying her college fees while myself and a very good friend from the UK are assisting her with her every day needs. Dawa is a credit to herself and an inspiration to other young people from the Khumbu area. At the request of the community of Phortse and in conjunction with the National Parks Department and the Khumbu Bijuli Company, KBC, I am currently helping the community not only of Phortse but other villagers within the Sagarmatha National Park acquire electricity.
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Email: nc@namche.info