This summer I went to Bhotenamlang school in Nepal to teach English, one of the schools where the charity HELP (Helambu Education and Livelihood Project) works.

HELP is a small, local organisation with a large goal. They aim to improve the quality of schools in the Helambu region - not only by sending volunteers such as myself to teach, but by improving school buildings, providing scholarships for children to continue study, and more.

After the April 2015 earthquake, many schools in the area were devastated - 470 were completely destroyed in Sidapalchowk alone, affecting 50,000 students. HELP quickly delivered shelter and supplies, and managed to build 226 Temporary Learning Centres. Whilst these made a great difference, they are inadequate in the long term, with many of the buildings where I taught leaking badly during the monsoon in a way which was disruptive to lessons. Their aim now is to rebuild the classrooms, and replace the lost furniture and books

In many schools in the Helambu region, children with great potential leave school to work and support their family, leading to a lack of qualified people in rural areas. And whilst government schools up to the level of SLC (School Leaving Certificate) are free, higher education institutes are expensive and unattainable for most families in the area. The average family income in Helambu is £100 a year, whereas the private schools charge £200. The Scholarship Scheme for Higher Education set up by HELP allows talented students to continue their studies despite coming from an underprivileged background. Following the 2015 earthquake, over 70 scholarships were awarded to allow children to stay focused on their education.

I had a fantastic time staying in Bhotenamlang and spending time at the school, but whilst I was there I was shocked by the conditions of the school buildings and the lack of facilities available. HELP uses donations for things such as paying additional teacher salaries to tackle understaffing, constructing buildings and toilet facilities, sports equipment, chairs and tables. As little as £5 can buy books or a school uniform for a child for a whole year. The £300 that I aim to raise could provide boarding fees for 1 year of secondary school.