Bal-Vatika, the new primary Montessori school in Phuleli, was officially opened on Thursday 20th March 2008. A special day long ceremony was organised and attended by the people of Phuleli and a large group from Ireland. In 2006, the foundation stone was laid by INET’s Jane Fenlon together with Deputy Principal Margaret Wynne and Maurice Burris of Alexandra College. A group of teachers and students from the College attended that foundation stone ceremony which was part of a longer trek for their Easter Holidays in 2006. This was organised by Dhana Khaling Rai and Wilder Places Nepal who also arranged the trek to this year’s opening ceremony.
Again Margaret and Maurice with some of their fellow teachers from Alexandra College joined INET directors and others for a similar enjoyable trek to the opening ceremony. The main group were held up in Kathmandu for three days due to cloudy weather preventing the regular small plane landing at Phaplu airstrip 2,400m high up in the Himalaya. Ever resourceful, Dhana chartered a helicopter for them. Following their arrival, the planned four day trek to Phuleli was done in two days, arriving in good time for the ceremony. Margaret Wynne and INET Director Valerie Burris unveiled the commemorative plaque. To open the school Mr Lokanath Paudel, District Education Officer for the Solu Khumbu and INET Director Chris Avison cut the ribbons which were green, white and orange, the colours of the Irish flag. Dhana gave a speech of thanks to everyone involved. Margaret and Valerie both spoke expressing the good wishes of people in Ireland for the future well being of the new school and for education in the Solu Khumbu.
These formalities were mixed with dancing and singing performed by the children and the grown ups. Eight from Ireland danced a rousing version of the “Walls of Limerick” with the assembled locals joining in with their hands clapping in time to the Irish music. All the tradesmen, labourers and volunteers who have worked so hard for two years in building the school and the associated facilities, including a new toilet block and showers, were each presented with an individual certificate of thanks.
In his speech, Dhana said “We have this beautiful school Bal-Vatika as the glory of Phuleli now and forever. This is going to support the poor people and their children with better education in the mountainous country on the lap of Mount Everest. We have strong hopes that this school will give support to the local children to become successful and responsible personalities in the future for themselves, for the Earth and for human kind.”
Dhana thanked everyone for attending and all the well wishers from abroad. In particular he thanked Mr Aibir Rai, Chairperson of the school management committee, for his encouragement, hard work and integrity. He applauded Mr Lokanath Paudel, District Education Officer, for his support for the new school, noting that Mr Paudel had already made three visits to the school so far, as well as visiting all the other areas in his District in a year since his appointment.
Dhana thanked: Dawson Stelfox MBE, the first Irishman to climb Mt Everest and a founder Director of The Irish Himalayan Trust who is now the Patron of INET; all the Directors of INET including founder Directors Dr Jane Fenlon and Robbie Fenlon UIAGM (Mountain Guide); the students and teachers from Alexandra College Dublin, who magnificently and generously raised most of the money for the school; The Dermot Bouchier-Hayes Memorial Trust; The Irish Himalayan Trust; Fr. Johannes Gemsa from Germany; Galway County Council Third World Committee; Tralee Mountaineering Club; Mr Ercus Stewart SC, a leading lawyer from Dublin; Mr Volker Saendig and Mr Peter Ditsch from Germany; Mr Dermot Somers, the Irish mountaineer and writer; Mr Fergal Spain; Dr Enda Mooney and all the other generous individuals who are too numerous to mention.
INET would particularly like to thank Dhana Khaling Rai for all the considerable work he has undertaken on behalf of the people of Phuleli and beyond. He and his team from Wilder Places Nepal made the whole trip an unforgettable experience for everyone. He was ably helped by his wife, Dhanmayer and his brother Pabidhan. Dhanmayer is an accomplished dancer and chef. Pabidhan is a musician and he sang at the opening ceremony. We also had the pleasure of hearing his records on local FM radio. Thanks are also due to Suraj Rai for his considerable skill and assistance with the film making for an upcoming documentary about the Phuleli project.
