Help us fix schools in rural Nepal

The relationship between Britain and Nepal is an extraordinary one. Nepali men have been fighting side by side with British soldiers in the service of the United Kingdom for nearly 200 years. The Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) is a charity which supports and cares for ex-Gurkhas and their families, providing financial, medical and community aid to alleviate hardship and distress among Gurkha ex-servicemen. 

We’ve been donating part of our revenue to the GWT since Gurkha Fine Foods was launched. Recently, they asked us to contribute to a vital part of their work. In Nepal, as in poor countries the world over, education is key to a hopeful future for impoverished children. There are remote, rural schools across Nepal, in the most inaccessible places. Many of these have only the most basic equipment, and are frequently in a very poor state of repair. Among its many projects, GWT funds the refurbishment of run down schools, from major structural repairs to leaky roofs, and from furniture to latrines.

Desks and benches in Siddakali

Take Siddakali Primary school, in the village of Kholaghari in Panchitar District in East Nepal. The area has, for a long time, been one of the core recruiting grounds for the Brigade of Gurkhas and in most villages one can still meet retired ex-Gurkha soldiers who served the British Crown during WW2. Funds from the GWT supplied the school with new benches and desks, to replace the few very old and rickety benches, such as the ones above, which were spread across the 5 small classrooms. The 100 students were struggling to learn in the cramped conditions. With the new seating capacity, the school is now able to offer an extra class, and now teaches up to Class 4.

For every jar sold on the website, we give 6p to a school refurbishment project

Little by little, your money will make a difference to the children of rural Nepal. We’ll let you know how the money is building up, and bring you more stories of the schools we are helping.

For more information about the Gurkha Welfare Trust, and the amazing work it does, please click the link below.

Gurkha Welfare Trust website