Q. Learning has held its birthday parties in many places over the years; you may remember the strawberry gothic building where those worse for wear tumbled into the pond, or the Scottish reels, or the magical warm evening cruising on the river in Henley, the play in a day at Marlow, or the boat with jazz in London - but the place to be this year was a remote village 100 miles from tarmac, past a landslide, in the high mountainous region of Kangchenjunga in Nepal. Hundreds made it into the temporary arena and hundreds more lined the hillside listening to the music and glimpsing dancers of all types (Mongolians, Limbus etc) from all over the region.
We were celebrating signing the contract (handwritten in Nepali writing on rice paper but still absolutely legal) for the school. In the process, we have coined new words in both our languages; hundreds now talk about 'Q. Learning' in this remote place; they sang the name and gave it the meaning of enabling learning for all. The villagers have also learned the word 'committee' which spells social revolution; by law community schools must have at least a representation of 35% women - in talking to hundreds who gathered for news, Lesley made sure women were asked to contribute and be joint signatories for the bank account. Equally a first, is to have Castes represented other than Brahmins - essential for people to understand that all children will have equal access to learning.
Even when the school is built and teachers recruited, we face so many challenges to making this a rich learning place for children; we do not yet know how we will provide electricity (solar is expensive, hydro a challenge too), or toilets (though there is water), or accommodation for the many orphans, or uniforms (uniquely not English look-alikes but traditional wear) at a cost of £4 per child impossible for many, or computers to connect with the outside world or, perhaps more basic, glasses for children whose eyesight may be impaired. We will be keeping you updated - and any offers of help would be wonderful.
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