Rotarians help poor of Nepal (From Wharfedale Observer)

Rotarians help poor of Nepal

8:00am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in Local news By Jonathan Redhead, Ilkley/Otley Reporter

Two Rotarians are heading for the Himalayas for a trek to help people in one of the world’s most remote regions.
Gary Williams and Andrew Broughton, of Ilkley Wharfedale Rotary Club, are taking part in the ‘Trek with a Purpose’ in Nepal and will help out with a raft of projects.
The trek, organised by the Nepal Trust, is in the Humla district of Nepal and is about participating hands-on to create positive change in the ‘Hidden Himalayas’ of North West Nepal.
The programme aims to provide a sustainable form of tourism, where volunteers, who want to engage and leave more than just their footprints and waste on a trek, can instead educate themselves by engaging with community-based development projects related to health, renewable energy, environmental issues, education, heritage preservation and food security.
A spokesman for the Wharfedale Rotary Club said: “Gary and Andrew’s trek will involve 12 days of trekking from Jumla at 2,300 metres over a 4,300m pass to Bargaun at 3,000m. That will be followed by ten days supporting the construction of a community health post which for the first time in this part of Nepal will incorporate a birthing centre aimed at targeting the reduction in child mortality rates.
“Delivering health, renewable energy and education to communities like Bargaun gives them and thousands of others hope and belief in the possibility of positive change.
“Ilkley Wharfedale RC has been an active supporter of the Nepal Trust over many years, notably in 2007 funding the solar equipment to provide lighting for all the houses in the village of Til in the Humla district. Gary was also the leader of that trek involving a group of scouts from Wharfedale Scout District.”
The duo will also be joined by Mr Williams’ wife, Liz, and Tim Moon and Owen Higgs, both from Ilkley.
Mr Higgs, who is a dentist from Leeds Road Dental Surgery, will provide much-needed dental treatment every day on the trek.
The trek team will be completed by five people associated with the Wells Rotary Club in Somerset.