Rhododendrons, Yaks, & the Mountains....

Photos by Gilberto

We had a great time participating in the "Connecting Continents Project" this Spring. H.I.S. students were on their school holiday (end of the Academic year for Nepal), but the 8th Graders gathered twice every week for three weeks at their school to check on the blog and post their questions. They were very amused by the idea of connecting with children their age from different countries through the internet :)

In March of 2009, the CCP (Connecting Continents Project) Ambassadors: Kristy Aburida (USA, but living in United Arab Emirates), Darci Scherbak (Tennessee, USA) and Gilberto Theon (Novo Hamburgo, Brazil) traveled to Nepal to participate in the Connecting Continents Project's trek to Everest Base Camp. The trek was led by Doug Sandok (Colorado, USA).

The CCP Ambassadors spent their few days in Kathmandu with H.I.S. students and posted their first blog entry from in-country introducing Nepal and the Nepali students. As they trekked in the Solu Khumbu region, we continued receiving news on their trek, mind blowing photos and exciting dispatches.

The 8th Graders from H.I.S. had many questions and the blog became their gateway to start understanding and exploring their own country and the different cultures and identities within. It was a really cool experience!

Thank you so much (Doug, Kristy, Darci and Gilberto) for making our learning that much more exciting by sharing your experiences in the mountains with photos and dispatches. We also thank you for visiting H.I.S. and spending time with the kids.

This year's project was in coordination with Mountain Professionals. Ek Dui Teen will be continuing it's distant cross-cultural learning program in 2010 with more schools participating from various countries. We learned a lot from this year's project and we are working with the feedback and exploring new ideas to make participating and learning more educational, exciting and rewarding in the future.

To learn about this year's activities, please visit: http://connectingcontinentsprojecteverest.blogspot.com

Connecting Continents Project

March 28 - April 17, 2009

In March of 2009, EDT will be working with Mountain Professionals, to bring global geography and cultural learning into the classroom of Herald International School through Mountain Professionals' "Connecting Continents Project".

The Connecting Continents Project focuses on connecting schools, from around the world, to participate and promote understanding of diversity, education and a cross-cultural exchange through one of the most powerful tools on earth, the Internet. This connection will allow students of H.I.S the opportunity to participate in an international exchange with other participating schools from Argentina, Norway, USA, Rwanda, U.A.E and Cambodia.

"Bike to Educate" - A Mountain Biking Trip In Ladakh, India.

Photo by Ryan Yoder

Join Ek Dui Teen and Chuchuro Adventures for an 11 day bicycle tour crossing the Himalayas of India! We will travel from Manali, Himachal Pradesh to Leh, Ladakh in India crossing 4 spectacular high mountain passes. Experience breathtaking views as we travel through the Ladakh, Zanskar and Karakoram ranges, the unbelievable moonscape of the Rupshu plains and across the beautiful Tibetan plateau. Meet apple harvesting villagers, nomadic shepherds, and Buddhist monks and celebrate with the locals at one of the most spectacular festivals of the Himalayas at the ancient Hemis monastery.

You will be biking for a good cause. “Ek Dui Teen”, which means “1 2 3” in Nepali, is an organization working to create educational opportunities for youth in Nepal. In June of 2009, Ek Dui Teen is teaming up with Chuchuro Adventures on “Bike to Educate” – A human-powered adventure in the Indian Himalayas to raise funds for schools in Nepal.

Date:
08 – 24 June of 2010

For more information on the trip and the itinerary, please contact Sweta Gurung at shunyataa@gmail.com

Books that traveled from Sri Lanka!

In August of 2008, Laxmi and I celebrated our reunion by bringing hand-picked children's books from US and Sri Lanka to the library of H.I.S. I could not thank Laxmi enough for believing in the movement and getting excited with me. Back in Sri Lanka, Laxmi helped spread the word of Ek Dui Teen | 123 and organized a book-drive that collected many amazing books written and illustrated by the local artists. Dherai dherai dhanyabad saathi! (Thank you so much dear friend!)

Introducing Ek Dui Teen & Herald International School.

Situated in a beautiful and historically important town of Patan in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, Herald International School is a co-ed elementary school with 115 students between 6 and 12 years old.

The mission of Herald International School (HIS) is to educate, inspire and empower students to become caring, confident and responsible citizens.

"Ek Dui Teen", which means "1 2 3" in Nepali, is an independent organization that shares the same vision as HIS. In addition, Ek Dui Teen|123 seeks to create a platform for young minds to better understand themselves, their culture and community, and the world. To reach out beyond their own communities and geographical boundaries to bridge the gap between the urban (privileged) and rural (underprivileged) populations of Nepal.

On 1st of August 2008, Ek Dui Teen|123 will be carrying out its library building project with the help of the HIS community, involving both students and staff members. 'Hamro Padne Kotha' (Our Reading Room), which I fondly named it on behalf of the kids, will be a dream come true for them. I am imagining the current 10x14 sq.ft. room being transformed into a beautifully painted, simple, efficient, but well-stocked library with an Audio/Visual facility. (The picture below is of the library at its present condition.)


Ek Dui Teen|123 will be collecting children's books, movies and documentaries for the next two months. If you are interested in making a contribution please contact me at shunyataa@gmail.com and please limit the book contributions to paperbacks only. The hardcover book tends to add to the weight. It has been Ek Dui Teen|123's great fortune to receive a gift to hand-pick some of our most sought after children's books from the publisher St. Martin's press, courtesy of The Ratna Foundation, a non-profit organization from Boulder, Colorado.

In the Spring of 2009, Ek Dui Teen|123 will be working with Mountain Professionals, currently with a team climbing Mt. Everest, to bring global geography and cultural learning into the classroom of HIS through Mountain Professionals' "Connecting Continents Project".

The aim of the Connecting Continents Project is to put together a group of trekkers from the USA, Argentina, Chile, and several European countries for an Everest Basecamp Trek for the Spring of 2009 in Nepal. This group will send direct dispatches to classrooms in all the countries involved, and these classes will be linked to each other to share learning not only about the Himalayan region, but also each other's countries, communities and classes.

Ek Dui Teen|123 is also in the process of putting two trips together for the summer of 2009 that will directly benefit HIS and a school/ community in rural Nepal.

1. A community service based travel program in Nepal for middle school.
2. 'Bike 2 Educate' Biking expedition in the Indian Himalayas.

If you are interested in participating, contributing, or simply learning more then please email me at shunyataa@gmail.com or check later with this blog for updated information and details on these trips.

Once again welcome to my blog and thank you all for taking time to read this introduction!