Tomorrow I leave Nepal on the 1:55PM flight. Overnight in Bangkok and I’m back in Hong Kong on the 18th. Once again, I’d like to thank everyone who helped pay for computers: the savings I had paid for my plane ticket and six computers. Thanks to the generosity of the donors, this number expanded to thirty six computers! Today I managed to visit another school, the school in Patan, and drop off one computer. Numbers are stretched a bit thin at the moment, but they were still very grateful to receive a computer. They were originally against the usage of Ubuntu, as they had never even heard of it, but once I showed that the included OpenOffice software was faster than the 1997 copy of Microsoft Office they were using, they warmed to the concept. I also managed to demonstrate the KTouch typing suite to some of the school children, which went well.
There's a school around here somewhere!
They took turns every time someone made a mistake. That'll learn ya!
Lights on...
...lights off. The computers still run though!
Unfortunately, due to a shortage of funds, this school could only receive one computer and no battery charger. Currently, I don’t have any funds for more computers or money for a battery charger, plus I’m leaving tomorrow. With that said, Bishwa will act as a liaison with this school; if we raise more funds they can still get new equipment delivered, installed and maintained. If you would be willing to help sponsor this school, the battery charger they need is $50 USD. These computers have made a huge impact on the school just in the hour and a half Bishwa and I were there; it’d be great to see the kind of impact a working battery backup system would bring to the Ideal Peace English School. Speaking of which, I’d like to stress again that the project will not stop once I leave, and there is still a lot of work to do here. Much of the work I did here in Nepal was setting up the infrastructure to keep computers coming to Nepal after I leave. Many new computers will be funded by the schools themselves and other NGOs and individuals in Nepal, but contributions to my gap year fund will still make a meaningful difference, and I know the schools I’ve visited in the past three months would very much appreciate additional help.
That’s enough for now — gotta pack!
Thanks,
Charles
I was born in London, England. At the age of ten, I moved to Hong Kong, which opened up a whole new part of the world: Asia. Since then, I have enjoyed traveling to different locales around the world. Having graduated from High School, I am taking a gap year to work on a computer project in Nepal, and later a cultural immersion trip in Ghana. This is the blog I am using to keep the world notified. 
Wow! Must be really hard to leave Nepal!
“Can’t wait to hear all the smaller stories of your trip! When are you planning to return to Nepal?”
Thanks to your effort, now kids can actually use the computer rather than just learn about it. I will keep you regularly updated about this school.
Your project has re-confirmed my belief that one person can make a big difference in people’s lives. You enliven me!
Hi Charles, I’m extremely interested in the work you’re doing and am actually about to start graduate school in the U.S. working in the same field. I believe we could have a valuable collaboration, give me an email and we can compare thoughts.