James Strong Memorial Project for Education in Nepal

Embargo until 12.00am 29th May 2013 MEDIA RELEASE

JAMES STRONG MEMORIAL PROJECT FOR EDUCATION IN NEPAL

Outdoor clothing and equipment retailer Kathmandu and the Australian Himalayan Foundation (AHF) today announced the James Strong Memorial Project which will provide additional education funding to benefit children in the Solu Khumbu, one of the remotest parts of Nepal.

The Project will fund volunteer teachers from Australia and New Zealand to deliver teacher training programs in the region south of Mt.Everest.

It builds on the existing partnership between AHF and Kathmandu, initiated by Mr Strong in 2011, to provide assistance to the people of the Himalaya.

Acting Kathmandu Chairman, Mr John Harvey, said Mr Strong had been passionate about the need to give back to the region which had been the inspiration for the company’s name.

“It was James’ idea to link with AHF and we have been working with them since 2011 to help deliver quality education for children in Nepal. The James Strong Memorial Project adds to what we’ve been doing for the past 18 months,” Mr Harvey said.

AHF Chairman, Simon Balderstone, said Kathmandu has been providing annual funding for the materials used in the Foundation’s Teacher Training and Quality Education (TTQE) program, as well as providing exposure for its activities.

“The TTQE program is incredibly important as it is boosting school resources and the skills of local educators. With over 1600 teachers being trained, and working in 207 schools, it will impact on the lives of more than 30,000 children, “ Mr Balderstone said.

“Now the additional funding from the James Strong Memorial Project will help ten to twelve volunteer teachers deliver twice yearly training to local teachers in Nepal “.

“The poverty and lack of education opportunities where our program is being implemented are in many ways similar to what Sir Edmund Hillary found sixty years ago in the Upper Khumbu (Everest) region. Sir Ed’s amazing work building and resourcing schools there has inspired ours."

ENDS

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