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| Byron Smith, Zeke O'Connor, Karen O'Connor, Nima McElhinney |
Zeke O’Connor of the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation was in Nepal for the grand opening of the first stage of the Phaplu school May 21.
"The new High School will definitely help the Sherpa students. I am so greatful for the Calgary West Rotary Club’s partnership with The Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation to help raise funds to finish the new school in the village of Phaplu."
Although the school will be completed over the next three years, the first phase was officially opened during the May 21 ceremony. It will be the first High School in the Solu-Khumbu area with Science being taught in grades 11 and 12. When completed, the new school will accommodate 150 students who would not normally have the opportunity to study sciences in the remote area of Nepal.
"As I said during the opening ceremony, I am most honored to have a school named after me. This really makes it special," O'Connor continues. "It's going to provide science courses for the poorer people in that area. Before they would have to go to Kathmandu if they wanted to become a doctor or go on to higher education and most of these people could not afford it." Zeke O’Connor as told to Doris Fleck(UniMark Creative Services)
