Speaker - Jackie Taylor, Palpa Trust (Joint Meeting with St Andrews Rotary Club)

At the joint meeting on Tuesday night in the Scores Hotel the speaker was Jackie Taylor.  Jackie is a Trustee of the Palpa Trust.  This Trust was established in 2010 to help schools in the Palpa district of Nepal.  Jackie relies on various people and organisations for financial and administrative help, both at home and in Nepal.  She has Ravi Kafle in Nepal  (he also runs his own tour company – ravitours.com)  and at home has received great support from Cupar Rotary, who have been instrumental in delivering four water projects.  Sophie  Butler of St Andrews has been of immense support as well.  The Palpa district was luckily spared the worst of the earthquake damage that affected other parts of the country but the need for help is a constant problem.  Apart from the provision of clean water, financial help is  required  for school books, sports equipment,  teacher salaries and medical help.  The association with schools goes as far back as 2001 with Karnadhar   school.  The Karnadhar school, set in hills and within sight of the Annapurna  range, was a dangerous shell  but has now been transformed into a safe nine-classroom school in a fit for purpose building. Today 7 other schools now receive help.

Jackie went on to explain some of the problems facing the whole country of Nepal.  The contentious reorganisation into seven federal states and the ongoing problems with the Indian border have caused difficulties for basic living.  Most of Nepal’s needs come or rather don’t come by that Indian route.  The difficulties are compounded by the need for reconstruction.  Many still live in temporary accommodation.  If that is not enough there is an even greater problem with human trafficking post earthquake.

After a well received talk, Jim Allison gave a vote of thanks.

The Trust has an excellent website www.thepalpatrust.com for those who wish further information and Jackie would welcome all sorts of donations from sweatshirts to money.