Update from Nepal: The trip to Bethan is underway!

One of the key elements of this project has just begun: As I write this, Phurbu Tamang is leaving Kathmandu to travel to Yubaraj's village of Bethan. Phurbu is a colleague of both Puskar Gurung and Scott MacLennan's, and he's active with Karing for Kids, one of the organizations supported by the Mountain Fund. Scott has spoken very highly of Phurbu, and I'm very glad he'll be representing us in Bethan. While Puskar had been planning to make this trip, his schedule over the past week filled with other commitments. Yubaraj called Puskar yesterday from a village near his home, so Puskar was able to tell him to expect Phurbu to visit in his place.

Basu, Puskar, and Phurbu met yesterday to discuss the details of the trip. Our goal is to have the clearest understanding of his family's needs and of their support for his schooling. While in Bethan, Phurbu will complete a questionnaire that asks a number of questions of Yubaraj's family, teachers, and village elders (it's a customized version of the one used by Nepal Children's Education Fund for their site interviews).

Phurbu will return to Kathmandu with Yubaraj early next week, I'll write then to share the what we've learned. In the meantime, it's a thrill to see this trip begin. Many, many thanks to Phurbu, Basu, and Puskar for putting it in motion!