Some of St Benedict wives with Sally adorned with their silk scarves, with children who are benefiting from the charity ‘Classroom in the Clouds’
On Thursday 12th October Wombourne Wives welcomed Sally who is a headteacher and regular worshipper at St Benedict Biscop.
A wonderful Nepalese greeting awaited us all. Sally gave everyone a white silk scarf offered with a Nepalese welcoming greeting. It is a custom to offer a greeting scarf as a way of indicating your honourable intentions, and wishes of happiness.
She spoke about her love and visits to the Himalaya and Nepal and her passion for the charity ‘,Classroom in the Clouds’ The charity was created by a Nepalese Sherpa who accompanied Sally on her excursions with her Deputy Headteacher to the mountainous areas of Nepal. (he has become a firm friend) In his desperation as a child to go to school he ran away when he was 12 years old to gain an education. As an adult he has become a successful business man who is determined to give all Nepalese mountain children the chance of an education. At the moment schools are scarce and basically just ramshackle muddy outdoor areas with if lucky wooden benches.
Due to taboos most girls withdraw from education at eleven or twelve years of age and for around 6 months of the year schools are unreachable due to heavy rains! – no classroom roofs and rock falls. The charity has started building schools which are earthquake and rainproof and are training teachers. Sally and her Deputy actually went to Nepal with basic equipment to help train teachers.
As we all went home adorned in our scarves we realised just how easy it is for us to forget how lucky we are to have the luxury of education and life choices.