I am currently in Year 11 of school, yet this is the first time a trip of this magnitude has come up:

I hope to go to the Indian Himalayas during the summer of 2018.

The plan is that we will travel to India for a period of 25 days, during which most of our time will be spent living and working in small mountain towns in the area of Manali. This means some trekking and sight-seeing, but our primary aim will be to help out with the poorer communities living there.

In a group of 15 friends, we will spend 5 days working within a small government school in the Kullu Valley. The school is very run down, so our project aims to improve its facilities and renovate their classrooms, in hope that the children can then learn in a safe and productive environment, as well as feel motivated to attend school.

In general, we will be trying to help them out in any way we can, throughout our time there. This could mean through that school, but also in terms of resources or even just through this new human interaction.

After all, what can they learn from us? What can we learn from them?

Unfortunately, the trip costs are hefty for my parents, let alone for a 16-year-old, which is why I am reaching out here.

Every donation is appreciated, and will go directly towards the trip’s funding.

Thank you in anticipation,

Stas Kaleta.