Hi! 

In March 2009 I will depart on one of the greatest challenges of my life by joining 15 Accenture colleagues to trek Mt. Everest in Nepal. 

This Everest Base Camp Challenge is organized by Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), which is an international development charity that works through volunteers to fight poverty.  Instead of sending emergency relief, they send skilled professionals to live and work with communities in some of the poorest countries in the world.  All volunteers work towards specific aims in education, HIV & AIDS, disability, health and social well-being, secure livelihoods, or helping to ensure that the interests of all members of society are heard by the people who govern them. 

The overall aim of this trek in particular is to raise funds to support Nepal’s Education for All goals, which include expanding and improving early childhood development, ensuring access to education for all children, meeting the learning needs of all children including indigenous peoples and minorities, reducing adult illiteracy, and eliminating gender disparity.

Prior to the fourteen day trek I am looking forward to visiting a Nepalese school in Bhaktapur within the Kathmandu valley to meet some of the children who will benefit from our donations to the program.

I would sincerely appreciate your support.  ANY size donation will bring me closer to my fundraising goal and should make you feel good knowing you will be improving the quality of someone else’s life. 

Thank You!!!
Sarah

P.S. I will be modifying this page periodically with updates as to my training plan, fundraising efforts, and with new pictures so be sure to check back now and then!  If you know of anyone else that might be interested in supporting this effort I’d be grateful if you would please forward them this information.  Also if you’d prefer to send a check you can make it payable to VSO and then mail it to me; I’ll ensure it’s submitted to VSO.  *** Please note that this is a British website so donations are accepted in Pounds rather than Dollars.*** 

Additional Information (in case you’re interested):

Over a third of Nepal's population lives below the poverty line. The Nepalese government recognized that a well-run education system would be key to addressing poverty and building a population with the knowledge, confidence and communications skills to help itself.

VSO has been working closely with the Nepalese government to bring about this change for over 40 years. Initially, volunteers worked as teachers in schools in remote areas of the country. While many children benefited from this, by 2004 it was recognized that to achieve lasting change, VSO needed to work at different levels in the education system (for example, with district and national government) and to ensure that its work was contributing to Nepal’s Education for All goals.  
Therefore VSO now works at both central and district levels to influence policy, assist with implementation of policy changes, and improve the management of education to make it more inclusive, transparent and relevant.

Some of the work in 2008, which the money you donate will support, is a focus on improving the management and quality of education in ECD centers and primary schools. You will be supporting the people of Nepal in their efforts to ensure that all children, whatever their gender or background, can receive the primary school education that they are entitled to.

Intended beneficiaries:
o 35 Early Childhood Development (ECD) facilitators and the ECD committees of the local communities
o Heads and teachers of 36 primary schools
o School management committees of 36 primary schools
o Approx 5,000 children in up to 100 ECD centers
o Approx 7,000 children of primary school age (3-11) in 36 school

SARAH'S CURRENT TRAINING SCHEDULE: