The Sherpa School Project, Namche Bazaar, Nepal

The Sherpa School Project, a documentary about one of the most interesting schools ever built.

The project of doing the documentary is the brain-child of one of our closest friends here on Cape Ann's son. His name is J. Everest Crawford, a Junior at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. To make it happen, Everest needs a little financial help to get it done. If you're reading this, you're very likely a collector of Asian art, and probably a believer in the importance of education for children. So please take a few minutes to perhaps lend a hand.

Please keep reading.

A few years ago a Sherpa in Nepal and a good friend of Everest Crawford's family decided to build a school in maybe the most in-hospitable place on earth, Namche Bazaar at the base of Mt. Everest. The kids in the outlying area's of the region had no schools within walking distance (they also have no roads), so the Crawford's old friend Tsedem Sherpa decided to build one. He decided to build a school where children could live, study and develop. A lot of people thought it was a crazy idea.

He did it in 2009 with virtually no money, no heavy equipment or experience at an altitude of over 11,000 feet in the shadow of Mt. Everest. He called it the "Home Away From Home School". In the first year, they had around ten students, 7 years later they have 85 full time students and more wanting to attend every year. Good news spreads fast! The school was very good news.

Today the school has reached the point where they need help to survive financially. To get the word out about this amazing place, Everest decided to make a documentary about the school and Tsedem Sherpa as his school project. The hope is, with a documentary and some buzz, fans of Asian culture (like us) and people who appreciate the value of a good education for all people (hopefully like all of us) will make the school a greater success.

So please consider helping! (pretty please)

The Sherpa School Project, a Documentary

With support from Dartmouth College, SEArts, Society for the Encouragements of the ARTS, Home Away from Home School, and the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College.

J.Everest Crawford, a junior at Dartmouth College, will be creating, filming and editing this documentary about the unique story of Tsedam Sherpa and the Home Away from Home School he founded in 2009 in the Mount Everest, Khumbu District of Nepal. Before Tsedam founded Home Away from Home, the children who lived in the remote villages near his home village of Namche Bazaar had virtually no access to primary school education. The closest school, part of the network of Hilary Schools named after the famous British climber, Sir Edmund Hilary, was almost half a day’s walk away, and, as a result the kids in these remote villages were denied the opportunity for even the most basic education.

Everest’s lifelong connection with Tsedam and his own affinity for the region whose name he shares have combined to fuel a determination to raise awareness about the story of the Home Away from Home School and the local culture of the high Himalayan village of Namche Bazaar.

What is so special about the Home Away from Home School?

Home Away from Home opened its doors to 15 kids in 2009 and is now at full capacity with 85 kids who would not have access to any education without the services this school offers.

It provides basic elementary education and housing for all the children of the region.
Today, many Sherpa kids are obliged to study in Kathmandu where their own language and traditions are overlooked or ignored. Kids at Home Away from Home not only follow a traditional academic trajectory, but they also study Sherpa, ensuring the survival of local traditions, culture, language and heritage.
For the first time in their lives the students are exposed to basic music and art,
Everest plans to introduce them to basic photography, film, and even animation.

What can we do to help the Home Away from Home School?

Today, this school needs our help in order to continue offering education and housing for all the Sherpa kids of the Mount Khumbu District.

With 85 students, the school is at full capacity and can no longer continue to service the needs of the region. It needs funding to expand its space and staff in order to accept more kids.
The school needs to establish a scholarship fund for kids who cannot afford to attend.
The music program does not have enough instruments for every kid to learn and practice.
Many of the kids and teachers need new winter coats to stay warm!

Project Budget

In country travel, housing and food, including transportation from Kathmandu to Namche Bazaar, Mt. Everest visa and park permits, and porters to assist with equipment: $3400
Editing and audio equipment: $1600
Donation to the scholarship fund: $1000
Social Media marketing $400
Fiscal Agent fees $500

Total Budget: $6900

Optional film equipment to enhance video and audio quality: $4000

Project Timeframe

30 days of onsite filming in December 2017 and January 2018
Editing of the audio and footage in February and March 2018
Airing of the film and speaking engagements for Tsedam to come and tell his story in summer 2018

A Note from the Creator and Filmmaker, J. Everest Crawford

I have known Tsedam my entire life, and feel a special affinity with the Mount Everest region since my own origins are very deeply tied to this area through my parents’ affinity and love for it. Raising awareness about Tsedam’s wonderful school and helping to fund its growth have become a heartfelt goal ever since I began studying film at Dartmouth three years ago.

Not only do I plan to film the village, kids, and teachers, but I also hope to have the chance to teach at Home Away from Home, engage the children to help with the filming, and work with them on a simple animation project that tells their own story.

I plan to cover the costs of airfare to and from Kathmandu myself and will be filming with my current dslr. Any excess funds will go towards the purchase of a professional camera.

Thank you for donating to this film project that will bring awareness and help to our school!

Namaste

J. Everest Crawford, Tsedam, and the kids and teachers of the Home Away from Home School.

How Can you support The Sherpa School Film Project?

* Send your 100% tax free donation check to seARTS * PO Box 1476 * Gloucester, MA 01930 * Make a donation on my non profit YouCaring page * Call 978-853-7873 for any needed assistance You will receive a thank you note from Everest and the Sherpa School kids and be invited to the first screenings of the film in The Greater Boston area! **All extra funds donated after the Sherpa School budget is satisfied will be deposited in the Scholarship Fund of Home Away From Home School