Volunteers from a York charity to travel to Nepal to decorate the school it funded

On 19th March, five members of the charity founded by York businesswoman Maxine Brown will head to Nepal to decorate and furnish the school they fundraised to build.

Mrs Brown was part of an international volunteer group that travelled to Semjong Basic School in the Bagmati Province of Nepal after the earthquakes of 2015 destroyed the small school and has supported the school with uniforms, books and resources through her business, AmaDablam Cashmere, ever since.

With the support of a group of friends, the charity Helping Hands for Nepal was formed in order to support and improve education in rural Nepal and has recently raised funds to rebuild the school.

Ahead of the trip, Mrs Brown, who will be joined by Jo and Loren Barnes from Pocklington and Sue and Serena Leighton from Tollerton, is appealing for help from local businesses to help furnish the school that provides an education for 73 children between the ages of four and nine.

Mrs Brown said: "Our biggest need is for desks and to carpet the Early Years classrooms. Any additional donations once the school has been equipped will be used as contributions towards any student struggling to afford to attend school or to fund a "pop-up" health surgery for the children.

"It costs £100 to sponsor a desk and the donor will receive a plaque on the desk. We are grateful to friends and family plus York businesses including Minster Engineering Fabrication Co and BW Joinery who have already pledged desks, Sorrell Construction who have sponsored one of the carpets needed and Dancraft who have donated all of the plaques for the desks.

The charity funded the rebuilding of the school by organising events, including Artisan Markets, Fashion Shows, an Annual Dinner and Auction, Afternoon Tea, and Wellbeing afternoons, plus a generous donation from an anonymous benefactor.

The team of ladies will spend a week painting, decorating and furnishing the shell of the building to make it into a school. They will be supported by their partners in Nepal, Real Himalaya Ltd, Gokul Thapa and Dayula Sherpa.