Establishment of the Literacy Lab in Lukla
Background
In late 2010, SherpaCares began an initiative to build a Literacy Lab in the small school in the Himalayan village of Lukla. Here children and villagers practice reading and writing in a computer classroom that connects them to the world. The concept was driven by several of SherpaCares potential sponsors who wanted to help but were unsure how to do that.
Shree Lukla Primary School, in Lukla, was chosen as host of the first Literacy Lab and the resulting email Pen Pal program.
Current Impact
Today, students of the school participate in a unique email Pen Pal program. They write emails to their families in Kathmandu, or to their sponsors in California.
The project has received a great response from the students and villagers in the local community. And teachers are thrilled by the interest the children have in learning to read and write. The Pen Pal program provides them a practical and fun use for these new skills.
Sponsors that Made it Possible
NYCA of Encinitas, California, donated the necessary specialized network equipment to enable internet access. LYON and Associates of Solana Beach, California, donated the bulk of the laptops. Individual donors supplyied the remaining ones. Adam Waite went to Lukla to do the network engineering.