On May 9th 2008, seventh-grade students from Locke school, an inner-city school in Chicago put together a project on Nepal. This final presentation was a culmination of hard work over months since the class found out that they had been assigned to represent Nepal as a part of their International Day project. Instead of just putting together a presentation, the class along with their teacher, Brad Parker decided to pursue a bigger goal. The goal was to put together information on Nepal and Nepali children so that they could raise funds to give educational opportunity to these children in another part of the world. They combined this class project with an individual campaign carried out by their teacher, Brad, who will be climbing Mt. Whitney, a 14,494 feet high mountain in California’s Sierra Nevada range, this July to raise funds for NCEF.

When Brad found out that his seventh grade class was assigned to study and prepare an exhibit on Nepal as a part of the school’s I.B. Program’s annual day International Day celebration, he decided to do more than just prepare a presentation on Nepal. Brad describes the motivation behind the fundraising campaign in his own words:

“… As an avid mountain climber and outdoors enthusiast, I knew that Nepal was home to the Himalayas, the most beautiful and rugged of all the world's mountains, and "the top of the world," Mount Everest.  However, as we researched more about this land I came to a stark realization: … these proud people have found themselves plagued with poverty as one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world.  I reflected on the fact that less than 50% of adults in Nepal are literate, and that only 35% of female children are able to read and write. When I learned about the thousands of people dedicating themselves to education in this incredible land, I was inspired to get involved. 

As a teacher in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program, I incorporate themes of Community and Service into my classroom to show my students that we can and must give back to the community and to the world.  I realized that it was now my turn.  By combining my passion for education and the outdoors with my desire to help others, I knew I could make a real difference.  This is when I began to envision my own "Climb for a Cause," an effort that would help to brighten the educations of Nepal's children. 

I cannot think of a better way to honor Nepal, the keeper of the most beautiful mountains in the world, but by climbing the highest mountain, Mt. Whitney,  in the contiguous United States.  Every dollar I raise for my climb I plan on donating to the Nepalese Children's Education Fund.”

Locke school seventh grade students preparing for their class presentation on Nepal.

I saw excitement in my students' eyes as I explained how we could help change the life of a student in Nepal with just one hundred dollars, and knew I had to further pursue this project.  The thought of having my students help their peers across the globe receive an education was an amazing concept. 

While my students will work hard to collect money for the cause in school, I have committed to challenge myself in this process.  Having completed what will undoubtedly be my most intense climb on July 15th, 2008  I will take pride in myself and my students knowing that through my "Climb for a Cause" we brightened the path of education in the lives of Nepal's children.