Since 2012, the Almayuda Foundation has been supporting the Benoît Chamoux Foundation, which undertakes to finance the schooling of every child it takes on until they leave the school system.
The Benoît Chamoux Foundation was founded in March 1996, under the aegis of the Fondation de France, to perpetuate the memory of Benoît Chamoux, who disappeared in the autumn of 1995 during an ascent of Kanchenjunga (Nepal).
In the 23 years since it was set up, the foundation has mounted seven cultural projects in the Everest, Solukhumbu and Makalu valleys: the renewal of prayer wheels, monasteries and chortens (monuments that are symbols of the presence of Buddha).
A student born in a village at an altitude of 3790 metres, who has lost his father and whose mother is illiterate, has just received a master’s degree with distinction in Europe! Another is completing his BSc in Engineering in Kathmandu… Yet another has been named Student of the Year during the final year of her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work.
But first and foremost, the Benoît Chamoux Foundation comes to the aid of Sherpa children whose father has died during an expedition in the Himalayas. The foundation covers the cost of their schooling up to twelfth grade (upper secondary school). The Almayuda Foundation has been mentoring and financially supporting this programme since 2012.
The Benoît Chamoux Foundation can also help the most deserving students to continue their education beyond secondary schooling. One of the current challenges is precisely to find new sponsors who will finance tertiary education grants.
38 orphans 23 years
Between 1996 and 2019, the Benoît Chamoux Foundation has contributed to the complete education of 38 small girls and boys who have lost their father.
Twelve of them are currently in primary and secondary schooling, nine in the Little Angels’ School and three in the Little Angels’ College.
Six are pursuing tertiary studies to become engineers or to take up employment in the health, tourism, education and accounting sectors. “A student born in a village at an altitude of 3790 metres, who has lost his father and whose mother is illiterate, has just received a master’s degree with distinction in Europe! Another is completing his BSc in Engineering in Kathmandu… Yet another has been named Student of the Year during the final year of her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work”, says Fabienne Clauss, the President of the Benoît Chamoux Foundation.
Ang Dawa, Master of Science with distinction.
Phurba Phuti, Bachelor of Social Work, student of the year.Twenty other children, now young adults, have entered professional life. They work in the hotel and catering industry, IT, event organisation, tourism (as travel agents or trekking guides), health (as nurses and physiotherapists), etc.
Almayuda is proud to contribute to this initiative, which is an excellent illustration of Benoît Chamoux’s remark: “Happiness in life is knowing there are always peaks to reach and summits to conquer!”
Photos DR
Useful link: http://fondationchamoux.com