Page 5 - The Keble Review 2016

Nepal HELP
At the end of Trinity Term 2016, myself and six other students from Oxford University travelled to Nepal as part of a programme arranged by an organisation named HELP (Helambu Education Livelihood Partnership) with the aim of promoting their goal
of improving education in government schools across the Helambu region where government provision is scarce.
As soon as we arrived in Kathmandu, the scale of the devastating damage caused by the earthquake of April 2015 became apparent. Despite the provision of foreign aid and the passage of over a year since the disaster, the crumbled buildings and vast areas of land covered in makeshift shelters to house the homeless that still covered the city were clear signs that Nepal was still a long way from recovery. Upon my arrival in Nakote, the remote, mountainous village where I was based during my teaching period, the extent of the earthquake damage only worsened; having experienced horrific landslides and with little access to resources due to the complete destruction of transportation routes, recovery in my village had been minimal. Despite such awful conditions, the locals were unbelievably welcoming and positive – the hospitality and thanks we received really was second to none.
Armed with endless supplies of stickers, colouring pencils and sweets, the two weeks that I spent in Nakote were thoroughly rewarding. I taught everything from English grammar to more traditional Nepali subjects such as ‘morals’ and ‘life skills,’ as well as nursery rhymes and games – heads down thumbs up was a particular favourite. I had the chance to interact with children from various age groups, ranging from age 3 up to age
16, and every single one of them was just as enthusiastic about being taught by someone new, despite the difficulties presented by the language barrier.
We had a truly fantastic experience. Not only were we able to immerse ourselves fully into the Nepalese culture and see some of the most outstanding geography in the world, we were also honoured to meet some incredibly warm and welcoming people who taught us more about the importance of appreciation despite extreme hardship than anyone else possibly could.
I am so grateful to have been able to take part in such a brilliant trip – thank you very much to the Keble Association.
Evangeline Towersey
Law 2015
The Keble Association
The Keble Association supports Keble students in making the most of their time at College. This year, KA grants enabled students to pursue academic studies by visiting libraries and archives, undertaking fieldwork and attending a wide range of international conferences. We also funded humanitarian projects and internships in Europe, Asia and South America. We give priority to students who would not otherwise be able to take up these exciting opportunities.
Outstanding projects included an Engineering graduate installing
water purification systems in rural India, an Environmental Change and Management graduate researching solar industries in Kampala, an Anthropology graduate conducting fieldwork among young Afghan artists in Kabul and another Anthropology graduate editing a film she had written and directed about a Syrian pro-democracy protester. We also funded eight students undertaking humanitarian work on behalf of HELP Nepal, a charity which has particularly strong links with Keble JCR. As a result of a generous bequest from Dick Fawcett to promote music in College, we launched a new award, given to the newly formed Keble Chamber Ensemble, which performed Fauré and Ravel to a large audience.
We welcome all Keble Members who would like to join the Keble Association and contribute to its work.
Vivek Srivastava
PPE 1996
Winning Netball Cuppers
The Keble Netball Team topped off a spectacular season with a dramatic
win in the Cuppers Competition. Over the course of the day, Keble beat Somerville (7-1), Pembroke (11-0), Exeter (9-0) and Osler House (13-0) to sail through to the quarter finals. The winning streak continued all the way
to a final against New College. Having lost in the final for the past two years,
we had something of a score to settle. With some superb teamwork and a booming crowd of Keble supporters on the sideline, we finally secured our place as Cuppers Champions.
A full report on the season is included on page 31 of The Record.
Sarah Leviseur
History 2013
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