Head teacher Purna Gautam sent this message:
Dear Corin Sir
Namaste and big  hug from me and all the families of Melamchighyang school and communities. 
Since you have been here at Melamchighyang school we all the teachers become literate in ICT and improve a lot in ICT education. Now we have confidence in our computer skills. First, you introduce the ICT training  to the entire Hyolmo's school teacher and They have gained the skill and many schools are abeling to play the computer properly. Not only that, you have been raising the living standard of many peoples of Melamchi Ghyang through organising the teacher training  or buying the local product of the community and participating with locals in sorrow and happiness.  
Yesterday, I really became so sad and upset when I heard about your health issue. We all are very upset and praying to buddha for your good health. You have done a lot of good work  for Nepal. We always will be with you and together.
Purna

We are sad to let people know that Corin has incurable cancer and is in hospital. 
The charity is still planning to support the school in Melamchi Ghyang this year with the funds for a year's salary for the IT/Computer teacher and will update supporters soon.

We are appealing for funds during August to support the school and village in the Melamchi-Helambu region.  All donations during August 2021 will go directly to support the provision of fuel to generate electricity, food and other essential supplies.  All bridges have now been destroyed limiting access to the regions villages.

Friends in Nepal are facing very difficult circumstances right now in the Helambu-Melamci region. Starting with landslides and floods in June and continuing with monsoon flooding significantly worse than any prior years.
On August 4th we heard that the last bridge in the Helambu region is now gone completely, isolating the Melamchi communities.
Head teacher Purna Gautam emailed this update yesterday from Kathmandu:
"Again flood washed all remaining bridges away with new built footpaths and reconnected road.
Telephone, electricity and almost 50 houses destroyed. The level of the river rises again almost 10m.
Many hectares of rice fields are affected.
The Melamchi Drinking water project to Kathmandu valley is in doubt to supply the water to the valley.
No power and telephone .
Delivery, childbirth cases and other health problems people have to rescue by helicopter from the whole valley.
There are no grocery shops to buy food and medicine. It has been 4 days since the second wave of flood, no appearance of the government rescue and relief packages."

Corin's going on a fundraising mountain bike ride.

In June Corin is cycling from Hadrian's Wall, at Haltwhistle, to Edinburgh Castle to raise funds for Yolmo Connect.  He'll be mountain-biking off-road, along tracks and trails following the Great North Trail and will be self-supported - sleeping in a tent & b&bs if he's lucky!
It's 230km and should take six days to complete.
I'm raising money in aid of Yolmo Connect, to support the integration of IT and computing into schools in the mountainous region of the Yolmo Valley in Nepal.

Due to the work the charity has already done the school at Melamchi Ghyang has delivered online classes during the Coronavirus pandemic. We need to be able to continue and extend the support into more schools with teachers and training.

You can support the fundraiser using this link Gofundme-cycleforNepal

Sadly arrangements are being made for Corin to return to the UK ahead of his planned date due to the COVID-19 outbreak, now worldwide.  At the time of posting Nepal has gone into total lockdown and the UK government have advised all their citizens overseas to make their way back to the UK.  While he waits for further information regarding transport arrangements Corin has been working on the schools administration software in the mornings and in the afternoons helping head teacher Purna Gautum and others from the village construct the framework for a new greenhouse.  

Corin has arrived in Nepal and is staying in Kathmandu before travelling up to the village of Melamchi Ghyang, at the start of the next training visit.
​Thank you to Kami Yolmo and his son Ishi for their welcoming hospitality in Kathmandu.

We've enjoyed seeing the beautiful photos of Melamchi Ghyang village in the snow and thankful to know that most of the villagers now have new earthquake proof houses. 

​In December 2019 the school celebrated the handover of the class rooms funded and constructed by CARITAS Switzerland.  A new earthquake-proof girls' hostels has also been completed but funding for the boys' hostel is a problem and conditions are still basic. The dining room which feeds residential children and teachers has also been rebuilt with the support of Belgian charity Ketaketi.