丹麥史基薇賀斯扶輪社社員奈爾森、歐斯特佳及翁恩在國際年會討論清布學校計畫。(From left) Skivehus Rotarians Thøger Berg Nielsen, Niels Østergaard, and Flemming Worm discuss the Chhimbu school project at the convention. Photo by Monika Lozinska-Lee.

尼泊爾清布的第一所學校

This is the first school in Chhimbu, Nepal. Photo by Flemming Worm

丹麥哥本哈根──丹麥史基薇賀斯(Skivehus)扶輪社社員將傳單發送給參觀他們攤位的扶輪社員，希望能號召更多人支持這項珍貴的計畫：在尼泊爾清布（Chhimbu）蓋小學。

Copenhagen, Denmark — Members of the Rotary Club of Skivehus, Denmark, hand out fliers to Rotarians visiting their project booth in the hopes they can find support for a cherished project: a primary school in Chhimbu, Nepal.

雖然扶輪以服務及人道計畫聞名，它還有另一個優點：聯誼。就在哥本哈根貝拉中心（Bella Center）的走廊上，扶輪社希望藉由同儕情誼激發推動扶輪計畫的動力。

Although Rotary is known for its service and humanitarian efforts, it has another strength: fellowship. Here, in the aisles of Copenhagen’s Bella Center, clubs are looking to harness that fellowship to maintain the momentum behind their projects.

清布計畫始自1993 年， 一位熱衷健行的丹麥人龍波格（Kurt Lomborg） 當時徒步穿越尼泊爾，旅程中他注意到清布這個社區從來都沒有學校。在建立這個學校之前，當地孩童要接受教育太過危險，因為到最近的學校必須跋涉一段遙遠崎嶇的路才到得了。

The Chhimbu project got its start when, in 1993, Danish hiker Kurt Lomborg trekked through Nepal. During the trip, he noticed that the community of Chhimbu never had a school. Before the school was built, getting an education was too dangerous for local children because the nearest school required a long trip over bad roads.

回到丹麥後，龍波格聯絡他在史基薇賀斯扶輪社的朋友。透過德國施沃林(Schwerin)扶輪社的幫助，丹麥人為蓋學校發起募款。之後和加德滿都(Kathmandu)扶輪社合作協調當地事宜，開始興建工程。

When he returned to Denmark, Lomborg got in touch with local friends from the Skivehus club. The Danes raised money for the school with the support of the Rotary Club of Schwerin, Germany. They then teamed up with the Kathmandu club to help with local coordination, and they got to work.

這個世界社區服務計畫不但蓋了學校、提供書包和制服， 還讓社區恢復生氣。到現在已運作7 年多，清布歷史上第一次有約55 個學生上學。

This World Community Service project built the school, supplied backpacks and uniforms, and revitalized the community. Now going strong for more than seven years, some 55 students are in school for the first time in Chhimbu’s history.

史基薇賀斯扶輪社員翁恩(Flemming Worm)說：「我們現在在為第一屆的學生作安排，他們即將畢業，要去附近的另一個學校繼續求學。」

"We’re making arrangements for the first class, who will graduate to continue at another school in the area," said Skivehus club member Flemming Worm.

當地扶輪青年服務團團員參與維護校園運作，史基薇賀斯扶輪社則支付教師薪水。扶輪基金會撥給配合獎助金幫助扶輪社員蓋一口井，及進行其他工程。

Local Rotaractors are involved in maintaining the school, while the Skivehus club pays the teachers’ salaries. A Matching Grant from The Rotary Foundation helped Rotarians finish off a well and perform other structural work.

學校興建後帶來許多利益。接受教育的清布女孩可以賺錢養家； 如果沒念書，她們很有可能被迫賣淫賺錢。這項計畫也促進環境保護， 當地兒童植樹預防可能重創村落的土石流。此外，學校也為當地社區的成人提供工作機會。

After the school was built, the benefits multiplied. In Chhimbu, educated girls can help support their families. Without an education, they may have been forced into prostitution to earn money. The project also helps the environment. Local children plant trees to prevent mudslides, which can devastate their village. In addition, the school provides jobs for the community's adults.

Worm 說：「當初興建學校的那個人現在已開公司雇人，所以我們也幫助這個社區自立自強。」

"The man who constructed the school is now an entrepreneur who has employees, so we are helping the community help themselves," said Worm.

加德滿都和丹麥的扶輪社現在準備再度合作重建一所遭祝融摧毀的學校，這個校舍所在的村莊到清布要走一天的路。

The Kathmandu and Danish clubs are looking to collaborate again to rebuild a school. This school, which is in a village a day’s walk away from Chhimbu, was destroyed by a fire.

這次的經驗鼓舞熱衷健行的龍波格加入史基薇賀斯扶輪社， 他仍然常常到尼泊爾旅行查看學校運作的現況，不過現在是以扶輪社員的身分。

The experience inspired hiker Lomborg to join the Skivehus club. He still travels frequently to Nepal to check on the school’s progress, but now as a Rotarian trekker.

社員奈爾森ThøgerBerg Nielsen 說：「不只他們， 我們也是受益者。當你看到付出有結果， 你會很高興，我需要這種感覺。」

"It’s good for them, but it’s good for us, too," said Thøger Berg Nielsen. "You’re happy when you can see the results of your work. I need that."

欲知該計畫詳情，請上網至www.nepalhelp.org 查看。

Read more about the project at www.nepalhelp.org.