Dubai: Six boys from the Rashid School for Boys endured a 16-day trek over the treacherous terrain and snow-clad mountains of the Himalayas to become the first Emiratis to reach Everest base camp.
The arduous journey from the mystic desert to the majestic mountains and the base camp was a life-altering experience for the teenagers who have been raised in Dubai.
Beyond the adrenaline rush of braving the freezing cold and trekking in the high altitudes of Nepal with a few sherpas and hairy yaks, the expedition also had the boys raising Dh800,000 for two charities - the UAE Red Crescent and the Nepal-based Moving Mountains.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Mana, a grade 12 student, said the journey was exhausting and it drained all their energy when they reached the base camp on April 12, but in the end they felt proud.
"When I carried my country's flag to the base camp, I was incredibly proud of our team and myself," he said.
Glyn Kilsby, the head teacher who accompanied the boys with five other staff said: "It was a long and difficult climb, but the students were determined, committed to succeed and did not give up when things became difficult."
And the 16-day journey did present many challenges for the team.
The expedition took longer than expected and they had to walk three extra days to reach another airstrip when their starting point at Lukla airport was shrouded in fog.
"We would walk on average six to seven hours a day tackling rocky terrain and forests; wading through rivers and rain. And every village we stopped by, we spoke with the people, the children. They were so friendly. One of the village elders even told us that he had actually climbed Mount Everest when he was our age.
"The physical endurance required at high altitudes was also testing because we were not used to it. But as a team we supported each other and we pushed on and on until we could make it," said Al Mana.
The team also took on the 5,500 metre Kala Pattar that offered a rare view of Mount Everest.
According to Kilsby, as well as the physical challenge, the trip that was part of the school's outdoor curriculum was an eye-opener for the students about life in other parts of the world.
The boys visited a number of projects in Nepal and learnt how the money raised would be used to improve education in remote mountainous regions.
"I have never seen people who have so little in life. I was amazed that they were so happy and content though they could not even imagine the privileges that we enjoy here in Dubai," said Al Mana.
The boys said they came back with a treasure trove of memories and experience which have taught them to look at life differently.
Your comments
I would personally like to thank all those six brave pupils for their noble and broad thought at the early age. Congratulations! You are the shining stars of tomorrow in a leading campaign to make this world a better place to live in. And emphasizing on every country, culture and religion has its own richness and significance to offer for humanity. I can't thank enough to Mr. Glyn Kilsby head teacher for being a great example as well as Gulf News for publishing such a cute and touchy creativity of pupils. I love humanity and am proud of my country - Nepal.
Rohan Sunar
Dubai,U.A.E
Posted: April 25, 2009, 17:45
Way to go boys! We're proud!
V. K.
Dubai,U.A.E
Posted: April 25, 2009, 16:54
I am very happy to see this story.
Amar Rokka Chhatri
Bhairahawa,Nepal
Posted: April 25, 2009, 16:23
I would like to congratulate these courageous students to rise to the height of Mt. Everest Base Camp. I wish for their glorious future and hope they will be doing a lot more to help the poor but content people from the Himalays. Thanks Gulf News for making this a great story.
Arun Subedi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 25, 2009, 13:58
I was so glad to read this report may be because I am Nepali, too and I would like to thank Gulf News for publishing this report. I suggest every Emirati should visit Nepal once and feel the love of the people there. I was touched with one of the boy said that they came back with a treasure trove of memories and experience which have taught them to look at life differently. Thank you for visiting Nepal and I am sure one day you will go there to climb Mt. Everest. Good Luck
A Reader
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: April 25, 2009, 12:42
Congrats! This is a mission for a cause and an adventure as well. No matter how difficult it is but they have successfully explored to the base camp of Mt. Everest (The Highest Summit of the World).
H. Gurung
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 25, 2009, 11:33
