- By Georgia Whitehead, AUT University journalism student
Macleans College’s Hillary House has managed to raise an immense sum of money for the Himalayan Trust despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
For the past two years Hillary House pupils at the Bucklands Beach school committed to fundraising for the trust through bake sales, selling trumpets, and the annual Hillary carnival fundraiser, amidst the world having shut down due to Covid.
Special guests Sarah Hillary, the daughter of the late mountaineer and the first man to climb Mount Everest Sir Edmund Hillary, and the trust’s operations manager Alexander Hillary, recently attended an assembly at the school to receive a cheque for $10,000.
It was the first assembly of its kind since the pre-Covid days and included a kapa haka performance and a piano and vocal performance of Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror.
Alexander Hillary spoke of how “inspiring” it was to hear about the house’s fundraising efforts, which make it possible to build new schooling facilities and a computer lab in Nepal.
A speech by house captains Kyla Bhathena and Dave Khadka acknowledged their fellow pupils’ generosity and continuous fundraising efforts despite the hardship created by the pandemic.
“The past few years have seen our service efforts navigate Covid restrictions and over this past term alone we have seen many students donate anywhere between $20 to $100,” Dave said.
Kyla also shared the house’s motivation for supporting the trust.
“The children of Nepal don’t have many of the opportunities that we do at Macleans College on a daily basis.
“We are helping to allow these children to live their lives to the fullest.”
The 30-year association between Macleans College and the Himalayan Trust has been crucial for supporting the trust’s work in reducing poverty and empowering communities in the Mount Everest region.