Menu
Nestled in the foothills of the Karakoram Mountains, Askole is the gateway to the Baltoro glacier and the popular trail to Concordia and K2. However, despite the wealth passing through, the village remains extremely poor and neglected due to its remote location.
The Juniper Trust has been working tirelessly to support the children of Askole. With your help, we’ve been able to insulate the classrooms before the winter snow arrived and provide basic food supplies to families facing starvation during the Covid crisis. And we’re not done yet!
Education is the best way to break the cycle of poverty, and the teachers at Askole village school are doing a great job despite the woefully inadequate facilities. With 270 students sharing only 5 classrooms, they desperately need more space and resources.
The Juniper Trust raised money for a sign outside the school on the main trekking route, in the hope of attracting more attention and support. And we’re paying the full-time salaries of two teachers who were previously volunteers, ensuring that the neediest children have access to education.
Clare Gillespie, a Juniper Trust volunteer who has an unwavering passion for helping the people of Baltistan made her first visit to the region in 2008, and since then, she has returned several times to immerse herself in the local culture and help teach in the schools. Clare holds the teachers in high regard for their incredible accomplishments despite the challenges they face due to the remoteness of the area.
Despite the difficulties, Clare stays in regular communication with Ali, the headmaster of the school, to offer support to the neediest children, particularly those who have lost their parents. Clare is a firm believer that education, especially for girls, is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. She has helped the Juniper Trust provide school uniforms and equipment to orphaned children and continues to advocate for the importance of education in improving the lives of the people in the region. Clare’s dedication to the people of Baltistan is truly inspiring, and her efforts have made a significant impact on the lives of many.
Clare Gillespie, a Juniper Trust volunteer who has an unwavering passion for helping the people of Baltistan made her first visit to the region in 2008, and since then, she has returned several times to immerse herself in the local culture and help teach in the schools. Clare holds the teachers in high regard for their incredible accomplishments despite the challenges they face due to the remoteness of the area.
Despite the difficulties, Clare stays in regular communication with Ali, the headmaster of the school, to offer support to the neediest children, particularly those who have lost their parents. Clare is a firm believer that education, especially for girls, is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. She has helped the Juniper Trust provide school uniforms and equipment to orphaned children and continues to advocate for the importance of education in improving the lives of the people in the region. Clare’s dedication to the people of Baltistan is truly inspiring, and her efforts have made a significant impact on the lives of many.
The Juniper Trust was able to respond quickly to the urgent need for food in Askole when the Covid crisis hit the area. The fact that local suppliers were willing to subsidize the cost of delivering the food parcels is a testament to the generosity of the local community. It’s also good to hear that the distribution was done carefully and fairly by the village eldership, which would have helped to ensure that the aid reached those who needed it most.
Overall, this is a great example of how organizations like Juniper Trust can respond quickly and effectively to crises, and it’s a testament to the dedication and hard work of volunteers like Ayub Khan, who led a team of volunteers to deliver a month’s supply of basic food ingredients – two jeep loads of flour, rice, dahl, sugar, tea, and soap – to the 40 worst-off families in Askole. No mean feat in the winter conditions.
We need your help to continue supporting the children of Askole village. With your donation through our dedicated JustGiving page, we can make a real difference in the lives of these amazing kids.
30 Wordsworth Street
Penrith, Cumbria
CA11 7QY, United Kingdom
Registered Charity Number: 1053356
