2020: Classroom Insulation complete at Askole School

Askole village is situated in the foothills of the Karakoram Mountains, and it takes several hours to reach there by jeep from the nearest town of Skardu. Despite being the gateway to the Baltoro Glacier and the popular trail to Concordia and K2, the village is quite poor and neglected by authorities due to its remote location. However, in the spring of 2020, luck was on their side when a female climber, whose K2 expedition was postponed due to Covid restrictions, generously donated funds to insulate the classrooms in Askole against winter temperatures that can plummet as low as -35 °C. The insulation work was completed well before winter.

Presently, the Juniper Trust aims to raise £1,200 to pay a teacher’s salary for a third year from May 2021. They also seek to buy 270 winter coats for the children at a cost of £1,350 and allocate another £1,000 to purchase uniforms and equipment for 80 orphan children. Depending on the fundraising, there is a need for books, computers, additional classrooms, a library, and better hygiene facilities for the children and teachers.