FMHS boys prepping for trek to Nepal

OFF TO NEPAL

It’s a good opportunity to help us learn about the other perspectives of the world and how they live and it gives us a chance to help out underprivileged kids in other countries.”

Holden Fraise, FMHS sophomore

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Donations to Rebuild Nepal Education Foundation can be made at the following link: https://rebuildnepaleducation.org/donate.

FORT MADISON – Two Fort Madison students are joining Rebuild Nepal founder Ernie Schiller on his next trip to the earthquake-ravaged Asian country known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.
Schiller is making his 11th trip in nine years to the landlocked mountainous country in south Asia nestled in the Himalayas.
Schiller started traveling there to help students and children who continue to suffer from the effects of a massive earthquake in 2015 that killed close to 9,000 people as a 7.3 magnitude aftershock. Another earthquake struck the small country in 2023 that killed 153.
But Bloodhounds Holden Fraise and Aiden Dostalek, both sophomores, are gearing up, literally and metaphorically, for a three-week venture to the historically impoverished nation.
The two are taking a drone on the trip, which could prove to be one of the more fantastic discoveries for the children that they will be helping educate while in the region. Fraise said they will use a GoPro camera on the drone and then send back vlogs, or video blogs, of their experiences. They will also be regularly journaling on a daily basis.
The footage will be used for presentations and a closer look at the small villages that make up the regions the group will be visiting.
Schiller regularly takes adults with him on the trek to help and experience the region, but bringing kids along is special for him.
“I had one 15-year-old kid go with me several years ago, but to have two is special,” Schiller said.
“I want to make sure the kids are capturing as much of this as they can. They are spending some of their own money to do this. They are doing some fundraising to help pay for the supplies they are bringing, but still I want them to be sure they get the best out of this,” Schiller said.
The two have been friends for awhile and discussed going on the trip before sharing the plans with their parents.
Fraise said he’s excited to see other parts of the world.
“It’s a good opportunity to help us learn about the other perspectives of the world and how they live, and it gives us a chance to help out underprivileged kids in other countries,” he said.
Dostalek said he was most excited about experiencing the different culture.
“Just seeing how they live and immersing myself in that culture,” he said.
Fraise said most of the trip will be going to different schools and helping students with math and basic engineering using Lego™ systems.
“Most of the time we’ll be going to different schools, giving away scholarships and supplies,” he said.
The demands of the trip aren’t lost on the two friends.
“The altitude will be challenging and there will be a lot of walking. There isn’t clean water filtration systems. It’s rough terrain and it will be good for us,” Fraise said.
Each student will bring along 100 lbs. of supplies for students, including backpacks filled with socks and supplies.
Schiller said the economy is slowly starting to rebuild after the earthquakes, but it is a slow process. There is English spoken along with Nepalese in younger grades so Fraise and Dostalek will be able to communicate with most of the kids and engage in conversation.
The students will be missing some time at school while on the trek, but FMHS Co-principal Adrian McKay said those hurdles have been worked out.
Corey Fraise said Holden just dropped the idea on them and wasn’t going with them, but was proud of his son for being adventurous.
“I’m really excited for him and am very proud that he’s taking the intiative to do this. This wasn’t available when I was in school, but I don’t know that I would have had the nerve or courage to do it anyhow,” Corey said.
The two students will be vaccinated with tetanus, typhoid, and possibly malaria. The monsoon season doesn’t start until July 1 historically, so the malaria vaccine may not be required. The last couple years the area has had 700 to 900 inches of rain in about a six-week period. They are leaving prior to the middle of June to avoid the heavy precipitation.
Fraise said there will be a bunch of adjustments, including water consumption and showering. They will have to drink bottled water and eat mostly a vegan diet, but they said they will adjust to that.
They will also get to work in the fields with some of the families.
Schiller said he will be there for about five weeks. Lee County Supervisor Chuck Holmes is also making the trip this year. He leaves May 14 and the students leave on May 23 and stay for three weeks.