28th January '16
— Jackets, Shoes & Smiles!

JULEY good people!

Time to resume our updates. Firstly, we're very excited to tell you that we have entered the final phase of our book design. The dry mockup is almost ready and we are about to make some tough decisions about the final edit and the detailed structure. We have also made a decision to increase the size of the book at our own cost to include more pictures - anywhere between 100-150 photographs, which should amply reward you for the wait!

Meanwhile, here's the long-promised update about jackets & shoes, and the happy day we spent with the children in Lingshed equipping them with brand new shiny winter jackets, comfy shoes and winter boots, as well as fresh socks which were much in demand!

Once again, our German agent Kristina was in charge of the operation, with Tundup Tsewang - our native Lingshed-pa trekker - as her assistant, and since there were 116 schoolchildren to consider we had to work out a good fitting system to avoid absolute chaos...

The clothes were arranged into separate piles according to size, and throughout the best part of the day children were invited inside from the smallest to the largest... Soon enough little queues formed outside the hall and there was plenty of laughs and happy faces!

As we mentioned in our campaign, money is a rare commodity in the valley. All families live from subsistence farming; shopping in the nearest city, which is a 2-days trek and an expensive car ride away, is a luxury beyond the means of most Lingshed-pas. You can imagine how delighted they were to have received those precious gifts of clothing!

Since pictures are worth a thousand words, here's a little selection from the day:

Towards the end, after having fitted over 100+ children with new jackets, shoes and socks, we realised that six of the oldest kids needed bigger sizes... They received two extra pairs of socks each and a solemn promise that Tundup would return to the valley in due time with a set of replacement jackets and shoes.

Since then, Tundup has gone again to Lingshed via the Chaddar route, or the perilous winter trek along the frozen river, to bring the missing winter equipment to our brave and patient young friends. As far the clothing goes - that's mission accomplished!

JULAY wonderful people!