Grassroots Efforts Support Dreams

Mike Church and three of his friends at St. Mary's College of Maryland dreamed of a year long biking adventure traveling off the beaten tracks of Europe and Asia. They wanted to experience the people and cultures of the world from four feet off the ground.

Ujjwall Bhat dreamed of starting a school for the children in his rural village in Southwestern Nepal. His family had sacrificed so that he and his brother could be educated and learn English. Now he wanted to return this gift to others.

By accident these two young men met in January 2005.

Mike and his friends planned to scuba dive in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of India when the Tsunami hit. They reconfigured their plans and headed north, deciding to explore Nepal and hike the Annapurna Trek. The King of Nepal and the Maoist Rebels were in open conflict the day the boys road their bikes into Nepal. As luck would have it, Mike and his friends met Ujjwal and his brother riding their bikes along the road. They quickly engaged in discussions in English and agreed to go to Ujjwal's village to spend a couple of days in "a subtropical Eden" and in safety. Late into the night they discussed classic English literature which both sets of young men had read. They discussed the hopes for the future of Nepal and Ujjwal shared his dream of a school for his village - then offered free room and board if Mike and his friends would stay to teach English to the children.

The Americans could not stay but Mike and Ujjwal did not forget their encounter - nor their dreams.

Ujjwal continued to stay in contact. He did the preliminary planning and provided Mike with proposals for his school.

In May 2008, Mike married Ali Sharp and they decided to ask their wedding guests to help build a school in Nepal, in place of sending gifts. From this small donation of $2,500, Ujjwal was able to begin the "Mikey Medium English School" with 20 boys and 20 GIRLS. It is the only school for poor students in their village.

On a bare bones budget, Ujjwal built a two room school, obtained furniture, secured uniforms and hired two teachers. The school is open and running. Ujjwal takes no salary.

Elaine Boothby, Mike's English teacher from South River High School in Edgewater, MD has followed Mike's adventures. In 2009 she contacted Mike to find out how her students could support Mike's school as part of their Global Literacy Project. Since then South River students, other Anne Arundel County Public Schools and the Rotary Clubs in the area have joined in to support the school in Nepal. Because caring citizens wanted to know how to help, Grassroots Education Nepal began.

Mike' parents, Barbara and John Church of Davidsonville, MD continued to personally provide essential funds to the school during 2009. In February 2010 they are venturing to Bauniyan, Kailali Nepal to teach and determine ongoing needs for funding.

Through efforts from many parts of our community - collectively and individually - we are changing the lives of children in rural Nepal -
BECAUSE TWO YOUNG MEN DARED TO DREAM.

Mike Church's Presentations - Barbara and John Church's Teaching Trip to Nepal

Mike Church will be in Maryland from January 14 - Feb. 3 to share his experience bicycling through the back roads of Asia and how he peddled into a rural town in Nepal and eventually began a school.

Jan. 15 2010 Nantucket Elementary School 9-11AM
Jan. 18, 2010 Bike Doctor in Annapolis 7:00PM
Jan 19, 2010 Parole Rotary Club 7:00AM
Jan 20, 2010 Our Lady of Sorrows Choir and Knights of Columbus 7:30 PM
Jan 24, 2010 Friends and Family - Piedmont Trekers at South River Condominium
Heritage Harbor 3-5 PM
Jan. 25, 2010 Boy Scout Troop 249 7:00PM
Jan 27, 2010 Towsontowne Rotary Club 7:00 Hunt Valley Rotary Club. 12:00 Noon
Jan 28,2010 South River High School - All Day - Student Organizational Meeting After School
Jan. 31, 2010 Friends and Family at South River Condominium - Heritage Harbor 3-5PM


John and Barbara Church, along with their nephew, Matt Hill, will leave for Northern India and Nepal on February 3, 2010. They will spend approximately one month teaching English at the Mikey Medium English School in Bauniya, Nepal. They will also travel around Nepal and plan to make contact with several NGO's (non-governmental organizations) in Kathmandu that support schools within Nepal.
Barbara and John will return to the United States on April 1, 2010. They will then be happy to share their stories about the school with organizations and individuals.