Gurkha Association School Launch

I have spent this afternoon with the Gurkha Peace Foundation in Ashford.

As a Trustee for Volunteering Ashford I was interested to receive an email before Christmas asking for Volunteers to help with the Gurkha Association to support wives of retired Gurkha soldiers in Ashford to learn English, traditions and customs of British people.

I was keen to participate and contacted members of the Liberal Democrat Party in Ashford to see if anyone else was available to help.

Bhimraj Tumbahangphe is the founding member of the Gurkha Peace Foundation and a good friend of the party. He announced in the Kentish Express they were looking for volunteers and would be holding a press conference Saturday 16th January. Having spoken to Bhim, I agreed to attend with a variety of other members.

Many other people attended, including Kent County Councillor and fellow lib dem George Kowaree, Leader of the Ashford Borough Council Lib DemsBob Davidson, His Worshipful The Mayor John Holland, Liberal Democrat PPC for Maidstone Peter Carrol and Canterbury City Councillor
Brian Staley.

The basis for the class was, as Bhim told in his speech, when a fellow Gurkha died in Folkestone because his wife could not use the telephone.

In order to prevent this reoccuring, the Gurkha Association have established classes to teach the wives English and citizenship.

The Mayor lit candles to commence the classes and all present to support the initiatives were honoured with sashes.

George Kowaree pledged £750 towards to the classes and we hope to recieve more support as it develops.

Having been served tea and coffee and chatted, the visitors left and those who were volunteering and learning got down to business.

With over 40 Gurkha women to teach, the task is daunting but not impossible.

I am volunteering to help with the classes and with three qualified teachers, we tested the women and assessed their levels of knowledge.

Classes are to be held on Saturdays and Sundays in International House and we hope to accrue more volunteers and funding with time.

Please contact me if you would like to know more.