The relationship between the Aomori JET community and the Prajwal Shiksha Sadan English School (the Prajwal School) began in 2002 when Aomori-based ALT, Richard Paterson was introduced to Purna Kumar Shrestha, the founder and trustee of the Prajwal School in Hetauda, Nepal. Together they set up a pen-friend scheme between his students at Gonohe Elementary School (Aomori, Japan) and the students of Prajwal School with the combined goals of practicing English and international exchange.
Later that year, Richard and a fellow Aomori ALT, Cameron Wrigley, decided to establish a prefectural charity to support the Prajwal School and so, Everest of Apples was born. They asked for monthly donations from Aomori JETs of ¥1000 and held two fundraising events. The first event was a Nepali dinner in Aomori city for both JETs and Japanese and the second was a concert showcasing the vast array of Aomori JET talent. In 2002-3, Everest of Apples raised JPN¥750,000 (approximately US$6,200 and 482,000 Nepalese Rupees) which was used to purchase supplies and furniture for the Prajwal School.
In mid-2003, leadership was transferred to Chris Spedding, also an ALT from Aomori. This began the Everest of Apples tradition of an annual transfer of leadership coinciding with the beginning of each JET year in August, which has given the organization a dynamic quality.
The foundations on which Everest of Apples was built and the organic way in which it has developed over the last four years is indicative of its truly grassroots nature. Although Everest of Apples still works on a relatively small scale it has come quite a long way from its pen-friend scheme beginning.
In July 2006, the Everest of Apples Aomori leadership transferred to an eleven member committee composed of previous Prajwal homestay members and other Aomori JETS, all of whom share a strong belief in the universal night to education. The committee's 2006-7 Everest of Apples Aomori event calendar includes six prefecture-wide fundraising events through which they hope to match (or exceed) the previous two years' fundraising efforts of approximately JPN¥1,000,000.
Click here for a list of past Everest of Apples leaders along with a brief overview of their contributions and achievements.
