HILLARY TO AID SHERPAS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29767, 9 March 1962, Page 12

HILLARY TO AID SHERPAS

Plan To Build Two Schools

(NZ. Press Assn.—Copyright) o- CHICAGO. March 8. Sir Edmund Hillary said yesterday that he would go back to the Himalayas next year to help the Sherpa tribesmen in Nepal who helped him to climb Mount Everest.

The 42-year-old explorer, who returned tost year from a 10-month expedition to Nepal, outlined a plan to build two schools in the remote, 13.000-foot-high region JYhere the Sherpas live. United Press International One school was built during the expedition last year, he said. The schools would help raise agricultural and hygienic standards and reduce the Impact of Communist propaganda from across the border in Tibet, Sir Edmund Hillary told a press conference.

“The Sherpas have been very impressed with reports of what the Communists have done as far as agriculture and education are concerned,” he said. “I feel there Is some degree of urgency in building schools ” Funds for the projected 50,000-dollar programme to keep the schools operating for five years were being raised by the World Book Encyclopedia The next expedition was to start in March. 1963. and last for three months and a half, but Sir Edmund Hillary said he planned to keep following the schools* progress. “I would like to get back there each year to see how things are going.” he said. He said there were also plans to lay a small plastic water pipeline to one of the mountain villages. "Because of the water problem, these people have never been great washers,” be said.