Gandaki Boarding School (Pokhara) celebrated 50 years of educational achievement last week, culminating in a happy reunion of former staff and students on Sunday. The day was filled with dance, music, poems, film clips, speeches, and thousands of excited conversations as attendees caught up with friends and former colleagues, some of whom they had not met for decades. UMN facilitated the founding of GBS as a boys school in 1966 and it was fitting that the key UMN driver for the school, Mr Howard Barclay  just short of his 90th birthday), was able to be present on the occasion. As well as delivering a stirring speech, he was felicitated by the Chief Guest Dr Som Lal Subedi, the Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal.

When GBS became a regional school in 1984, it began to admit girls for the first time. Bringing greetings on behalf of UMN, Jerry Clewett suggested that this decision to go “co-educational” was the most important decision in the history of the school, as GBS has now empowered generations of girls, many of whom have come from poor backgrounds, yet have gone on to achieve great things in their lives.  In a letter read to the audience, UMN’s Executive Director Mark Galpin commented that UMN is delighted to have been associated with GBS over the years. He wrote: “On this occasion, we offer our hearty congratulations, along with our prayers that many more years of service to Nepal lie ahead of this prestigious institution. We are proud to have helped found the school, and to have been associated with it for many years. With its commitment to excellence and integrity, GBS remains a lasting legacy for Nepal.”