Kailash Hostel offers extra-curricular activities for the children.  The classes described below open new doors for the students and give them more career options for the future (i.e. rock climbing and water rafting guides).
 

Vegetable Garden
The Kailash Hostel children are happily tending a new vegetable garden adjacent to the Hostel on a leased parcel of land.  We realized the importance of teaching the children such life skills as maintaining a garden, independently sustaining themselves off the land, and contributing to the nutritional, well balanced meals they eat.  The garden keeps the children connected to important Nepalese farming skills maintained in their villages and gives them an opportunity for enjoyable fulfilling work.

Music and Dance classes
Since we moved into the new Kailash Hostel we initiated a music program, giving the children an alternative interest and the opportunity to open other doors. The program provides instrumental training, choral singing and modern and traditional dance. The program has been a resounding success with two thirds of our children participating. Some of the children performed at the Hyatt Hotel in Kathmandu and have been asked to perform at the Tsering Elder House. Violin lessons have also been introduced to the hostel.  These violins are a big hit with the kids who are using them to learn about traditional Tibetan, Nepalese and western music.

Swimming
Swimming is another course offered by Kailash Hostel that teaches a skill that can be utilized to establish a career for the children in the future.  There is a big market in Nepal for jobs in the adventure tourism sector.  Water rafting and rock climbing continue to be areas that are in need of instructors. The swimming lessons provide the students with a skill to fall back on if they are unable to find a niche through their academic education.

Computer
Thanks to a generous donation of the Dorothea Haus Ross Foundation, a computer room has been established at the hostel and our children have the use of 20 computers.  This allows the children to have a closer connection with their sponsors.  When the kids are old enough (as computer use is closely monitored), they are able to email directly with their sponsors to share in their accomplishments and everyday life.

Mountaineering
Through lectures and presentations given at the Hostel by accomplished world mountaineers and day outings with Nepali guides, we will instill in some children the love of the mountains. The courses, given at least once a year, are geared towards the older students giving them a new skill that can be turned into summer jobs or careers following graduation.These courses are made possible by the Edouard Baud Grant created in memory of Edouard Baud, son of our Board member Anselme Baud, tragically killed on the mountain in 2004.
 
Anselme Baud's first contact with our future mountain guides!