unite Life
BY JODY WHITEHILL
Unite takes solidarity – and stationery to Nepal Whistles atop the roof of the world
In December 2016 Dave Condliffe, Unite Community’s London and Eastern coordinator travelled to Nepal for a 10 day trek.
The Annapurna circuit is tough crossing the world’s highest pass at 5,416 meters – and it’s not for faint-hearts. Carrying all of your equipment you trek for up to 10 hours each day, sleeping overnight in stone built huts, and surviving on a very basic diet.
But Dave’s from hardy stock. “As a child I used to accompany my dad on picket lines during the miners’ strike,” he explains. Since then he’s spent over 20 years supporting people inside workplaces as a union rep and then as an organiser.
“When Unite took the bold decision to organise unemployed workers and address inequalities in wider society this was something I had to be a part of. Solidarity doesn’t end with your workplace.”
Dave had previously been to Nepal. Both the mountains and the inspirational people who lived there affected him in such a positive way he knew he had to one day return. “This time I really wanted to give something tangible back and decided to talk about the work that Unite does,” Dave says.
So in his bag, alongside his essentials, Dave also stowed 50 of Unite’s beanie hats, 300 pens, 100 whistles and Unite banners galore.
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“I wanted to show the people I met – teachers, school children, Sherpas, solidarity in supporting communities recovering from the recent earthquake,” he explains.
Dave also took the opportunity to explain the work Unite does in the UK to empower communities to stand together. “I believed it was important to give the students pens for their studies, whistles to get attention in such a remote part of the world, and warm hats for the cold weather.”
And it worked – the other trekkers said they could always tell which villages Dave had passed through as they could hear the children’s whistles!
“Helping the people I met in even the smallest way made me feel so happy,” beams Dave.
The children’s parents invited him into their homes, offering him food and drinks as thanks. “Human beings have the power to overcome all kinds of adversity from living at over 5,000 meters and collecting yak poo for fuel or rebuilding their lives after a natural disaster, they make it work.
“This trip inspired me to put my all into helping our UK members – but also to commit to making international community links wherever we can – so we can learn from, support and empower each other,” he adds.
The Jagat School needs £500 to buy a computer and IT equipment for the children. To donate please contact
dave.condliffe@
unitetheunion.org Dave will be returning in November to see how they’re getting on.
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