World tour

A BUDDHIST monk who is walking around the world to raise money to help children has stopped off in Stevenage. London-born Kelsang Pawo, 62, started his trek in February last year and has so far raised about £11,500 for The Gesar Foundation. Mr Pawo founde

A BUDDHIST monk who is walking around the world to raise money to help children has stopped off in Stevenage.

London-born Kelsang Pawo, 62, started his trek in February last year and has so far raised about £11,500 for The Gesar Foundation.

Mr Pawo founded the charity to help provide children with food, shelter, education and a life without terror or torment.

He said: "I'm not interested in just scratching the surface. I want to make a situation where children can be safe in the world.

"I can't think of anything better to do with my life. It's important we use our lives to do something useful."

Mr Pawo became a Buddhist monk about 20 years ago and has travelled the world helping people.

At the request of children at a school in Ethiopia, Mr Pawo is helping to build a library for world literature and flew out to the African country at Christmas to continue with the project.

Since the start of his trek, Mr Pawo said: "In all that time there has always been somebody who has given me shelter. I haven't had to sleep a single night in the open."

Mr Pawo relies on the generosity of people for shelter and for donations to the charity.

He walks with a bucket on his arm, collecting donations from passers-by. So keep an eye out for the brightly clad monk, roaming the streets of Stevenage.

For more information about the charity, visit: www.gesarfoundation.org

On this website, you can also sponsor a brick, at the cost of £1, for the building of the library in Ethiopia.