Alex Găvan, a Romanian climber, delivers a Christmas gift to a school in Gilgit Baltistan

Askole village, located along the Braldo River in Shigar Valley at an elevation of 3,000 metres, is said to be the last habitation in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region.

Askole's standout feature is that it connects to an alpine heaven where four of Pakistan's five 8,000m summits stand proudly among hundreds of unclimbed 6,000m and 7,000m peaks, including K2, Gasherbrum I and II, and Broad Peak.

Many expeditions spend the night at a campsite prior heading into the wilderness, when you step beyond the encampment; the most evident characteristic of this very conservative place is terrible poverty.

The town is greatly reliant on visitors, and the year 2020 proved to be a disaster, as the Covid-19 outbreak forced expeditions to postpone their plans. The impoverished community saw one of its toughest winters in years, both in terms of the cold and a lack of resources.

The local school, which serves 312 students, was facing financial difficulties and was on the verge of closing. Teachers, who are generally paid through funds raised by parents, were unable to collect their salaries due to the community's inability to raise funds.

Alex Găvan, a Romanian climber, stepped in and paid the salaries of three instructors in Askole village, Pakistan's Gilgit–Baltistan area.

"No trips were organised in 2020 due to the coronavirus; those three teachers were left without pay because their parents were unable to work. The three volunteered because they were locals "Găvan said.

The Alex Găvan Foundation sent warm clothing to all 312 kids at the Askole school as a Christmas gift.