The family of a clever and caring student confirmed dead following the devastating earthquake in Nepal have begun raising money in his memory for a school he had helped build in Cambodia.

Twenty-three-year-old Matt Carapiet’s death was confirmed on Saturday after a search lasting close to two weeks.

The former St Simon Stock School pupil of Peverel Drive in Bearsted, had taken a gap year from his architecture studies to travel across Asia and last made contact with his family when he was in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, six days before the 7.8 magnitude quake struck.

He had been planning to do a week-long trek in Langtang Valley.

Before arriving in the country on his travels, he had volunteered with the Self Help Community Centre charity (SHCC) building the foundations of the Siem Reap School in Cambodia, which helps disadvantaged children.

The family are appealing for donations and have set up a Just Giving site for the charity, raising almost £1,500 in 36 hours. To donate visit https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Mattcarapietfundraiser

They have also asked funeral directors Sears in Thornhill Place, Maidstone, to take funds if people are unable to give online.

His sister, Christina Carapiet, 25, told the KM: “He loved immersing himself in the community. He made us proud his whole life so we want to make him proud and continue what he had started.”

He had meticulously planned his year of travelling. She said: “He was so excited. He had saved up for so long to do it. He was so brave to do it.

“He loved seeing different cultures and communities. He didn’t want to do anything touristy; he deliberately tried to immerse himself in any culture.

“He was one of those people who could go up to people and start talking to them; he was very sociable. He was outgoing and funny. He could always make you laugh.”

A keen artist and photographer, he had kept a blog of his travels which his family now treasure.

Dad Greg travelled out to Nepal to bring his son’s body back to the UK this week and while there was flown over Langtang village to see the devastation there.

The Nepal earthquake struck on Saturday, April 25, and is believed to have killed around 7,800 people.

Another tremor of similar magnitude struck yesterday with more than 50 deaths recorded.

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