lES PROJETS AUX NEPAL

Supporting Amarjyoti Boarding School

In Nepal, during the civil war, we opted to support isolated schools in rural areas. These were particularly targeted by the Maoists, who, as part of their own political agenda, did not approve of  the subjects taught . 

In 2003, we decided to rescue the community school of one particular village, located in Khabre Palenchok district, 6 hours by bus away from the capital city, Katmandu. 

The Background 

A rural school

This school was created a few years ago thanks to the determination of a circle of people who refused to let their children suffer all their life from illiteracy. Indeed, scarce are the schools in this area and the children had to walk daily for hours in the hills. Furthermore, the only private school was far too expensive for the villagers, who earn their living thanks to agriculture. The nearest public school only offered a very low level of education. 

A project rooted in the community

Refusing to accept their situation, some of the villagers gathered to create the Amarjyoti Boarding School, based on a very ethical concept; each one agreed to contribute a portion of their earnings towards the children’s education
From the building to the salaries of the teachers, the leading committee of the school has managed to finance a few years in this way. 

A school standing against discrimination in education

But there is more than that: this school refuses any kind of discrimination. The little girls were welcomed to study, alongside their boy classmates. It is worth noting that, in the Nepalese tradition, a girl is thought to be not “worth” educating. Married in their early teens, girls are more desired to be skilled in the kitchen than in school. Today also, in many poor areas, they are kept away from school and are also much more likely to drop out . 
In the same spirit of tolerance, the villagers decided to create a “social fund” for the lower castes. All the villagers contributed to pay for the education of some 20 “dalits” (children from ‘untouchable’ families) who would not have been offered the opportunity to attend school otherwise. 
These initiatives are very modern if one refers to the traditional cultural background of the school. 

The first troubles

The school was a great success in the surrounding area. Many children came to study there. However, after a few years, some difficulties arose:

• the buildings were old and cramped and the comfortof the pupils was compromised;
• there were not enough rooms for all the levels, so children of different ages and maturity were mixed, slowing the progression of each child.  The rooms also became too crowded to offer a friendly studying environment;
• the level of teaching was unsatisfactory - with the economical and political crisis, the skillful teachers had fled the village.

Sathi Om takes action

• Building of brand new buildings

Sathi Om financed the building of 3 new classrooms and the furniture (desks, chairs, black boards, etc.). The classes situated in the old building, next to the new one, have been repaired by the villagers and are now partially used for administration purposes and the kindergarten.  

• Payment of the salary of 2 trained teachers for 2 years,

We hired two teachers who committed to stay in the village during the troubles and were very dedicated to teaching the children.
Thanks to this financial relief, the school could open more classes and generate the means to pay for them after this transition period. 

• School materials

Sathi Om has provided note books, pencils, pens and art materials to all the children.

• Implementing a cultural exchange with French schools

The children experienced for the first time in their lives an artistic workshop. They enjoyed drawing and painting. They also discovered letters and pictures made for them by pupils of the French primary schools Ste Jeanne d’Arc and Deloges. For all of them, it was the first contact with a foreign culture. 

• Making the support of the solidarity fund sustainable:

In exchange for our support, the school committee committed to keep on paying for the education of the most disadvantaged children.
These scholarships are granted according to the incomes of the poorest families.

 
The results 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The old buildings 

                     
The new buildings, funded by Sathi Om 

Today, the children enjoy their new school. They can study in this school for 7 years and when they graduate, they have the basic knowledge to be able to find their way in adult life.

The teachers have made a very positive progress in the school. They use new pedagogic teaching methods and regularly organize cultural events for the children.
Today there are around 25 children who attend school thanks to these scholarships. 
And…The community dynamic is still there!

We wanted to help this school but we took care not to break the local dynamics, which make the project sustainable.
The villagers were so enthusiastic that the chief of the village donated 3 more rooms;
The children receiving scholarships are more numerous every year… The children know now how to speak English,.They obviously enjoy going to school and participating to cultural festivals there.