1. Chandika Secondary School, Baruwa VDC
2. Kumbeshwory Primary School, Gunsa VDC
3. Bhotang Devi Secondary School, Bhotang VDC
4. Kshetrapaleshwory Higher Secondary School, Bhotenamlang VDC
5. Thangpaldhap Higher Secondary School, Thangpaldhap VDC

Construction of library in Kumbeshwory School, Gunsa.

Construction of library in Chandika School, Baruwa

All the above four schools suffered major destruction during the earthquake and require new libraries. In the future, the libraries will not only serve as a reading room for the children but the monthly Village Education Committee (VEC) meetings will also take place in them. The truss and civil work is currently going on in Kshetrapaleshwory School, Bhotenamlang and Bhotang Devi School, Bhotang.

Assessment for construction of library in Kshetrapaleshwory School, Bhotenamlang VDC

Civil work for construction of library in Bhotang Devi School, Bhotang VDC

Civil work underway for construction of library in Bhotang

On the other hand, in Chandika School, Baruwa and Kumbeshwory School, Gunsa the truss and civil work has already been completed. The iron frames for the structure and the tin roofs are now being set up in these two schools as can be seen from the images below. Construction is yet to begin for the library in Thangpaldhap Higher Secondary School in Thangpaldhap VDC. We have set a target to complete the construction of these 5 libraries by the end of July as long as the monsoon does not delay our process.

Iron frames being set up in Chandika School, Baruwa VDC

Tin roofs being added to the structure in Baruwa

Construction of library underway in Kumbeshwory School, Gunsa VDC

Assesment of Bhotang Devi School, Bhotang VDC for construction of Library

Through this project firstly the VEC will be strengthened for all education needs, including the formulation of a Village Education Plan including resource generation. Second, a citizen driven vigilance system will be created through which students, citizen groups, and government resources are mobilized to ensure all actors in this sector are transparent, accountable and diligent in their duties. This will be complemented with raising awareness and processes regarding the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Third, the capacity of the School Management Committee (SMC) will be developed for improved planning, reporting, and operations. In addition, five school libraries will also be rebuilt using earthquake safe material as a part of the rebuilding effort in the post earthquake stage. Rebuilding libraries at these schools will assist the underprivileged children to return to formal school environment. Having a new permanent library will enable these vulnerable children from getting back to reading and enjoying school.

Assesment of Thangpaldhap School, Thangpaldhap VDC

We believe that efforts to bring in qualified teachers and improve on infrastructure, facilities and resource generation are all necessary for an effective education system. However, without governance system to not only monitor activities and check for malpractice, but also create a plan for moving forward, all such efforts could only prove to be futile. This program will resurrect and strengthen the governance structure as well as create a system through which all stakeholders’ roles are clearly defined, their capacities built and as a result, in unison, an education governance mechanism will be built to benefit all households for current and future generations.

Our team comprising of the Senior Program Coordinator, Program Coordinator and Technical Engineer visited the six VDCs last week. They assessed the six different schools in the six VDCs which have been selected for the construction of libraries. The libraries will also serve the purpose of conducting VEC activities as when required and appropriate. Simultaneously, the team is currently rigorously involved in planning and management of the activities that will be undertaken within this project.

Miss Khendo Lama

• Awarded the Gold medal in the 1500m Marathon in the President’s Cup organized by Sindhupalchok District, 2070 B.S.
• Awarded the Gold medal in the 1500m & 5000m Marathon in the President’s Cup organized by Sindhupalchok District, 2071 B.S.
• Awarded the Gold medal in the 1500m Marathon in the President’s Cup organized by Sindhupalchok District, 2072 B.S.
• Awarded the Silver medal in the Helambu Festival Marathon, Sindhupalchok District, 2071 B.S

The two Champions after winning the 3rd and 4th title in the Women’s Day 5K Run

The two sisters with the other two winners in the 5K Fun Run

Khendo and Lambuti at the Helambu Festival Marathon with the legendary Nepali Marathon Runner Baikuntha Manandhar

Miss Lambuti Lama

• Awarded the Gold medal in the 800m Marathon in the President’s Cup organized by Sindhupalchok District, 2071 B.S.
• Awarded the Gold medal in the 800m Marathon in the President’s Cup organized by Sindhupalchok District, 2072 B.S.
• Awarded the Bronze medal in the Helambu Festival Marathon, Sindhupalchok District, 2071 B.S.

The two sisters with other participants and their teacher Mr. Babu Lal Tamang

Khendo and Lambuti on their way to complete the 5K Run

The two Champions with the support of their school teacher Mr. Babu Lal Tamang try their best to participate in more such events as much as possible. They also participated in the Nagarkot Tourism Development Marathon held this year. Also, Lambuti and Khendo participated in the recent 5 Kilometer Fun Run organized by Women Lead, Higher Ground and a number of other organizations on the occasion of International Women’s day, 2016. Khendo and Lambuti stood 3rd and 4th respectively in this 5K Run among a total of 500 participants which included women from all ages and even expats. The two girls received attractive prizes along with their certificates. We are very proud of these two girls and truly admire them for their enthusiasm and spirit. We wish them the very best for their future endeavors.

Prakriti in her ANM program

19 year old Prakriti Shrestha comes from a family with a weak financial background from the village of Gunsakot, Sindhupalchok district in Nepal. When in school, Prakriti was a very hard working student and she cleared her SLC (School Leaving Certificate) examinations from Raithane Secondary School, Thangpalkot with first division grades. Initially, because of her family’s financial hardships, her father and stepmother sadly wanted to marry her off. However through the fund raiser made possible by COMMITTED, Prakriti got a chance to pursue further education. In June 2013 when COMMITTED’s Education Program Director Dorje Gurung visited Thangpalkot and interacted with school students and shot a video for his ‘Education is Freedom’ fundraising campaign, she had expressed her dream of studying to be a nurse one day.

Prakriti pursuing her nursing studies

Through the fundraising campaign we were able to raise Rs. 45,700 required at the start of the Associate/Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) program which Prakriti wanted to pursue. The rest of her educational expenses were covered by contributions from two other non-governmental organizations. We feel happy to share that she has now successfully completed the 18 month long ANM course and is now awaiting her final examination results.

She is now engaged in her nurse practices and is waiting
for her results to plan about her further career. Given her personal and familial struggles, Prakriti has really come a long way to fulfill her dreams, despite the struggles that she constantly faced. She is truly an inspiration to young girls out there and we will support her in what she plans to do in her career next

The earthquake ravaged Shree Raithane School

The classrooms that were reduced to rubble

Debris clearance

Due to the earthquake, classes were disrupted for over a
month. Working together with the Nepal Army, the School Management Committee, school
teachers, and local residents COMMITTED established Temporary Learning Centers
(TLC) on school grounds. Classes have been running in the TLCs since May 31. The
school had been torn down to rubble and needs to be built from scratch. With
the support of the funds given by Western Union we have completed the debris
clearance and land stabilization activities which is crucial before rebuilding
the school.

The collapsed weak
structures were dismantled, the debris was cleared up by employing workers and
the scattered stones of the rubble were used to make gabion boxes.  These gabion boxes have been used to level up the slopes near
where the school stood. Since the land was slanting a little, these boxes have
helped in stabilizing the land before construction of a new structure takes
place there.

Workers making the Gabion Boxes

Land stabilization

Sadly, we still have not been able to raise enough funds yet to rebuild
the school and are looking for contributions. Please support us and help us rebuild
Raithane Secondary School by pouring in contributions by going to this link http://cminepal.org/how.php#secFour

The TLC of Raithane Secondary School

quickly and raises interesting questions. His friends further say that not only
is he a smart kid but that he is also very friendly and helpful. Apart from

Navaraj receiving the prize on winning the Quiz Competition

being very active in his class, Navaraj eagerly participates in
extra-curricular activities as well. He performed extremely well in the quiz
competition that had been recently organized in his school and was awarded with
the title of ‘Best Performer’. Earlier when COMMITTED had organized the Star
Reader Program, he had been awarded with the title of ‘Star Reader’ for having read
the most number of books from the library as well.

Navaraj

Navaraj being awarded the prize for being the ‘Star Reader

comes from a family with a weak financial background. His father is a farmer by
profession who struggles really hard to sustain their family which comprises of
Navaraj, his mother and his elder sister. His father also does odd part time
jobs like carrying load and people’s luggage in order to be able to fulfill his
family’s financial expenses. During the earthquake, their house similar to the
majority of houses in Thangpalkot VDC, Sindupalchok was severely damaged.
Navaraj and his family now live in the temporary house that they have built. COMMITTED
has been supporting Navaraj by providing him with a academic scholarship since the
last three years. Through the scholarship, Navaraj’s school tuition fees are
entirely covered for the whole academic year.

The construction of three new blocks at Shree Taltuleshwory Primary School in Thangpalkot VDC, Sindhupalchok
district is almost complete. Here are some recent pictures from the project
site. The three new blocks will constitute six class-rooms for the primary school. Some
plastering work remains to be done. Also the interior walls and the exterior
walls of the blocks need to be painted. After the completion of the three
blocks we are planning to commence with the second phase of the construction.

The newly constructed blocks of Taltuleshwory School

1. Toilets and Drinking Water Taps
2. Kitchen and Dining Hall
3. Playground for the children
   including a Basketball Court.

The two new blocks of Taltuleshwory School

Our Project Coordinator monitoring the progress of the construction

The damaged structure of Taltuleshwory School

Shree Taltuleshwory School, life was never the same again after the earthquake.
Most of them lost their homes due to the devastation and are now living in
temporary houses made up of wooden frames and CGI sheets. In Thangpalkot Village Development
Committee (VDC) the death count was 45 which included 11 students and 2
teachers. Some of these students were from Taltuleshwory
School.

The severely damaged structure of  Shree Taltuleshwory School

The Children of Taltuleshwory School

Since the school structures including
the class-rooms and other critical facilities were destroyed, the children and
the teachers were hesitant to return to classrooms. Hence creating a conducive
environment for the children to return to the classrooms
was very critical. Temporary Learning
Centres (TLCs) were constructed for the schools where classes are being run since 31st
May, 2015.  The construction
of a new and permanent structure for the school is now underway and is going to
be complete by March.   We are hoping that
this effort will rekindle the spirits of the little children and give them a
sense of security. It has been really long since these students have been
attending classes in the TLCs and a newly constructed earthquake proof school
structure would mean a lot to them. With the generation of additional funds we
are also going to add a dining room and a playground for the children.