Nepal Education Relief in August 2016, second visit to schools in Nepal
June 24, 2016
Nepal Earth Quake, 2015
Even though a little over one year has passed since the deadly earthquake struck Nepal in April 2015, many schools in remote, mountainous areas are still not completely rebuilt. Due to lack of funding, some schools still do not have the proper, required infrastructure to provide a safe learning environment for the students.
One such school is Namuna Evergreen English Boarding School, located in the remote, mountainous area of Nepal near the Tibetan border. Access to this school from the capital of Kathmandu is extremely difficult, challenging and dangerous as many parts of the roads are badly or completely damaged by the earthquake along with many landslides and floods due to heavy rainfalls. This school has nine classrooms and has around 200 students. Sadly, all classrooms don’t have doors and at least one to three windows are broken. Without doors and windows, there is no protection from the cold air or strong wind. On any given day with bad weather, particularly on many rainy days and cold days in the winter, students have to endure sitting in the classroom feeling cold. This adversely affects the students’ physical and psychological well-beings and their ability to stay focused and do all the writing in class. Moreover, the surrounding fence of the school where the playground is located is half damaged and was still not repaired since the earthquake. This fence is critical and extremely necessary as it provides protection and safety to the students. Without it, students can seriously and fatally injured if they fall down as the school is located on the slope of the mountain.
The school was extremely thankful to Tu Bi Foundation. Now there are proper windows and doors in all classrooms, as well as a durable metal fence surrounding the back of the school overlooking the mountain slope. This is like a dream comes true to the school and to all the students. The foundation has played a major role in helping the school’s reconstruction. For the coming winter, students will not be terribly affected by the cold air. Overall, the learning and safety environments of the school have improved significantly with the support of Tu Bi Foundation. Students are definitely benefiting from this as they now feel the school is so much safer and more comfortable, and they are more eager to come to school as their classrooms now have doors and glass windows that can be opened and closed.
Essential stationery items were also provided to all students of this school as well as a large public school (400 students) in this same mountainous town. Pencils, pens, erasers, pencil sharpeners, crayons, color pencils, and plastic folders were given to these students. Some footballs and small balls were also given to the schools so that students can have something to play with during recess.
Attached are pictures taken at the school, before and after the construction of the fence, doors and windows. Since this reconstruction is taking place during school time and that school is in session, it takes about two more weeks for the school to finish all the windows and doors. The school will provide more updated pictures once everything is complete.
Sincerely yours,
Jason Tran
Due to the remote, isolated mountainous area, it took much more time and resources to get the school supplies and materials for the school’s reconstruction. Materials in this remote area are limited. Road conditions from Kathmandu to remote area of these schools were extremely bad, damaged, and challenging (see attached pictures). Landslides are common due to heavy rainfalls. Driving to this area was very dangerous, exhausting, and painstakingly slow.
Expenditure for the Schools
1. School supplies for 600 students $1,050
2. Sport supplies for two schools (footballs, softballs, pumps) $ 50
3. Doors for nine classrooms (including painting and installation) $1,215
4. Windows for nine classrooms (including frames, glass, installation) $ 585
5. Metal fence for playground $ 600
TOTAL $3,500
An average of 91 cents of every dollar the American Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs.