Namaste…… March is a beautiful month in Nepal, the skies are clear and their national flower, Laligurans (the red rhododendron) with its deep red blossom is full in full bloom all around the hillsides. The first few days I spent in Astam, which is a small village at 1600m with the Annapurna range one side and the Sarangkot hill the other. It’s the perfect spot for watching both the sunrise and the sunset. The football field at the school feels like the highest point and has the most stunning 360 degree views. Last year we gave them stationary and pencil cases and uniforms, so this time we brought donated clothes (including football kits) for all of the 40 or so children. Their enthusiasm for learning is incredible and it was a pleasure to be teaching English, some science and play activities with the younger ones. The village has an Eco lodge which is popular as a resting place for trekkers and also for yoga retreats and I was lucky that one was just happening and I was able to join. There I met a couple from The Netherlands who are travelling in Nepal for 3 months and they were very interested in our work in Nepal, which led to them actually joining me a few days later to teach at the Shree Janajagrit school where the older kids were preparing for their upcoming exams. This is a great side track activity for anybody visiting Nepal, whether you’re there for tourism or trekking. You don’t have to be a teacher (although one of them actually was), it’s nice for the students just to get the opportunity to chat in English, and also get some help with their English studies.
I also spent a couple of days in Jogimori, the primary school where we were teaching on our first trips to Nepal in 2017 and 2018. Both the school building and the principal have changed since then, and obviously the students are not all the same. The nursery kids from those days are now in year 5! And their baby siblings in the lower classes. It’s wonderful to continue to stay in touch and support this school. This time we brought noodle lunch and fruit (they got uniforms and clothes from us last year).
One day we squeezed in as much as 4 different schools, to make the most of the jeep we had hired for the day in order to reach some very remote schools up the hills way past the Fewa Lake. The first one, Setu Barahi only has about 20 kids. The village is tiny and most parents are farmers, but mainly for themselves so they don’t really have an income. The headmaster has lived there all his life and worked at the school for over 35 years. We brought them note books, pencils, erasers and sharpeners, as well as fruit. It was about 3 years ago now that they got uniforms, so they will probably need that next time. Since the place is so isolated, the kids rarely get to meet outsiders, so they were all a bit shy to start with. Ken, another volunteer, had brough along a magic book and some balloons, which quickly got them curious and wanting to join in the fun.
We then brought the same supplies to a religious Hindu school called Siddha Baraha Gurukul school. They boys are all from very far away remote areas of Nepal, and now live at the school (they rarely get to see their families). They’re usually sent here because there is no school near their home area, and a local priest with connections to this kind of school suggested it. They are incredibly devout and dedicated to their studies, and are able to recite long passages in Sanskrit and hold ceremonies. They all have set daily tasks and one of them is to spend time with senior citizens of the village, who can come up the hill to hear the boys read to them, chat or pray, or just hang out together. This is a lovely and very popular activity for the locals.
Next we made a surprise visit to the Pame school, where Diane and Susan usually go to teach. Since they’ve had both uniforms, stationary, clothes, etc. not too long ago, this time we just brought them oranges, which they were obviously very grateful for. The whole school got together to record a lovely greeting video to Diane and Susan.
Finally we continued on the bumpy road all around the lake on the to the other side (almost right across from Pame but it’s all marshland) to the Fewa school, which Ken has been supporting for many years. It’s not an easy path to reach the school, as you have to walk uphill about 200 wobbly stone steps, but once there, the setting is stunning, and we received the warmest welcome. It was as if the kids and staff had been waiting all day for us to arrive, and the children had made beautiful flower garlands for us which they put around our necks. We handed out the notebooks and stationary and Ken provided uniforms and shoes, which was clearly needed as it seemed as if only one child had a uniform. Once that was done, they couldn’t wait to get the music started and get up and dance…and get us up to dance! All in all, a wonderful day.
Another day we went to the Shanta Secondary school in Bhakunde to show the ‘I am Belmaya’ film to some 60-70 girls in grade 7 to 10. Belmaya herself came along too, and as always it was a very moving experience and inspirational for the girls to see a film about the importance of education (especially for girls), independence, and that there are a lot of opportunities out there. Afterwards Belmaya answered questions and a few girls who stayed behind were able to have deeper conversations about their lives, dreams and ambitions. We also gave them all notebooks and pens, so they’re ready for the next school year. In fact, in total we gave out about 900 notebooks, and countless pencils, pens, etc., as this is something the students have to buy themselves, so it’s a huge help. In total we spent about £590 on these supplies.
In Nepal school is 6 days a week, with Saturday their day off, so one Friday evening we wanted to do something special for the 13 girls at the children’s home. They’ve been working really hard preparing for their exams, and always have other tasks such as cooking and washing their clothes, so we decided to organize a small party for them. Five other volunteers came along and while we cooked pasta on an open fire, the girls went wild dancing and singing. After dinner they roasted marshmallows on the fire. The next morning we all got up at 5.30am to walk to the other side of the Sarangkot mountain to watch the sunrise over the Annapurna, and as a treat we then had breakfast at the Bhanjyang village lodge, where they got to choose from the menu; some had momos, some had a kind of English breakfast or pancakes (unusual in Nepal) and one girl chose banana porridge. It was still only morning, around 10am when they returned to their home to continue revising for their exams. Just as we left that morning one of the goats had decided to give birth so when we got back there were two super cute newborn baby goats waiting to say hello. During the break time we did some colouring and sticker dolls, and each girl got to choose a bracelet as a little gift from a girl in the UK, who felt she had too many and wanted to give them to the girls in Nepal. The following week one of the volunteers was there to help them with preparing for the exams and some other fun activities.
The last school we visited was the Baljoyti basic school in Majhagau, one of the mountains on the south of Pokhara. The 25 students from nursery to year 5 were doing their exams as we arrived, but one by one as they finished they came to join Ken’s games of throwing a balloon, blowing bubbles and doing magic with a colouring book. Last year they got uniforms, so this time we gave them track suits (cost of £178), which I believe they haven’t had before. It’s a huge advantage to have 2 sets of clothing for school, so one can be washed in between. The notebooks and stationary we left will be kept in the office until the next school terms begins. So…the children are now going on their 3-4 week holiday before moving up one school year. The first bit of fun was a few days ago when they celebrated the Holi festival of colour.
In total we spent £1275 all the above. We also paid for a certificate a girl needed in order to continue her studies, some additional shoes, lunches, biscuits and lots of fruit to every school we visited. £75 went directly to the saving account for the girls who have been sewing purses and pencil cases, which we have sold at markets.
Before leaving Kathmandu, I was invited to visit an orphanage with 8 children, where my friend works (and lives). Again, it’s wonderful to see an organisation that works so well to help children get through their education and life in general.
Remember, we only bring all this, but we couldn’t do it without all of you, our friends who help by donating. So THANK YOU all again for your generosity. Please take a look at the gallery for more pictures and if you want follow us on Instagram.
