Update from Jimmy in Nepal - Helambu

HELAMBU EDUCATION AND LIVELIHOOD PARTNERSHIP (HELP)

SEASON'S GREETINGS

Dear friends,
Happy Dasain, Tihar and Chhath!

We are pleased to bring to you the autumn edition of our Newsletter and attached herewith is a full progress report of the work done over the past 12 months until end of June 2016.

Long monsoon apart, the last quarter of the year has been a hugely satisfying experience at HELP. 70+ students received our Post School Leaving Certificate education scholarship this year that started with a humble beginning in 2010 with only 13 students. We were able to get back on track with our volunteering programme although it was hard for few to adjust in earthquake damaged villages. To our volunteers, please know that you all have made a difference and we thank you very much. It is simply encouraging to see our partnership with schools go stronger with school bags, computers and other vital resources they need and we can provide. To see classroom buildings 'rise' back to its shape gives us incredible feeling to share hopes with everyone involved that we can together to rebuild our earthquake-stricken community starting from school.

Two and half years since our last Himalayan School (Olympics) Game, our team is now focused on organizing the next one and we are pleased to announce that it will take place at early December this year. If you have felt our work makes a difference, or have been to the school and remember smiling faces of the children or generally have been urged with compelling sense of wanting to do something for people affected by earthquake, this one simple and meaningful opportunity to help. Please visit this site and donate.

Lastly, our team at HELP is forever grateful to everyone who continue to believe in our work and support our activities from near and far. Enjoy this newsletter and we await any comments and suggestions you may have. Even just a hello from time to time is enough to keep us feel encouraged!!

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

Reeling from the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, life for young people in Sindupalchowk has become harder in terms of continuing their education. As youth today hold the promise of rebuilding the region and even develop in the long run, investment in their further education is of paramount importance. Opportunity for higher education after 10th grade examination (School Leaving Certificate) is scarcely available in Sindupalchowk, so many must come down to Kathmandu but where they are met with unaffordable education.

In consideration of this situation, we awarded 70+ scholarships this year for 43 girls and 31 boys to continue their education. Applications were received from across 29 schools from over 250+ aspirants.  Each awardee receives Rs. 20,000 a year for two years programme.

In consideration of this situation, we awarded 70+ scholarships this year for 43 girls and 31 boys to continue their education. Applications were received from across 29 schools from over 250+ aspirants.  Each awardee receives Rs. 20,000 a year for two years programme.

Scholarship awards were distributed amidst a function held in Kathmandu on August 6, where a number of guest speakers were invited. Member of Parliament, Hon. Rabindra Adhikari, Member of Parliament, Hon. Gagan Kumar Thapa, Actress Rekha Thapa, Media Personality Dil Bhushan Pathak, Youth Activist Brabim Kumar and NAC Pilot, Capt. Srawan Rijal had graced the event with their presence.

We would like to forward our gratitude to all the supporters and sponsors. Your continued support and generosity has made this possible. Thank you on behalf of all the students that received scholarship for the two coming years.

Please click link for a detailed report on the Scholarship Programme 2016.

Our Guest Speakers addressing the Scholarship event

LIMITED RESOURCE TEACHER'S TRAINING

Limited Resource Teacher Trainer (LRTT) delivers in-service training to teachers in under-served schools in different parts of the world. It mainly looks to address low quality teaching and learning by providing a model of high quality and low cost teacher training.

LRTT is a volunteer program where volunteer teachers from around the world come together and train teachers working in 'difficult and challenging' schools and is currently providing training in countries like India, Uganda, Nepal, Tanzania, Guyana, among others.

In a bid to increase their outreach by providing training to more teachers from government schools in Sindhupalchok, LRTT conducted the training this year at Melamchi in Sindhupalchok. The training was held from August 18, 2016 for four days, where a total of 87 teachers from different schools had participated, including 12 teachers supported by HELP (Helambu Education and Livelihood Partnership).

Find a detailed report on the Training here.

ON OUR TEACHERS PROGRAMME

Several of our partner schools are severely hit by shortage of teachers and in order to remedy the situation, we have been funding additional teachers mainly to teach English but also other subjects. Our teachers are mainly locals who have a very good understanding of the village situation- important from teaching perspective- and one who can be looked up as role model by children. Please read here about the teachers.

HELP is asking our friends to write a short letter to these teachers who you may or may not know in order to thank them for their hard work and with a view to encourage them to keep up their spirit. Please do write to us if you wish to be a motivator or mentor for our teachers. Our Education Coordinators recently completed their classroom observation visit to several schools and worked with our teachers. We will soon update their report on our webpage.

SCHOOL RESOURCES

Science Lab Support: HELP recently supported two schools with Science Lab equipments. Kalika Chetna Secondary School, Fatakshila and Jayabageswori Secondary School, Palchok were handed over these equipments by our Operations Director Chhiring Lama on 10th August.

Science Lab equipments consist of Microscope, Human anatomy model, chemicals for chemistry practicals, among others. At the same time, Mathematical equipments were also provided to the schools.

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

Last September, we gathered with 15 schools who requested us to help rebuild their schools. A year leading from that discussion, we are pleased to report that much progress has been made despite fuel crisis, building design complications, manpower shortage and monsoon challenge. Of the 15 the schools we signed an agreement with Department of Education, two are fully completed and six under construction with 90 per cent work done. We are looking forward to taking up the challenge of building seven more schools and we are actively seeking for any kind of financial support that can be made. Buildings are not only time consuming but also astronomically expensive. Cost of funding a classroom varies between USD 7,000 to USD 9,000. We have taken approach of building the schools through community involvement by training them first with a view to contribute towards strengthening their resiliency. Please read this first hand report by our latest Ambassadors Patrick and Emma of the various building works we are working at.

A team from Jyamire, Gufa and Lagarche on field for feasibility study of Rammed Earth technology, accompanied by HELP Operations Director Chhiring Lama. As we look into our next phase, we have also been looking into the possibility of building Rammed Earth School. On August 29, 2016, representatives from Panchakanya Primary School, Jyamire; Kyaulethana Lower Secondary School, Gufa and Saraswati Primary School, Lagarche were taken out for a feasibility study on the prospect of using Rammed Earth technology for building schools. To learn more about the same, click here.

Rammed Earth School. On August 29, 2016, representatives from Panchakanya Primary School, Jyamire; Kyaulethana Lower Secondary School, Gufa and Saraswati Primary School, Lagarche were taken out for a feasibility study on the prospect of using Rammed Earth technology for building schools. To learn more about the same, click here.

Presented below is a report of ongoing construction supported by HELP, progressing at various sites.

Satdhara Basic School, Birkharka. HELP supported Birkharka with 7 permanent rooms, 5 room toilet and two room semi permanent building construction.

Students and volunteers posing infront of Satdhara Basic School, Birkharka. HELP supported Birkharka with 7 permanent rooms, 5 room toilet and two room semi permanent building construction.

A class being conducted at the Birkharka Schoo.

Recently constructed Primary School building at Dhabsung.

Satkanyamati Secondary School Building constructed at Gunsa, Sindhupalchok.

Girl's Hostel at Nurbuling Manichaur Secondary School

Eight room school building under construction at Pating.

Under construction school building at Tartong.

Timbu Hostel

VOLUNTEERS

From June till date, HELP was privileged to host over 30 volunteers- a majority of them from Oxford University and Cambridge University- to go teach English in our partner schools. In 2015, we had to put our volunteer programme on hold owing to the massive earthquake which brought other areas to the fore as priority. The volunteers were spread across as many as 12 schools, mostly in a team of two. In this context, this was encouraging both in terms of numbers of volunteers we received and spread of the placement, and we thank our past volunteer at CU HELP and OU HELP for their support in enabling this. The link here will detail who the volunteers were, which school they taught and what they had to say.

The volunteers have together taught between 1200-1300 students directly. Most of the students are at primary level or lower secondary level.  The volunteers basically taught English, Science and Math subjects. Their teaching skills were practical, as was reported to us, with lots of fun.

For third time since 2012, we held volunteers gathering event called Champions Gathering at Timbu Village. Champions gathering is organised in a bid to let the volunteers, who are placed at different schools at the same time, meet each other, share their experiences and take some break from their volunteering schedule. This is also our way to thank them for being a part of our volunteering programme. We are glad to share with you some memories from the gathering in pictures via this Facebook post.

We thank our volunteers this summer for raising near about £8,000 and we will be soon working with schools on allocating the budget after a contribution towards funding teachers’ salaries. As the volunteering programme this summer has come to an end, we request our volunteers to fill in this google form to inform us where their donations should be spent on.

SCHOOL IN A BAG

School Bags programme continue to be as effective and popular programme as it has been since very beginning. We recently distributed 184 more bags for students at Life Vision Academy, Badegaun in Lalitpur through our friend Lex Limbu of Tracing Nepal and Shree Hira Devi Basic School of Shikharpur.

For the distribution at Hiradevi School, HELP was accompanied by siblings Robert Woodhead and Georgina Woodhead from the UK. The Woodhead Siblings had raised funds for School in a Bag programme, to benefit the students at Hiradevi School, by climbing three highest peaks in the UK. Thanks to them, 133 students were provided with school bags. We look forward to distributing more in October with Adventure Aid. 

KIDS ON THE GRID

Ian Harford, a former educator in Manchester area, UK, gets World Education Association interested about our Kids on the Grid Programme and manages to collect six laptops. Through our volunteers this Summer, those laptops arrive to Nepal. Between 14 to 16th of September, HELP handed over five laptops to three different schools in Sidhupalchowk. Two laptops were handed over to Shree Jalpadevi Secondary school in Bhotechaur, two for Hiradevi Basic School in Melamchi and one for Shree Narayan Basic School. We look forward to distributing more as more arrive.

HELP ED AT IDS CONFERENCE

July, 2016: The Executive Director of HELP, Jimmy Lamaattended a conference hosted by Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in July. At the fully funded academic conference on 'States, Markets and Society", Lama was invited as a speaker on the panel discussion "How can low income countries effectively respond to SDGS?"

The other panelists were from Kenya, Tanzania, Mexico and Brazil, which was chaired by the IDS Director, Melissa Leach. During his stay, he caught up with several friends and supporters of HELP, the volunteers and Mondo trustees.

Jimmy also met with Luke Simon (School in a Bag) where they discussed the progress on Tartong School building and the next steps for SIAB. The plan is to top up bags in Autumn.

He also spent some time with Ashley Platen Mills (Adventure Aids) who will be coming to Nepal this October for school project with 12 other people.

THE THIRD HIMALAYAN (OLYMPIX) GAMES

Four and half years ago, in February 2012, HELP organised the first ever  inter-school event titled “Himalayan School Olympix” between HELP's partner schools involving both extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. Owing to its success, we organized it again in 2014 where over 300 students participated from over 20 schools. We saw that inclusion of event like this play significant role in enabling our partner schools to create a more vibrant learning environment for their holistic development.

We are now all geared up for the third Himalayan Olympix to be held in Gunsa Valley this December (9-11) and are therefore seeking funds.This inter scholastic competition in the remote Sindupalchowk district of Nepal is hoped to bring some trauma healing opportunity for children in the area hardest hit by the 2015 earthquake. Students and their teachers will hike up to 5 hours to participate in the event. £20 or $ 25 will allow a student to attend, a remarkable opportunity in an area where education opens doors. See the happy faces at the last competition on this link.

Please click here to donate for this event and please go to this link to read more about this event.

WEBSITE RELAUNCH

We recently decided to update our website in order to make sure that the page acts as an effective means of connecting us to our well wishers, supporters, donors and friends. Along with keeping you informed about our current activities and progress, our motive is also to make the website more interactive and more efficient. We are still developing the page and therefore there is a room for a lot of improvement. Please visit our website www.help-nepal.org and do forward any suggestions so that we can think over it for making our page even better.

THE END