Nepal: The B Project

Approvals Granted

Proceeding with Building Plans

On December 20, 2017, we met with President of Paanchpokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality, Mr. Tashi Lama, for approval of our construction plan for the community center in Bhotenamlang and Balsudhar Primary School in Kafle.

Approval was granted, and we hope to start construction of both the community center and school in early January 2018. The design for the school is already approved, and the design for the community center will be completed by Build Up Nepal by the end of December 2017.

Construction Projects

Bhotenamlang Community Center

For several months of monsoon season, progress on the Bhotenamlang Community Center was slow due to obstructed roads. However, by September, landscaping and building temporary shelters for workers had begun. By December 11, 2017, the land for the community center had been completely cleared.

Balsudhar Primary School, Kafle

On November 17, 2017, the building site was visited by Operation Manager and Lead Engineer Kulendra Neupane from Build Up Nepal (BUN) and the Seven Summits Women team, and on December 16, 2017, the land for the school had been completely cleared.

Build Up Nepal (BUN)

Supporting Local Workers

BUN is a nonprofit company that specializes in compressed stabilized earth block (CSEB) brick building technology, commonly referred to as earth brick. Through this technology, brick is locally manufactured instead of being acquired elsewhere and then transported. Local soil is mixed with sand and cement in a machine that produces bricks.

BUN will provide brickmaking training for a week, hiring local men and women for the training. BUN will then provide construction training while their engineer leads the entire construction process. BUN will provide modern, earthquake resistant, government-approved designs for the community center and school.

Education

Supporting Teachers

Continuation of teaching support has been a necessity, as the two primary (or basic) schools did not have teachers at all. At Bhotenamlang Secondary School, we support one teacher, who promotes student hygiene, conducts early childhood development (ECD) classes, and monitors the water filtration system at each of the schools on alternating Sundays. At Shree Chilaune Secondary School, we have just started to support one computer teacher, meeting a fundamental need observed at the school. Currently, we are supporting a total of 6 teachers at 4 different schools.

School Uniforms Provided

Supporting Local Women and Children

We have begun preparations to provide school uniforms for 432 students at 4 schools in the remote villages of
The B Project’s target area, Sindhupalchok district. The schools were chosen based on the income level of the villages and students from minority castes:

• Balsudhar Primary School, Kafle – 45 students
• Shree Bachalamai Basic School, Lekharka – 119 students
• Panch Pokhari Basic School, Gobre – 16 students
• Golmeshwari Basic School, Tar – 252 students

Former Trainees Hone Skills

Empowering Local Women

In 2016, we provided a 3-month tailoring training program to 10 women from the village of Bhotenamlang. With the aim to further empower local women, we decided to hire 4 of these former trainees to work as assistant seamstress, led by the professional village tailor, to sew the children’s school uniforms. This will provide the women with the opportunity to hone their skills by getting additional, first-hand experience and working with the professional tailor. This photo shows the team that will be sewing the uniforms for the students.