Nepal: The B Project

Bachalamai School

Teachers Needed

We met with the head of the School Management Committee from Bachalamai School in Le Khadka, and he brought along 2 candidates with him as potential teachers to hire. The school has a current shortage of 2 teachers. We were not impressed by either of the candidates, so we are looking for other teachers. We also support 1 English teacher at Bachalamai School.

We have also asked the local carpenter to make doors for the bamboo school that we built after the earthquake.

Local Mothers’ Group

English Classes

We have started adult education (English classes) for the local mothers’ group in Gurung Gaun, Bhotenamlang VDC (Village Development Committee), Sindhupalchok. There are 16 mothers who attend the classes every day and are learning elementary English. The class started with the alphabet and will begin studying basic conversation in the second week of December. Our Seven Summits Women’s volunteer from Germany, Elena, along with the local school’s English teacher, are teaching the class.

Shree Ganesh School

Interactive Learning

We are experimenting with an interactive tool called E-Paath at Shree Ganesh School using only one laptop at the moment. The children are really enjoying learning with E-Paath, as the lessons are fun and many of them also have never used a computer. Once the new building for Shree Ganesh School is built, we will purchase more computers and expand the program. We will also extend this to other schools as well (already installed in 1 other school).

Bhotenamlang School

Technology and Housing

We spoke to a dynamic Teach for Nepal (TFN)  teacher at Bhotenamlang School, and he has a lot of ideas on improving education quality. Under the TFN teachers’ initiative, they have started a small library with books and 6 computers. We will soon install E-Paath and E-Pustakalya on them.

They would also like to start a hostel in the school itself for grade 10 students to give them intensive coaching to clear the School Leaving Certificate exam. I have asked them to consult with Shisir, the founder of Teach for Nepal, and then give us a proposal. If what they propose makes sense, this would be a great initiative to support.

Clean Drinking Water

WASH Improvements

We recently visited Bhotenamlang with a technical team from SmartPaani, a local company that specializes in rainwater harvesting and recycling. They had helped us install toilets and water filters in 3 schools after the April 2015 earthquake. The SmartPaani team is researching a viable community model for supplying clean drinking water. We also surveyed the filters and water systems for Teepine, Gurung Gaun, and Bhotegaun. We have made a list of materials we need to ensure that all toilets have water and that we can restart the water supply at Shree Ganesh School. A technical team from SmartPaani will return in the second week of December to perform the various tasks.

Construction

Supporting Infrastructure

Bhotenamlang Community Center

• The architect has given us the first draft of conceptual drawings. It’s a good start, and we have given him our feedback. We hope to begin construction of the center by early January.

Plans to Rebuild Balsudhar Primary School

• We are rebuilding Balsudhar Primary School in a remote village of Kafle, in Bhotenamlang VDC. We have acquired the land for it and are now exploring various options for its reconstruction. Children are currently studying in a temporary classroom built by us. We also support two teachers at the school.