Author: CMI Nepal

  • Construction of Libraries in 4 VDCs in Ilaka 12, Sindhupalchok district commences

    Construction of Libraries in 4 VDCs in Ilaka 12, Sindhupalchok district commences

    The construction of libraries in Gunsa, Baruwa, Bhotang and Bhotenamlang VDCs in Sindhupalchok district is currently underway. The libraries are being built through the Establishing Accountability and Transparency Mechanism in School Governance Project funded by Give-2-Asia. The libraries will be built in the following five schools in each VDC:

    1. Chandika Secondary School, Baruwa VDC
    2. Kumbeshwory Primary School, Gunsa VDC
    3. Bhotang Devi Secondary School, Bhotang VDC
    4. Kshetrapaleshwory Higher Secondary School, Bhotenamlang VDC
    5. Thangpaldhap Higher Secondary School, Thangpaldhap VDC

     

     

    Construction of library in Kumbeshwory School, Gunsa.
    Construction of library in Chandika School, Baruwa

    All the above four schools suffered major destruction during the earthquake and require new libraries. In the future, the libraries will not only serve as a reading room for the children but the monthly Village Education Committee (VEC) meetings will also take place in them. The truss and civil work is currently going on in Kshetrapaleshwory School, Bhotenamlang and Bhotang Devi School, Bhotang.

    Assessment for construction of library in Kshetrapaleshwory School, Bhotenamlang VDC
    Civil work for construction of library in Bhotang Devi School, Bhotang VDC
    Civil work underway for construction of library in Bhotang

    On the other hand, in Chandika School, Baruwa and Kumbeshwory School, Gunsa the truss and civil work has already been completed. The iron frames for the structure and the tin roofs are now being set up in these two schools as can be seen from the images below. Construction is yet to begin for the library in Thangpaldhap Higher Secondary School in Thangpaldhap VDC. We have set a target to complete the construction of these 5 libraries by the end of July as long as the monsoon does not delay our process.

    Iron frames being set up in Chandika School, Baruwa VDC
    Tin roofs being added to the structure in Baruwa
    Construction of library underway in Kumbeshwory School, Gunsa VDC
  • Establishing a Better and Improved Public School System in Nepal

    Establishing a Better and Improved Public School System in Nepal

    Chandika School, Baruwa VDC where we plan to build a library
    With the support of funds from Give 2 Asia, we have initiated a new project that aims to ensure accountability and transparency within the public school system in Sindhupalchok district. The project site is located in Ilaka 12 of the district and has six local bodies – VDCs; namely, Baruwa, Gunsakot, Thangpalkot, Thangpaldhap, Bhotenamlang, and Bhotang. The monitoring of public education system is not practiced best in Nepal. COMMITTED identifies that the school system has failed  to capitalize on the available Village Education (VEC) structure as well as local civil vigilance groups – Parent Teacher Associations (PTA); Ward Citizen Forums (WCF).

    Assesment of Bhotang Devi School, Bhotang VDC for construction of Library

    Through this project firstly the VEC will be strengthened for all education needs, including the formulation of a Village Education Plan including resource generation. Second, a citizen driven vigilance system will be created through which students, citizen groups, and government resources are mobilized to ensure all actors in this sector are transparent, accountable and diligent in their duties. This will be complemented with raising awareness and processes regarding the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Third, the capacity of the School Management Committee (SMC) will be developed for improved planning, reporting, and operations. In addition, five school libraries will also be rebuilt using earthquake safe material as a part of the rebuilding effort in the post earthquake stage. Rebuilding libraries at these schools will assist the underprivileged children to return to formal school environment. Having a new permanent library will enable these vulnerable children from getting back to reading and enjoying school.

    Assesment of Thangpaldhap School, Thangpaldhap VDC

    We believe that efforts to bring in qualified teachers and improve on infrastructure, facilities and resource generation are all necessary for an effective education system. However, without governance system to not only monitor activities and check for malpractice, but also create a plan for moving forward, all such efforts could only prove to be futile. This program will resurrect and strengthen the governance structure as well as create a system through which all stakeholders’ roles are clearly defined, their capacities built and as a result, in unison, an education governance mechanism will be built to benefit all households for current and future generations.

    Our team comprising of the Senior Program Coordinator, Program Coordinator and Technical Engineer visited the six VDCs last week. They assessed the six different schools in the six VDCs which have been selected for the construction of libraries. The libraries will also serve the purpose of conducting VEC activities as when required and appropriate. Simultaneously, the team is currently rigorously involved in planning and management of the activities that will be undertaken within this project.

  • The two Champion Sisters Lambuti and Khendo Lama

    The two Champion Sisters Lambuti and Khendo Lama

    Fourteen year old Khendo Lama and fifteen year old Lambuti Lama are two very talented athletes who come from Bhotang VDC, Sindhupalchok. The two come from a family of 4 sisters and a brother. Both of them currently study in class nine in Shree Chilaune Secondary School, Thangpalkot VDC. These two talented sisters have been winning a number of accolades in athletics since the last three years. Following is a brief outline of their achievements:

    Miss Khendo Lama

    • Awarded the Gold medal in the 1500m Marathon in the President’s Cup organized by Sindhupalchok District, 2070 B.S.
    • Awarded the Gold medal in the 1500m & 5000m Marathon in the President’s Cup organized by Sindhupalchok District, 2071 B.S.
    • Awarded the Gold medal in the 1500m Marathon in the President’s Cup organized by Sindhupalchok District, 2072 B.S.
    • Awarded the Silver medal in the Helambu Festival Marathon, Sindhupalchok District, 2071 B.S
    The two Champions after winning the 3rd and 4th title in the Women’s Day 5K Run
    The two sisters with the other two winners in the 5K Fun Run
    Khendo and Lambuti at the Helambu Festival Marathon with the legendary Nepali Marathon Runner Baikuntha Manandhar

    Miss Lambuti Lama

    • Awarded the Gold medal in the 800m Marathon in the President’s Cup organized by Sindhupalchok District, 2071 B.S.
    • Awarded the Gold medal in the 800m Marathon in the President’s Cup organized by Sindhupalchok District, 2072 B.S.
    • Awarded the Bronze medal in the Helambu Festival Marathon, Sindhupalchok District, 2071 B.S.
    The two sisters with other participants and their teacher Mr. Babu Lal Tamang
    Khendo and Lambuti on their way to complete the 5K Run

    The two Champions with the support of their school teacher Mr. Babu Lal Tamang try their best to participate in more such events as much as possible. They also participated in the Nagarkot Tourism Development Marathon held this year. Also, Lambuti and Khendo participated in the recent 5 Kilometer Fun Run organized by Women Lead, Higher Ground and a number of other organizations on the occasion of International Women’s day, 2016. Khendo and Lambuti stood 3rd and 4th respectively in this 5K Run among a total of 500 participants which included women from all ages and even expats. The two girls received attractive prizes along with their certificates. We are very proud of these two girls and truly admire them for their enthusiasm and spirit. We wish them the very best for their future endeavors.

  • Dreams do come true – The Story of Prakriti Shrestha

    Dreams do come true – The Story of Prakriti Shrestha

    Prakriti in her ANM program

    19 year old Prakriti Shrestha comes from a family with a weak financial background from the village of Gunsakot, Sindhupalchok district in Nepal. When in school, Prakriti was a very hard working student and she cleared her SLC (School Leaving Certificate) examinations from Raithane Secondary School, Thangpalkot with first division grades. Initially, because of her family’s financial hardships, her father and stepmother sadly wanted to marry her off. However through the fund raiser made possible by COMMITTED, Prakriti got a chance to pursue further education. In June 2013 when COMMITTED’s Education Program Director Dorje Gurung visited Thangpalkot and interacted with school students and shot a video for his ‘Education is Freedom’ fundraising campaign, she had expressed her dream of studying to be a nurse one day.

    Prakriti pursuing her nursing studies

    Through the fundraising campaign we were able to raise Rs. 45,700 required at the start of the Associate/Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) program which Prakriti wanted to pursue. The rest of her educational expenses were covered by contributions from two other non-governmental organizations. We feel happy to share that she has now successfully completed the 18 month long ANM course and is now awaiting her final examination results.

    She is now engaged in her nurse practices and is waiting
    for her results to plan about her further career. Given her personal and familial struggles, Prakriti has really come a long way to fulfill her dreams, despite the struggles that she constantly faced. She is truly an inspiration to young girls out there and we will support her in what she plans to do in her career next

  • How the Earthquake severely affected Raithane Secondary School

    How the Earthquake severely affected Raithane Secondary School

    The powerful 7.8 Richter scale earthquake that struck Nepal
    on April 25th, 2015 and its recurrent aftershocks severely damaged Shree Raithane
    Secondary School in Thangpalkot VDC, Sindhupalchok district. Of the 18 total school rooms of
    Raithane School, 11 have been completely destroyed. The remaining 7 are also
    partially damaged. After the devastation met by schools because of the
    earthquake, the District Education Office Sindhupalchok assigned COMMITTED as
    one of its partners to help rebuild schools in Thangpalkot VDC.

    The earthquake ravaged Shree Raithane School
    The classrooms that were reduced to rubble
    Debris clearance

    Due to the earthquake, classes were disrupted for over a
    month. Working together with the Nepal Army, the School Management Committee, school
    teachers, and local residents COMMITTED established Temporary Learning Centers
    (TLC) on school grounds. Classes have been running in the TLCs since May 31. The
    school had been torn down to rubble and needs to be built from scratch. With
    the support of the funds given by Western Union we have completed the debris
    clearance and land stabilization activities which is crucial before rebuilding
    the school.

    The collapsed weak
    structures were dismantled, the debris was cleared up by employing workers and
    the scattered stones of the rubble were used to make gabion boxes.  These gabion boxes have been used to level up the slopes near
    where the school stood. Since the land was slanting a little, these boxes have
    helped in stabilizing the land before construction of a new structure takes
    place there.

     

    Workers making the Gabion Boxes
    Land stabilization

    Sadly, we still have not been able to raise enough funds yet to rebuild
    the school and are looking for contributions. Please support us and help us rebuild
    Raithane Secondary School by pouring in contributions by going to this link http://cminepal.org/how.php#secFour

     

    The TLC of Raithane Secondary School