Helen and Rafik met with headteacher Kamal Bikram and his wife Bimila whilst trekking in Ramechhap, Nepal. The school had no toilets, no stationery, few books and no IT equipment. The classrooms were dark and there was no provision for +2s (A level equivalents) so none of the children could study long enough at school to be able to access college.
Nepal was hit by two earthquakes. Helen and Rafik waited for news. There was no internet connection at the village, and no news.
At last a text came from Kamal 'Everyone is fine in the village... but homes and the school are damaged. We hope for your helping hands.'
Months of interrupted communication followed, roads were damaged, electricity intermittent, travel hampered by poor roads and landslides.
The search for a partner charity began as Helen and Rafik knew expertise was needed to ensure expert help on the ground. Fundraising began slowly as Helen and Rafik talked with their friends and colleagues about the project and people began to offer their help.
After long hours of research, emails and phone calls Helen and Rafik found 'Love Nepal', a UK based charity with experience of working in this area and a good track record of delivery. Their experience, an engineer located in Nepal and attention to due diligence meant there was a clear way to ensure the right resources could be provided to the school.
Helen and Rafik organised an assessment of needs. Stationery has been purchased for the children and 600m of water pipe to re-connect the drinking water supply was bought and transported through the valley by Sherpas.
Helen and Rafik returned to the school and village to see the progress made and were able to give out awards at prize giving. They saw the water supply in place and the site identified for toilets. The school now had a computer and their Nepali curriculum software so the purchase of a projector and screen was been agreed. Raising funds for the school build continued.
We were delighted to see good progress at this visit. We supplied stationery for all the children for a third year. A washing station was in place, library books purchased as well as new furniture. We enjoyed playing cricket with the children with the new cricket bats and balls donated along with chess sets! One of the temporary classrooms had blown away in a storm so fundraising for new classrooms continues.
The building of 3 new classrooms is now underway. A science lab, computer suite and library. With funds raised this year Rebuilding Schools Nepal will be providing the books, computers, science equipment and furniture for these classrooms.
