Education+care+mentorship for 100 Nepali children

From May 30th to June 2nd, our dedicated team from HCC Nepal conducted a field visit to several rural regions, including Baireni, Beighat, Bunching, Dhading Besi, Darkha, and Nuwakot. This trip's primary objectives were to monitor our students' progress, distribute scholarship funds, and provide essential supplies.

Our team met with 85 students during the visit, ensuring each received necessary school supplies, summer clothes, bags, and personal care items. This initiative is crucial for their educational and personal development.

In addition to distributing supplies, we collected written updates and photographs from the students to help us track their progress and needs more effectively. Our team also spent quality time with the students, gaining a deeper understanding of their challenges and aspirations. We met with their teachers and guardians to discuss academic performance and identify any additional support they might require.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all team members for their hard work and dedication. Their contributions are vital to this project's success and our students' well-being. 

The field visit was a success, enabling us to connect with our students and provide them with the resources they need to thrive. We look forward to continuing our efforts and supporting our students on their educational journey.

Update on Mina and Somraj

Mina, 11, is in Grade 3, and Somraj, 4, is in UKG. They live with their mother in Bhaktapur, near Kathmandu. Their mother helps support the family by collecting sand from the river that is used in construction. It pays very little and is often not enough to support them. 

With help from HCC, both children are doing well in school and enjoy attending daily. Mina, who has many responsibilities at home, cooks, cleans, feeds her brother, and then goes to school. Her best friend at school is Sajana, whose parents are very fond of her.

During school breaks, Mina and Somraj visit their mother at her work site and play in the sand. They were thrilled to see us and delighted to receive supplies, clothes, and funds. Their mother plans to use the money to pay their school fees and buy snacks for her kids. It was heartwarming to see the joy on their faces.

Field Experience by Pratima*

*HCC’s older students, who are in university in Kathmandu, often join the HCC team on trips out to rural Nepal. They support the team but also have a chance to experience what life is like outside of the city. 

This Dhading field trip was the most exciting and amusing trip so far. It was also my first trip. Although I usually don't enjoy long trips and find them boring, this time was different. Despite going for work, I didn't feel exhausted and enjoyed interacting with the children and learning about their backgrounds. This trip also helped me experience village life firsthand.

I was aware of HCC’s incredible work in Dhading and Nuwakot, but this time I got to experience it myself. I usually don't interact much with others, but on this trip, I was able to open up with everyone in the group, partly because I was with people I was close to and comfortable with. This trip made me realize how privileged I am to live in Kathmandu, as people in the village lack many of the facilities we take for granted. I learned the importance of adjusting to different environments and compromising when necessary. I am very thankful for being included in this trip.

The HCC Winter Program currently supports 89 students, with the majority residing with surviving family members and benefiting from direct scholarships. Seventeen of these students do not have families that are able to care for them, and they are placed in carefully verified boarding schools near their communities. 

This report details the field trips undertaken by HCC Nepal in December 2023 to provide educational support and winter supplies to students in various regions. The trips focused on monitoring student progress and distributing scholarships, school supplies, and warm winter clothes.

Field Trip Activities

• Lower and Upper Dhading (Educational Support Trip):

• The HCC team met with 73 students, many accompanied by parents and teachers.
• Scholarships, school supplies, warm winter clothes, and stationery were distributed.
• Puspha and Uttam gathered individual student updates and monitored academic progress.
• Dinesh documented the trip through photographs.
• Laxmi and DP distributed scholarships and supplies.
• Academic progress cards were collected, and interactions with students, parents, and teachers were conducted.

• Rasuwa/Nuwakot (Student Monitoring):

• The team met with students at Uttargaya School, focusing on Anish, Smiriti, Manika, and Arun.
• Interactions assessed academic and personal development.
• Monitoring activities included capturing photos and written updates on student performance and well-being.
• Winter supplies were distributed to support students during the cold months.

• Benighat 5 School (Winter Supply Distribution):

• The team met with local authorities at the rural municipality office.
• Insights were provided on HCC Nepal's work with five schools: Belanda Basic, Maharudra Basic, Richok Irang Basic, Tinkanya Bageshworee, and Bhumisthan Basic.
• Winter supplies, including clothes, school supplies, and personal care items, were distributed to 278 students.

These field trips ensured essential support reached students:

• Scholarships aided educational pursuits.
• School supplies facilitated learning.
• Winter supplies provided warmth and comfort during the harsh winter season.
• Monitoring activities allowed for a comprehensive understanding of student progress.

The initiative directly benefited students by enhancing their well-being and fostering a more conducive learning environment during winter.

HCC Nepal's December field trips successfully delivered educational support and winter supplies to students in various regions. Such ongoing efforts contribute significantly to student success and positively impact their educational journeys.

*Three years ago Rina and Suman’s father left their family, leaving them in a deplorable situation. Their mother Tik Maya moved the family to Kathmandu to look for work. She managed to find labour work, carrying sand from the river as well as working in the fields, but the work is inconsistent and she often does not make enough to feed the children. 

Rina and Suman are now in school in Bhaktapur with the help of HCC. Rina is in grade 2 and Suman is in a nursery playgroup. Rina is getting extra tuition to improve her reading, but both children have good attendance and are doing well.