Education+care+mentorship for 100 Nepali children

Due to Covid-19 lockdown, schools and school hostels have been shut down since the end of March 2020. The virus pandemic has made it uncertain as to when schools and hostels will be able to reopen. In the meantime, the government is broadcasting some basic lessons for each grade level over the television and radio, and HCC is continuing to serve each student in our program as best we can.

This week, HCC staff travelled to three districts to meet with students for the first time since the pandemic shutdowns. During this trip, we were able to meet with 25 students and distribute regular scholarship funds and school stationery supplies, as well as extra COVID-19 relief support and personal care items including masks, soap, and sanitizer. 

While a few of our students who are studying in the Dhading district headquarter are able to continue their regular studies via distance learning, the majority of our students in rural communities do not attend schools with enough resources to provide this opportunity to them during the extended school closures. Unfortunately, this means that many of our students in the rural areas are currently not in school. HCC is keeping in close contact with each student and their guardians to make sure that they are safe and have their basic needs met. Additionally, we are doing our best to counsel each student to help meet their unique needs and encourage them to work independently on their coursework so that they do not fall behind. This is important because a consequence of the pandemic school closures is that millions of students including more than half of Nepal’s girls are at-risk for dropping out of school. HCC has also been able to make special arrangements with two school principals to keep a handful of students at each school housed and cared for at the school hostel, enabling them to continue their studies with dedicated teachers and tutors. 

All of our students are desperately looking forward to going back to their respective schools and continuing their students. 

Anu* says- “I have been really bored since I am not attending college these days due to lockdown. I am missing my school a lot and want to go back as soon as possible and also meet my friends”.

Sunita* says- “ During this lockdown I have been exposed to different places around my area which has become a part of learning. But I have a very big dream of being able to stand on my feet and give back to my family and society and this is not possible without attending the school.”

We want to thank all our supporters for their continued sponsorship. As we navigate these uncertain times, your support is immeasurably helpful in keeping our students safe and ensuring they receive excellent care and continuing education. 

Anurav*Namaste!!

My name is Anurav and I live with my mother in a rented room in Dhading Besi. Recently I got promoted to grade 8. My classes have resumed online for the past two months. The online classes are not so effective but still I am happy that I get to attend them during this COVID-19 pandemic period and get to learn new things from my subject teacher. Everyday I keep myself busy with my studies, helping my mother in the household chores and learning various life skills.

During this COVID-19 pandemic period I am utilizing my time by practicing English, reading, learning typing on the computer, playing cricket, going for morning walks with my mother, reading books, and doing my school assignments. My favorite thing to do during the lockdown is go bike riding and practice typing on the computer. Now I am good at typing. 

From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank all the sponsors and donors for your continuous love and support. Thank you!!!

Ram, Sonu and Melina*

These three are siblings. They stay with their widow mother and run a small restaurant in their village. Due to this lockdown, they could not run their business but they had enough funds for their family to survive. These three children help their mother in their work and also help themselves in need. They attend their online classes, as long as it's possible. They have been waiting for this lockdown to be over so that the family can again run the business and earn for the living. 

*names have been changed

Due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, a strict country-wide lockdown has been in effect in Nepal since late March. Cases are still relatively low, but are beginning to rise. This is a scary prospect in a developing country like Nepal, which has both a fragile economy and health care system.

The school year ends mid-March, so our students were able to complete the academic year before school closures began, although national final exams (grade 10 and grade 12) and all further regular classes have been postponed until later notice. Thankfully, all of our students remain safe and sound as they shelter-in-place with their families or guardians. 

In March, five of our students graduated from high school and from this project! We are extremely proud of their accomplishments, as each of them are the first in their families to achieve this level of education! Currently, we are encouraging all five graduating students to apply for further educational support through our Higher Education Scholarship Program (HESP).

This leaves a total of 80 students enrolled in HCC’s Rural Education Scholarship Program (previously known as the Earthquake Orphan Scholarship Program), including 12 students at local boarding schools. 

Smart and bold Ritu* is now a high school graduate! With HCC support, she is living in a rented room near her college in the district headquarters. She is a studious young lady and is continuing to work hard studying for her upcoming final grade 12 exams, which were postponed due to COVID-19. Her favourite subjects in school are Nepali and Law because she finds them easy to understand and fun to study. She also enjoys dancing and playing volleyball, and has a dream of traveling all over Nepal in the future. She hopes to enroll into university to study Law next year. Her aim in life is to become a successful lawyer and advocate for children like herself who are from disadvantaged caste communities and don't have parents. 

Ritu says, “ Thank you so much for your help and support!” 

*name has been changed