Herbal Garden Education for Students In Nepal

Herbal gardening in school premises is one of the major activities of nature clubs in Southern Lalitpur, Nepal. After herbal gardens grown by clubs got destroyed, along with other school infrastructures, during the April earthquake of 2015, it has been very difficult to motivate students into re-establishing them. Herbal garden became a secondarily prioritized subject while the students were struggling to find a safe place to study. Now that the normal life is slowly recovering, ECCA held a meeting with nature club teachers and school representatives last month and thereby planned to organize Herbal Garden Competition this year among 9 of its project schools in Southern Lalitpur so as to encourage them to get involved into its re-establishment.  

Ever since the concept of the competition was circulated, the nature clubs are relentlessly trying to re-establish herbal gardens in their open school premises. “It is difficult to find a place again mainly because many schools were compelled to build Temporary Learning Centres across the compound during emergency period”, says one of the nature club teachers. Some nature clubs are also facing another problem - lack of water. In the present context, many villages have water access in homes but direct supply to the schools is absent. At some places, people have to fetch water from far even for the purpose of drinking. This absence of proper accessibility to water has brought difficulties in gardening the plants.

“Despite all these difficulties, I believe we can re-establish the garden”, says one of the nature club members. “It’s all about teamwork and effort, isn’t it?” His words have encouraged all to contribute for herbal garden restoration.

The timeline for the best herbal garden judgement and announcement of the winner is scheduled in the month of Sep-Oct, so students can have plenty of time to nourish herbal plants. ECCA hopes that this competition will once again bring nature clubs closer to the environment. 

Herbal Gardens provided both refreshment and greenery before the earthquake

Condition after the earthquake 

School Compounds being used to make Temporary Learning Centre to replace destroyed classrooms

Plant growth is hindered without water

Dear all,

Environmental Camps for Conservation Awareness (ECCA) is currently in its 29th year of establishment. Over the years, we have succeeded in making significant improvements in the sector of WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), school environment, community development, promotion of alternate and renewable technologies (A Clean Solar Alternative to Kerosene Lamps,  ICS training) and even conservation related entrepreneurship. We can proudly say that our actions have helped people change their lives. Women in Jajarkot have learnt to invest in income generating activities through saving and credit schemes initiated among their own group. Children of Dolakha have learnt to initiate community awareness programs on their own. Our actions have made a difference in a sense that each trained member in the society now bears a sense of responsibility. The earthquake was however a turning phase for all but it proved more of a reason to work harder right from renovation and rebuilding to development that offers sustainability. From construction of Temporary Learning Centers to formation of nature club in schools, we have been attempting to bring progressive change from local to national level.

This note, henceforth, is to remind each of you contributors for your priceless support because all our successful attempts would have not been possible without you. To all supporters who are incessantly helping us in every way, be it on site volunteering or project donations, we express our heartfelt gratitude. To every heart out there that believes in us, we are thankful.

Considering the present hardships (due to cold weather) being faced by the earthquake affected people (who are still living in temporary makeshift shelters), ECCA recently initiated a campaign Win Against Winter. We're sure we'll receive support from each one of you as well.

We wish to move on with your ever-growing aspiration to help our motives.

Furthermore, we have prepared a short 2 minute video on our post-earthquake activities. We look forward to receiving your response on it.

Thank you!

ECCA Nepal

Links:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psY0wRkxkBY