By Christopher Heun | President
CONSTRUCTION FINISHED ON BHATTE PRIMARY SCHOOL
We’ve completed another reconstruction project! The “silapatra” (dedication stone) that records for posterity the contributions by the Santi School Project and our partner, Youth For Nepal, was put in place just a few days ago. It was the final touch on work that began back in November.
The construction work was substantial (building a new block of 4 classrooms from scratch) and came in on budget, with the villagers donating their time and raw materials as promised.
Currently, about 100 students from kindergarten to 5th grade attend the school; the principal estimates that enrollment may increase by as much as 15% to 20% after declining because of poor infrastructure.
WORK HAS ALREADY STARTED ON OUR NEXT PROJECT
Overcrowding has forced Shree Vishwamitra Ganesh Secondary School to hold classes in private homes that are scheduled to be demolished. We’re providing funds in combination with a government grant to build a new 2-story, 4-room school building.
The school has more than 300 students up to grade 10 and has a strong academic reputation.
Rabindra Maharjan, chairman of our operations in Nepal, raised the funds for the project last summer while he was in Imst, Austria, for the annual NepalFest celebration.
REWARDING OUR TOP TEACHERS-IN-TRAINING
Earlier this month, at a ceremony that included in attendance prominent local politicians and education officials, we honored 3 teachers and 3 schools who have done the best job of implementing the principles of our early education teacher training in their classrooms.
The winners were chosen during a month-long series of classroom observations. The teachers were given a cash prize; the schools received educational materials.
The contest was part of modifications we’ve made to our teacher training program to provide additional incentives for teachers in rural areas to use the training with their students.
Australian Clem Yong volunteered at Santi School in March and shares what he calls “one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.” He came prepared with lesson plans, helped our students write letters to new pen pals in Australia and even found time to run a short first aid course. Thanks, Clem!
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