By Freema Davis | Executive Director
Bungamati's Early Childhood Development program and the Family House are literally and figuratively side-by-side and supporting each other. We are so pleased to announce that since the devastating earthquake, both are, in many ways much stronger than ever before!
Construction of a new building for BFH: Another step towards self-sustainability
The earthquake-resistant new building of Bungamati Family House (BFH) is on the verge of successful completion. This building (in the center of the photo above, with the nursery school in the foreground) will be home to the children who have been living in a rented facility or hostel for last five years. The five-storied building will also be used for running BFH’s home-stay program, an IT-center and a library. The children are excited about moving into their new house and are patiently waiting for moving day. The Cooperative Society of Bungamati (CSB) is still actively searching for funds to complete the construction. The designated grandparents of the children have visited the site and are happy for their respective grandchildren. They are in full support for the construction of the new building and are eager to see the final outcome.
The Chairperson of CSB mentioned “although the new building is being built with challenges and struggles, it is sure to bring a fruitful result for all”. The principal of Tri Ratna Cooperative School said “the construction of the new building is an important initiative. It is an advantage not just for the children living in the family house but also would be an advantage for the school to improve its teaching-learning activities. Moreover, it’s a pride of the community at large”.
The construction of a new building for BFH has guaranteed the sustainability of the community-based care of orphaned and abandoned children--a model piloted by GFV in Nepal. We are planning to expand this model in other communities in the near future.
The Early Childhood Development Program (ECD)
GFV-N organized a study visit for early childhood teachers to three renowned early childhood development centers in Bhaktapur. All early childhood teachers and the officials of local project implementing partner participated. The study visit was organized as a part of GFV project’s ongoing capacity building initiatives. A total of 15 persons visited three different schools considered the best schools implementing ECD programs. The participants visited the day care, nursery and kindergarten sections of the schools, where they observed the classroom teaching and learning activities, and discussed with the concerned teachers and school authorities.
Refresher training program for ECD teachers
A one-day refresher training program for ECD teachers of Tri-ratna Cooperative School was organized on 25 August, 2016. The program was participated in by five teachers and the head teacher of the school. The training sessions included thematic approach of teaching-learning activities in early childhood classroom, preparation of children’s learning materials and discussion on the use of the materials developed Based on the teachers’ need with the guidance of the experts the participating teachers prepared four different materials—job chart, merit chart, birthday chart, news sharing chart. At the end, the teachers made a presentation on the purpose of preparing each material and methods of using them.
Anita, our child living at the House is pictured on the left of the above photo. She is helping the teachers in their preparations. This lovely young lady has been very helpful at the ECD classes, helping the staff and supporting the children. She wants to be a dancer when she grows up and practices and performs whenever the opportunities present themselves.
Moving Forward
GFV and GFV-N will continue to support the Bungamati community with technical support programs and initiatives. We would especially like to help revitalize the community's' HomeStay program that was so devastated by the earthquake. We are beginning a GlobalGiving page dedicated to Restoring HomeStay for 10 farmer women in the area.
Thank you all for your support.
In gratitude - Freema Davis (GFV), and Kishor Shrestha (GFV-Nepal)
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