Rebuild School for 479 Nepalese Children

Progressing reconstruction of school building

Mahendra Lila Higher Secondary School, Nawalpur, Gorkha

We are happy to report about the completion of reconstruction of Mahendra Lila Higher Secondary School in Nawalpur, Gorkha. This school teaches about 500 girls and boys who had lost most of their school buildings during the earthquake in April 2015 and since then had to hold classes in improvised shelters. The reconstructed school building has facilitated in smooth running of the classes and has indirectly benefitted 1175 households in the community. The completion of the reconstruction of this school building before the onset of monsoon season has added joy among the students and the teachers. They are happy that they no longer have to take classes in improvised shelters during monsoon where heavy rain would make it difficult for holding regular classes.

When we visited the completed school site, a cheerful crowd of students, teachers, parents and local community welcomed us and were thankful for the completion of school reconstruction before the summer and monsoon season. The students seemed excited to start their classes in new buildings. One of the students from Grade 7, Krishna said “I am happy to start studying in a new building. After the earthquake destroyed our school building I was worried whether we will be able to continue our education in the future. From the first day of school reconstruction I was eager for its completion. I would often come to this site with my friends and we would ask the workers when it will be completed. Now it is completed, I am sure that there will be no disruption in our education and I also pray that we will never have to face such terrifying earthquake.”

We are happy to report that there were a lot of hurdles present in the completion of this project but we successfully passed each challenge and now the students can continue their education in a safe, sound and pleasant environment. Madheshi protests, Indian blockade causing lack of supply materials and roads impaired by rain posed a challenge for us but despite all these, we worked continuously with the aim to complete reconstruction before monsoon and now we are happy to have done so.

The school teachers, students, guardians and the School Management Committee are pleased about having joined their efforts with PSD Nepal and their international supporters. We again talked to the Assistant Head Master, Mr. Ram, who added: “We are very pleased for this assistance provided by PSD Nepal and international donors. The completed school building has filled us with new hopes and aspirations. This completed school building has not only facilitated in the education of our students but also has given a new direction and courage for the local community to forget the earthquake and move on with life. We will forever remember this great deed done by PSD and international partners.”

It was indeed a great pleasure and satisfaction for us to witness such happiness in faces of students, parents and teachers. Among the cheerful crowd, we heard a shout and it was Merina, a 13 year old student who talked with us in our previous visit. She again thanked us and further added “This is the happiest day of my life. It is no less than a miracle to see this completed building where we will continue our education. Many many thanks to PSD and the donors for saving our future.”

Besides this school rebuilding project, we have successfully completed the reconstruction of Jana Devi Primary School in Gorkha, Bigyan Primary School in Gorkha, Gram Sudhar Lower Secondary School, Baluwa, Kathmandu and Tri-Ratna Cooperative Secondary School in Bungmati, Lalitpur. The reconstruction of Maikot Secondary School , Gorkha is in its completion phase and will be completed very soon. PSD Nepal is further planning to undertake the reconstruction of four more schools and hoping fund raising will continue to make it possible.