"Support-A-Child" Help Child Go To School & Study

On January 24, 2016 ECCA (Environmental Camps for Conservation Awareness) with Global Giving's support provided white boards, markers, magnetic dusters and inks as educational support to 47 schools of 9 Village Development Committees (Dalchoki, Ikudol, Asrang, Bhattedada, Malta, Chaughare, Kaleshwor, Sankhu and Gimde) of southern Lalitpur. The materials were handed over to representatives of each school by Mr. Bisweswor Koirala (Senior Social Mobilization Officer of Lalitpur District) Mr. Rabindra Khatri (ECCA program officer ).

The educational support is expected to provide more efficient and easy learning for more than 2400 students of these schools which are currently in their phase of reestablishing the school environment after being affected by the earthquake. "We use blackboards for teaching and the chalk dust affects health of us teachers to a great extent. Now we won't have to worry much", said Bal Bahadur Lama principal of Kalidevi Primary School, Sankhu after the distribution programme.

ECCA thanks all donor/supporters for helping it to support students in rural Nepal. With the support of Global Giving, ECCA has already distributed copies, pencils, bags and other stationery materials as well as tracksuits, shoes and socks to students of various earthquake affected districts. To become a contributor, please visit our Global Giving website.

For regular updates regarding our programs and activities, visit our blog, website, Facebook,  Twitter and YouTube Channel. 

Mr. Bisweswor Koirala(left) handing over educational materials to a school representative

Mr. Rabindra Khatri(left) handing over the educational materials to  a school representative

Chaughare is one of the coldest places of southern Lalitpur district in Nepal. With the arrival of winter season, the temperature goes down at ultimate level often creating serious problems for regular conduction of schools. This year the problem is even worse. The earthquake of April made many students homeless leaving them to struggle for fulfillment of the most basic requirements of life: food and clothes. Attending schools is an equal challenge. There is little solace for those who can afford some clothing(which is a rare case) but for the rest, the struggle is beyond imagination.

To solve this problem, ECCA (Environmental Camps for Conservation Awareness) in co-ordination with District Education Office and with Global Giving's support organized Winterization Support program for the students of Shree Bagh Bhairab Secondary School of Lalitpur, Chaughare on January 13, 2016. With Assistant District Education Officer of Lalitpur district Mr. Khem Adhikari as the chief guest along with the presence of program officer and representative from ECCA Mr.Rabindra Khatri, all 214 students of the school were provided with woolen jackets and caps.

Assistant District Education Officer Mr. Khem Adhikari helps
a young student put on a jacket as students line up to receive theirs 

                                  Pema 

"After the earthquake, coming to school and staying in class during the shivering cold is hard. But... today is a different day. We hope every suffering child receives supports like we have. Thank you for caring", said Pema, vice president of school nature club with a smile. Along with him, all the students shared their happiness in similar way at the end of the day.

 ECCA thanks all donor/supporters for providing help to support students in rural Nepal. With the support of Global Giving, ECCA has already distributed tracksuits, shoes and socks to more than 1000 students of Jyamdi and Gairibisauna of Kavre district. 

For regular updates regarding our programs and activities, please visit our Facebook, blog, website, Twitter and YouTube Channel.

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

The earthquake left Nepalese people in innumerable losses. With an absolute threat to vulnerable psychological status, no one was as much traumatized as children were.  They lost their houses and strived for the safest shelter that their parents could provide. With their books, bags and uniforms buried along with the houses, attending schools is still a huge challenge for children especially of rural areas where economy status of people is weak.

Thus, with a motive of supporting and encouraging them to attend school, ECCA has been providing educational materials to both students and schools with the support of various organizations and individuals. From construction of Temporary Learning Centers to WASH, Life Skills and Rehabilitation Camps, efforts were made for immediate benefit of victimized students.  Immediate needs of bags, copies, pencils and other educational materials such as whiteboards, markers have been fulfilled in various earthquake affected districts.

One of the latest educational support was made in December 2015 for students of Shree Dhandada Primary School in Dhandada Besi, Pyutar-5 where students received bags, copies and pencils. All 25 students received a set of bag, 6 copies and 2 pencils. This will accelerate their mode of learning along with providing some ease to their difficulty in regular school attendance. This is just one case, but there is still need of attention in remote areas in terms of educational and infrastructural support, ECCA leaves no hesitation in providing the needed help.

One bag for her!

A young student receives 'All In One' Book'!

Students of Shree Dhandada Primary School with their teachers after they receive educational materials

We thank Global Giving and all our donors/supporters for helping us support students in rural Nepal. Your continous contribution has helped us improve thousands of students' lives. For updates regarding our programs and activities, please also visit our website, Facebook,  Twitter, Blog and YouTube Channel.

Today's young generation is indulged in the glory of magnifying technological advancement, a breach between human kind and nature. When minds are constantly diverted to alluring factors of modernization, engaging this generation of youths towards conservation activities such as preserving indigenous plants and creating a greener environment isn't an easy task. But it isn't impossible either. With sheer motive of luring young students towards undertaking herbal knowledge, the concept of training enthusiastic members of pre-established nature clubs was a leap towards herbal conservation in Nepal. Now, ECCA has managed to provide trainings and engage students in establishing eco-friendly herbal gardens in above 40 schools all over the country.

Planting Ginger in Herbal Garden

Herbs like Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia spilanthus), Aloe Vera, Satavari (AsparagusRacemosus), Kapoor herb (Cinnamomim Camphora) etc  are being grown and preserved by the students. But the species obviously differs according to the physical and climatic factors influencing the environment as well as chemical composition of the soil. By establishing herbal gardens, students say that they havefelt closer to the nature. They have learnt the essence of medicinal value of herbs and what it takes to nourish them into healthy plants. It is also a matter detailed planning, tasks allocation and teamwork along with being a source of inspiration to fellow students.

But it is not only students who get benefitted. Everything feels productive when most of the teachers respond as "Seeing our students work together and create a healthier school environment for all inspires us as well. Even we get to learn as much as them and it encourages us to create herbal garden in our homes as well."

However, the April earthquake caused huge devastation destroying number of herbal gardens along with the school buildings. Nature club members are in the phase of renovating herbal gardens once again. To inspire that generation of youths even more, ECCA is planning to award those with best herbal garden in upcoming days. We are grateful to all who have been supporting us in this regard and for those who want to help will be welcomed as ever. For regular updates regarding our programs and activities, please visit our website, Facebook, Blogs & Youtube Channel.

Thank you!

Upama Tamla (Rai) - Media Associate, ECCA