During the first half of 2025 we funded two new school buildings. The first for Kalika Primary School in Ghatgaon this being our 9th school, which was completed in March and the second, Malika School in Paisara, our 10th school building which was completed in May. Both buildings are in the region of Surkhet and two hours apart due to the hilly terrain and both are part of a larger school up to Grade 10. During the devastating earthquake of 2015, the junior block was badly damaged from nursery to Grade 3 in both school buildings and were deemed unsafe to use. Classes were conducted outside, weather permitting! The children come from several small hamlets to reach their school and depending on the terrain it can take them two hours to walk to school. Parents are appreciative that their children in these remote areas have the opportunity of an education.
The schools were built by our long term and trusted partner on the ground in Nepal – Grassroot Movement in Nepal (GMIN) who have completed 50 schools in 15 years.
Our thanks go to Rosy and Peter Gent, this being the 5th school which they have helped to fund, along with David and Jenny Newman, an anonymous donor and CHANCE.
Each school costs between £10,000 and £12,000 and also includes the furniture and white boards. Each of the classrooms can accommodate up to 25 children, giving the potential for 100 students in total.
A further initiative by way of a fund-raising quiz night raised £700 in January, £500 of which was used to make 100 school rucksacks made from recycled denim which is collected by GMIN and delivered to the BIA Institute in Kathmandu, an organisation employing mentally challenged young adults who make these school bags for GMIN for a fair wage and sense of achievement.
