Finally, once the monsoon rains had disappeared and the dirt track that acts as road to the school had properly dried up, our Project Manager Hari was able access the school to perform the official hand over.
After 7 1/2 hours on his motorbike along a road with more switchbacks than straight sections, Hari finally made it to the district headquarters in Sindhuli, where he met up with our local Sindhuli partner, Nabarj from Collective Concern Society to discuss the following days plans.
Having rented a 4wd jeep to take them to the school, they headed off at 8am the next day, planning to reach the school by 12pm latest. Sadly, the state of the roads aided and abetted by reconstruction work meant they didn’t reach the school until gone 3pm and the children had already left for the day.
Despite the lack of children Hari was able to officially hand over the new classroom building to the Chairperson of the School Management Committee witnessed by other school management committee members and the few teachers who hadn’t already left for the day. They were extremely grateful not only for all the support they had been given and the beautiful, strong new classrooms, but also for all the effort Hari and Nabaraj had made in travelling down to meet with them for the handover. They were very apologetic about the fact that the head teacher hadn’t bothered attending the ceremony despite having been invited.
Our classrooms are the only properly constructed, permanent rooms the school has. Four other temporary classrooms have been built by other organisations, with an expected lifespan of 6 years but unfortunately they are already falling into disrepair.
While there the School Management Committee members asked Hari and Nabaraj to help them raise the standard of education at the school as they are aware that given their low social status and an under supportive head teacher many opportunities are being missed, and they just want the best education possible for their children.
Upon arriving back at the district headquarters late that evening, they were able to sit down with the District Education Supervisor and raise the issues given to them. Thankfully, he was open to making improvements and hopes to see things moving forward in the near future.
A Himalayan thank you to everyone involved with this project. To Hari Bhusal, who coordinated this project on our behalf. Nabaraj Pahadi of Collective Concern Society, Nepal for working closely with the school and helping them get all the necessary documents and financial reports to us. The School Management Committee members and teachers, but most of all the Wishner Family, collectively know as the Wishner5 and all their supporters for funding this new classroom building. You have touched the lives of many and have created an amazing legacy for years to come.