As 2017 drew to a close, we were finally able to get out to Makawanpur to officially hand over the 3 new Wishner5 classroom buildings that were completed during the fall.
Up before the birds for the long and twisty drive south, we witnessed the sunrise over Kathmandu and the majestic Himalayan range.
Four and half hours later and an awful lot of hairpin bends, we finally arrived at the first school, Shree Churiyamai Secondary School, to be welcomed by the teachers, students and School Management Committee.
The new building in its cheery pink and green paint, stood proud amongst the older buildings (some of which are still condemned after failed retrofitting) and remaining temporary learning centres.
Initially intended to be used by classes 1 & 2, the new classrooms are actually being used by 35 class 11 students, a new grade that was introduced at the beginning of the new academic year in April 2017. In order to attract students to study at this very competitive level, it was deemed necessary to give them the best facilities, and it was great to see so many continuing their post School Leaving Certificate education.
As a small gift for everyone’s hard work and commitment to getting their new classrooms built in a timely and cost effective manner, regardless of the monsoon rains, we presented the Principal with some sports equipment – a cricket set, badminton racquets and shuttle cocks, a new net, two footballs and two volley balls. The gift was received with many thanks and shouts of excitement from the kids.
A Himalayan thank you to everyone involved with this project. To Hari Bhusal, who coordinated this project on our behalf. Ravindran Kumal, Save the Date Programme Coordinator at Restless Development for working closely with the schools and helping them get all the necessary documents and financial reports to us. The head teacher and School Management Committee members, 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.