Pax Earth completed the three years’ journey of contributing in the education of poor and underprivileged children of Nepal. It is a matter of pride for Pax Earth to share that it formally initiated the education system support program at Shree Raktakali Primary School (located at Kot Timal village, Kanpur VDC, Kavrepalanchok, Nepal) on June 27, 2010 and has been continuing since then with an addition of Shree Kalika Primary School (also located at Kanpur VDC, Kavrepalanchok, Nepal) on September 9, 2010. To mark this achievement, Pax Earth organised an evaluation cum distribution visit to both Shree Raktakali Primary School and Shree Kalika Primary School on June 28, 2013. On the day, an eighteen member jumbo Pax Earth team led by Pax Earth Nepal (PEN) President Sujan Koirala traveled to both the schools and carried out the evaluation of the educational, sports and hygienic materials distributed in the earlier visits. In addition, they distributed educational and hygienic materials to more than one hundred students of these two schools. A full report of this visit is presented below.
FULL STORY
The members and well-wishers gathered at PEN Secretariat, Pashupati, Kathmandu at 7:30am. After having a cup of tea and loading the educational and hygienic materials in a micro-van, the team headed for the project sites in Kavrepalanchok at 8:00am. In this visit, the Pax Earth team was comprised of eighteen persons (fourteen members and four well-wishers). The team managed to have a lunch at Dhulikhel.
Right before arriving at the Shree Kalika Primary School, the team had a briefing session. At the briefing session, they formed nine cells out of 18-members (each consisting of two members) and handed observation and distribution sheet respectively. Nine cells were formed considering there are six classes (pre-schooling to grade five) in Shree Raktakali Primary School and three classes (grade one to grade three) in Shree Kalika Primary School. The cell members were clearly instructed to observe the earlier distributed materials and report the findings accordingly. Neither students nor teachers were informed about the evaluation portion as it was planned deliberately to get the actual posture of the usage.
The team arrived at the Shree Kalika Primary School at 12:00pm. Upon arrival, the students and teachers cordially welcomed the team members. As per the plan, the cell members went to the respective classrooms and started the observation. They particularly observed the usage and the condition of the previously distributed items including notebooks and carrying bags. Besides, the cell members also observed the condition of the sports materials such as football, volleyball, and carom board, and reading materials such as story books and dictionary. Every cell member was delighted to see the proper use of the notebooks, carrying bags, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, scales, hankies, story books, footballs, volleyballs and others. However, the condition of few items (football and carom board) was not good. According to the observation, the most short-lived items were pencils and erasers. That is why it was not surprising to see few students were using their own pencils and erasers. One of the most notable things the team found is that the teachers have been awarding the students with the stationery (the Pax Earth left after the distribution) to those who stood first, second and third in some competitions. Such competitions include quiz contests, sports, and cultural programs.
The cell simultaneously distributed the educational and hygienic materials to the students in the respective class. About twenty-five students were present at the school and each received few notebooks, few pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, a scale, a wax crayons, an instrument box, a hanky, a toothbrush and toothpaste. The instrument box was completely new for them hence they were fond of using it. The Pax Earth team also distributed a diary, few ball pens, a hanky, a toothbrush and toothpaste to each teacher. As no formality or addressing ceremony was observed and the distribution was done in the respective class, the evaluation cum distribution program ended relatively quickly.
Thanks to the courtesy of Hon. Member Nilambar Badal for taking colors and Manohar Sapkota for his expertise through which the students could experience face painting for the first time in their life. It was fun watching them enjoying their face paintings and making fun of each other.
After the distribution, President Sujan Koirala, Secretary Binod P. Mainali and Treasurer Bal Gopal Shrestha had an intensive discussion with principal, school management committee members and parents teachers association members particularly on the depletion of planted trees and possible solutions. The meeting felt an urgent need of a fence in the entire school premises. On behalf of Pax Earth, President Koirala assured to extend all possible support if they can come up with a concrete plan.
Spending few moments for some group snaps and receiving farewell from the students and the teachers, the team headed for Shree Raktakali Primary School, Kot Timal at 1:00pm.
The team arrived at the Shree Raktakali Primary School at 2:00pm. Upon arrival at the main gate, Principal Hira Kaji Tamang cordially welcomed each member of the Pax Earth team with a khadda and red tika. In this school too, without wasting any time the cell members entered into the respective classroom for observation and note-taking. Likewise in Shree Kalika Primary School, they particularly observed the usage and the condition of the previously distributed items including notebooks and carrying bags. From notebooks to bags, everything was properly utilised. Similar result was observed in terms of the short-lived items in this school too viz. pencils, erasers and in addition ball-pens. Hon. Member Nilambar Badal observed the reading materials given to the library. It was found that the books were kept in a proper and systematic library system of record and display. President Koirala observed the sports and first aid materials distributed earlier. Except the volleyball (not seen), main sports items including football and carom boards were in fine condition. The team members were overwhelmed to see the proper use of the distributed materials.
The cell simultaneously distributed the educational and hygienic materials to the students in the respective class. About eighty students were present at the school and each received few notebooks, few pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, a scale, a wax crayons, an instrument box, a hanky, a toothbrush and toothpaste. Like in the previous school, the instrument box was turned out to be the fondest item for them. The Pax Earth team also distributed a diary, few ball pens, a hanky, a toothbrush and toothpaste to each teacher.
In this school too, the Pax Earth members painted the face of the children. They were having fun watching the face paints of each other and more curious about their own painting. In order to provide a perfect solution to their curiosity, teacher Hira Kaji Lama came up with a mirror. They were laughing to see their painted face. It was the first experience for them too. They were quite eager to show their painted face to their parents at the earliest. As no formal addressing or distribution was observed in this school too, the evaluation cum distribution program ended very quickly.
The Pax Earth team had an important meeting with the teachers, parents, and community people on the renovation of the four rooms of the school right after the distribution program. The meeting was chaired by Principal Hira Kaji Tamang. The meeting made a decision to form a nine member “School building renovation committee” in the coordination of Arjun Bahadur Bhandari, former Chairman of School Management Committee. On behalf of Pax Earth, President Koirala assured to provide Nepali Rs. 60,550.00 for the renovation.
After few snapshots and receiving farewell from the students and the teachers, the team members went to a local hotel where the school authority had arranged teas and local snacks (beaten rice, curry and yogurt) for them. Few members even managed to stroll around the village before the snacks. Thanking the teachers for their cooperation and snacks, the team left for Kathmandu at 5:15pm. The team could manage to spend few minutes in Secretary Binod P. Mainali’s house and had some teas and yogurt too. The team stopped at Dhulikhel for the dinner. Accomplishing mission of the day, the team arrived at Kathmandu at 9:00pm.
The outcome of the observation and evaluation was positive and encouraging. It provided enough impetus to continue the educational, hygienic and sports materials support in both the schools in future too.
————————————————————————
The program would not have been successful without the support of few individuals. Pax Earth is grateful to Hon. Member Nilambar Badal for collecting some dictionaries and colours for face painting. Pax Earth would sincerely thank journalists duo Kapil Koirala and Ashok Poudel for publishing the news of this event in some local and national newspapers. Pax Earth is thankful to Board Member Kamala Basnet and well-wisher Rajanee Tamang for their help in arranging the materials the day before. Pax Earth is equally thankful to Hon. Member Kumar Nagarkoti for designing and printing works. Pax Earth must thank driver Harindra Shrestha and his assistant Netra Bhujel not only for offering the team with a comfortable travel the whole day but also dropping most of the members at their home stations at the late night.
Last but not the least, a big thanks to all eighteen team members (President Sujan Koirala, Secretary Binod P. Mainali, Treasurer Bal Gopal Shrestha, Jt. Secretary Guna Raj Pyakurel, Board Members: Laxman B. Pahari, Harihar Sapkota and Manohar Sapkota, Hon. Members: Nilambar Badal and Kapil Koirala, Members: Debraj Ghimire, Rajan Dulal, Bhagabati Pandey, Sovanand Yadav and Ram Sharan Paudel, Well-wishers: Ashok Poudel, Reetu Adhikari, Prabin Giri and Akriti Pandey) for their active and valuable support in successfully carrying out the mission of the day.
The three years’ journey of educating underprivileged children has been quite satisfying and encouraging. Hence, Pax Earth is strived to continue extending support to both the schools in the days to come too.
Reported by PEN Secretariat!!!
