Pax Earth Nepal expanded its circumference of contributing poor and underprivileged children by adding Shree Kalika Primary School of Kanpur VDC of Kavrepalanchok in its education mission. PEN has been supporting 80 students of Shree Kalika Primary School of Kot Timal, Kavrepalanchok for last one year. With the addition of Shree Kalika Primary School, PEN is now supporting nearly 120 students of Kavrepalanchok in their education. A PEN team led by Sujan Koirala and consisted of Manohar Sapkota, Bal Gopal Shrestha, Binod Prasad Mainali, Guna Raj Pyakurel, Laxman Prasad Neupane, Rajan Dulal, Kapil Koirala, Nagendra Shakya, Arun Mainali and China Lama visited Shree Raktakali Primary School and Shree Kalika Primary School of Kavrepalanchok on January 6, 2011 and distributed educational materials to the poor and underprivileged students of these schools.

In order to carry out the mission, PEN members and friends gathered at the Secretariat, Umakunda at 7.30 in the morning. After having some cups of tea, PEN team headed for Kavrepalanchok in a micro-van at 8.30am. The team could have breakfast at Dhulikhel at 10.30am. PEN team arrived at Bhanjyang (near Shree Raktakali Primary School) at 12.45pm where they were offered lunch by the school authority. After having the lunch, the team stepped at Shree Raktakali Primary School at 1.35pm. Each PEN member was warmly welcomed with a garland by Principal Hira Kaji Tamang.

Amid a formal ceremony, PEN team distributed the educational materials to the students. PEN team distributed a bag, seven notebooks, few pencils, few ball pens, an eraser and a sharpener to each student. 72 students (from grade one to grade five) were present on the occasion. PEN team also distributed a notebook, few ball pens and a bag to 5 teachers and a staff. The team left educational materials (bags, notebooks, ball pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners) for 9 students who could not present on the occasion. PEN team further handed a table sharpener and some nail cutters to the school.

On behalf of School, teachers Hira Kaji Lama and Netra Koirala, and School Management Committee former member Buddhi Man Tamang spoke on the occasion. PEN President Sujan Koirala, the chief guest of the ceremony spoke on behalf of PEN at the occasion.

After the distribution ceremony, PEN team headed for Shree Kalika Primary School of Kanpur at 3.30pm. In nearly 10 minutes drive and five minutes further walking, PEN team could reach the school. There were small kids and two teachers with garlands and flowers desperately waiting for welcoming PEN team.

At Shree Kalika Primary School, PEN team distributed five notebooks, few pencils, few ball pens, an eraser and a sharpener to each student. 30 students (from grade one to grade three) were present on the occasion. PEN team also distributed a notebook and few ball pens to two teachers. PEN team left some educational materials (notebooks, ball pens, pencils, erasers and sharpeners) for 8 students who were not present on the occasion. PEN team further handed a football, an air pump and some nail cutters to the school.

Both the distribution went excellent. The students, teachers, guardians and local community were very happy with PEN’s generous effort. The students and teachers are highly motivated and showed the commitment for the proper utilisation of given materials.

After the distribution, PEN team went to Binod’s home where they could have some snacks and some cups of tea before leaving for Kathmandu. It was already 5.50pm while leaving for Kathmandu. The team took the dinner at Dhulikhel at 7.30pm. PEN team arrived Kathmandu at 8.30pm. The programme formally ended after reaching PEN Secretariat.

This programme clearly depicts how committed is PEN towards its mission of contributing in education of poor and vulnerable children in Nepal. PEN’s efforts could bring smile in the faces of many poor and underprivileged students, their parents and the teachers. Nowadays, the parents are happily letting their children go to the schools otherwise would have been kept at home for household (especially for queuing for water, cutting grass for their cattle or taking care of their junior brothers/sisters) and agricultural purposes. PEN has a firm belief that teachers are the ones who can impart quality education to the students besides encouraging them to come to the school. The reason behind handing stationary materials to the teachers is to motivate them towards their responsibility. PEN is delighted to bring 120 students under the umbrella of its education mission.

This programme was possible with the financial support of Shoyu Club of Japan. PEN could also utilize the donation given by friends: Saroj Ghimire, Manish Maharjan, Khushboo Ghimire and Urmila Maharjan residing in Australia in September 2010. Rajan Dulal helped in manufacturing the bags in his industry: Rajan Bag Industry, Thamel. Akash Karmacharya contributed nearly 175 notebooks.

Journalist Kapil Koirala who was with his video camera throughout the programme helped in disseminating 30 second news of the distribution at National Reporter of National Television.

PEN sincerely thanks Shoyu Club and members and friends who directly and indirectly helped and supported in making this programme a grand success.