On December 27, 2011, Pax Earth took an important step in its educational mission which has been underway in two schools: Shree Raktakali Primary School (SRPS) and Shree Kalika Primary School located at Kanpur VDC, Kavrepalanchok, Nepal since June 2010. On that day, Pax Earth not only distributed educational materials to more than 130 poor and disadvantaged students of these two schools but also provided floor carpet, mattresses and shoes racks to SKPS where 30 students were compelled to study in poor condition contributed by cold floor and poor furniture. The school was not in position to afford good furniture. These students who used to study in poor condition can now enjoy an appropriate learning environment after Pax Earth set up the floor carpet and mattresses. Pax Earth has been supporting in education of these poor and disadvantaged students for past 19 months and this educational materials distribution was the fifth distribution in a row. This time, the distribution program was quite special as well as of a great significance as the distribution took place in the presence of parents, teachers, members of School Management Committee (SMC) and other stakeholders.
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On December 27 at 07:15 morning, members and well-wishers gathered at PEN Secretariat, Pashupati, Kathmandu. After loading the educational materials and flooring materials, a 13-members’ Pax team led by PEN President Sujan Koirala and accompanied by Treasurer Bal Gopal Shrestha, Board Member Binod P. Mainali, Board Member Laxman B. Pahari, Hon. Member and Journalist Kapil Koirala, Member Rajan Dulal, Kavre Reporter of Himalaya Television Shikhar Chimouriya, well-wishers: Kabindra Lal Rajbhandari, Kamala Basnet, Reetu Adhikari, Bimal Nepal, Harindra Shrestha and Binaya B.K. left for Kavre at 8.30am. Pax team was happy to have senior and respectable Kabindra Lal Rajbhandari in this noble mission. Pax team arrived at Banepa at 9.30am where the team members could have some cups of tea which helped them keep warm in the cold weather.
The team arrived at Dhulikhel at 10.00am where they could have lunch. At 11.00am, the team left for educational mission sites: SKPS and SRPS situated at Kanpur VDC, Kavrepalanchok. The team arrived at SKPS at 12.15pm. The Pax team was surprised to see a large number of people curiously waiting at the school. Besides teachers and students, parents, members of SMC, members of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and other stakeholders were present on the occasion.
The distribution program formally began with chairing ceremony. The program was chaired by SMC Chairman Bhim Kumar Mainali and PEN President Koirala was the Chief Guest. Then, Pax team members and other dignitaries were warmly honoured with garland and khadda by two students. In her welcome speech, teacher Pramisha Pariyar cordially welcomed Pax team members, SMC members, PTA members, parents, students and other stakeholders.
On behalf of Pax Earth, Board Member Laxman B. Pahari briefly introduced Pax Earth and explained why this organisation is contributing in education of the students of SKPS. He wished for the support from all stakeholders to successfully carrying out this educational mission. Speaking at the occasion, Dupsang Tamang, a PTA member, highly appreciated the noble effort of Pax Earth and wished for the continuity. He also stressed parents to be more responsible in ensuring the proper utilization of the given materials. He said, “Home is the first school of the students and parents should be more responsive in shaping the character of their children.”
Then, SMC Chairman Mainali initiated the distribution by handing educational materials to the students. Slowly, Pax members and well-wishers involved in the distribution. Out of 30 poor and disadvantaged students, 25 students (Grade-1 to Grade-3) were present on the occasion. The students mainly received notebooks, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, handkerchiefs and toffees. These materials are adequate for next three and half months. Similarly, the Pax team handed a red pen and a diary to three teachers of the school. The Pax team, on the occasion, handed SMC Chairman and few dignitaries a red pen as a souvenir. Along with the remaining materials, The Pax team handed useful materials such as a stapler, a punching machine, few markers, dust free chalks, and dusters to Principal Ram Lal Shrestha.
After educational materials distribution, PEN Treasurer Bal Gopal Shrestha handed floor carpet, 40pcs mattresses and 3 shoes racks to Principal Shrestha. These flooring materials were distributed mainly to provide a good learning environment to these students who were compelled to sit in the poor flooring and also to protect them from the severe cold brought by cold floor.
Delivering a special speech at the occasion, Chief Guest and PEN President Sujan Koirala stated the mission of Pax Earth and explained why the organisation was motivated to contribute in the education of poor and disadvantaged children. He thanked school authority for their sincere cooperation in Pax Earth’s effort. However, he sought the assurance from the respective parents for the proper utilization of given materials. Describing the reasons for providing floor carpets and mattresses, he said, “Each time in past when Pax Earth team came here, all members were emotionally touched seeing the poor condition of the flooring and furnishing of the classrooms.” The students have been compelled to study in this situation. “To make the classroom environment conducive and to provide comfort in this cold weather, Pax Earth is setting up the carpet in all three classrooms of the school today,” Koirala added. In his speech, he clearly hinted if teachers, parents and other stakeholders cooperate in Pax Earth’s mission, the mission will continue in year 2012 as far as possible. However, the assurance of proper utilization of distributed materials is a must if the support is to be continued in future.
In his vote of thanks, Chairman Bhim Kumar Mainali extended his gratitude to Pax Earth and its members who have come a long way to contribute in the education of these needy and disadvantaged students. He highly appreciated the generosity of the Pax Earth and wished for the long term sustainability of this mission. He stressed for the support and cooperation from all stakeholders in this noble and exemplary mission of Pax Earth. With his vote of thanks, Chairman adjourned the formal distribution program.
Tea and snacks were served at the end of the program. In the tea time, the Pax team could have interaction with parents, teachers and SMC members. Parents have assured to take good care of the given materials and sincerely requested Pax team members to continue this effort.
Spending one and half hour in SKPS, the Pax team arrived in SRPS at 2.00pm. Every team member was heartily welcomed by Principal Hira Kaji Tamang at the main gate of the school. Some members went to inspect the classrooms and students while some coordinated with teachers for setting up distribution arrangements. MC Hira Kaji Lama made an announcement of formal beginning of the distribution program and followed chairing ceremony. The program was chaired by Principal Tamang, Chief Guest was respected Beni B. Koirala (84 years) and Special Guest and Coordinator was PEN President Koirala. MC Lama requested Chief Guest to honour every member of Pax team with a flower garland. Chief Guest honoured President Koirala, Treasurer Shrestha, Board Member Mainali, Board Member Pahari, Member Dulal, Hon. Member Koirala and other respective team members with a flower garland. Former Ward President Buddhi Man Tamang, Members of SMC Chakra Dhwoj Lama and Arjun Bhandari, and Teachers also put the garlands to each Pax team member respectively. These garlands were prepared using locally available flowers. With so many garlands, every Pax member was seen pretty heavy.
Since Pax team was running out of time, without any further formality and delay, the Pax team started distributing the educational materials. Out of 101 poor and disadvantaged students, 89 students (Child Care to Grade-5) present on the occasion received notebooks, pencils, ball pens, erasers, sharpeners, handkerchiefs and toffees in the presence of parents, SMC members and other stakeholders. Ball pens were distributed to the students over Grade-2 while scales were distributed to the students of Grade-5 only. These materials will be adequate for three and half months. Similarly, the Pax team handed a red pen and a diary to six teachers and a staff of the school. The Pax team, on the occasion, handed a special souvenir to Chief Guest Beni B. Koirala. Similarly, the team handed a red pen as a souvenir to Former Ward President Buddhi Man Tamang, SMC members: Chakra Dhwoj Lama and Arjun Bhandari, Kavre Reporter of Himalaya TV Shikhar Chimouriya and few other dignitaries. Along with the remaining educational materials, the Pax team distributed useful materials such as a stapler, a punching machine, markers, dust free chalks and dusters to Principal Tamang.
President Koirala, capitalizing the opportunity, distributed Certificate of Hon. Membership of PEN to Journalist Kapil Koirala. Decision of giving him an honorary membership was taken on the board meeting held on February 2, 2011.
Speaking at the occasion, Kamala Basnet, a Pax team member attempted to encourage students for using the educational materials properly and study hard. “If you study hard, your future will be bright,” she said. She advocated for the strong parental supports for using the distributed materials properly.
President Koirala, in his special address, shared his happiness to be in front of lovely students. He was happy that the distribution could take place in the presence of parents, teachers, members of SMC and other stakeholders. “We are committed to contribute in education of poor and disadvantaged students however the stakeholders’ role is crucial,” he added. He is hopeful that the given materials will be properly utilized. He requested parents and guardians to play a strong role to ensure the given materials will be properly utilized by their respective children. Similarly, he wished teachers to regularly encourage students to use the distributed materials and also monitor whether the given materials are properly utilized or not. He, however, warned, “If we don’t find the proper utilization of the given materials, we may not continue this education support program.” He called for the support from parents, teachers, SMC members and other stakeholders for the effective implementation of this educational mission. In his speech, he could also interact with the students.
Teas and snacks were served at the end. The team could also interact with the parents and teachers in tea time. During this tea meeting, parents sincerely thanked Pax Earth for contributing in their children education and humbly requested to continue such a noble and appreciable job in the days ahead.
Principal Hira Kaji Tamang extended vote of thanks. He highly valued Pax Earth’s educational materials support to the poor and disadvantaged students of SRPS and wished for the continuity of this support in future as well. After his thanksgiving, Principal Tamang adjourned the distribution program.
It was already 4.00pm when the team finished the distribution. After bidding farewell to the students, teachers and other stakeholders, the team could visit President Koirala and Board Member Mainali’s home and enjoy local snacks respectively. The team left for Kathmandu from Mainali’s home at 6.00pm. The team could have dinner at Dhulikhel at 7.15pm. It was 7.45pm when the team headed for Kathmandu. The team could arrive at Kathmandu at 8.45pm. In this way, the day’s mission completed successfully.
This distribution was quite special for the Pax team as the distribution took place in the presence of parents and guardians. PEN would like to thank the authority of both schools for inviting parents and other stakeholders in this program. PEN is grateful to Pax Earth Japan and Shoyu Club for providing financial assistance for holding this distribution program. PEN owed a debt of gratitude to Peter Badal and Kabindra Lal Rajbhandari for sponsoring a small amount of stationery to these students. Pax team was quite delighted with the presence of senior Kabindra Lal Rajbhandari. PEN is equally thankful to Kamala Basnet, Reetu Adhikari, Shikhar Chimouriya and other friends for their active support in completing today’s distribution splendidly.
Last but not the least, a special thanks goes to President Sujan Koirala, Treasurer Bal Gopal Shrestha, Board Member Binod P. Mainali, Board Member B. Pahari, Member Rajan Dulal and Hon. Member Kapil Koirala for their collective effort, cooperation and strong teamwork for making this program a grand success.
Note:
The news of this distribution program was appeared in audio, visual and print media.
1. A local FM station “Grace FM” reported a news of Pax Earth’s educational materials and flooring materials distribution on December 28, 2011.
2.The same news was published in local vernacular weekly newspaper “Hamro Indrawati” on January 2, 2012.
3. 5min feature news of Pax Earth’s educational materials distribution was telecast in “Good News” program of national news channel “Himalaya TV” at 8.20pm on January 6, 2012. The repeat telecast of the same news was appeared at 9.00am in the same channel on January 7, 2012.
Hon. Member and Journalist Kapil Koirala and Kavre Reporter of Himalaya TV Shikhar Chimouriya deserved a sincere appreciation for their valuable effort in bringing the news of Pax Earth’s educational materials and flooring materials distribution in these three Medias.
Reported by PEN Secretariat!!!
