Volunteer in a primary school in Nepal, near Kathmandu, that started off as a “home-grown” non-government school, was shut down due to the armed conflict of 2001, and has recently re-opened as a community-run school. Your volunteer input will be to provide teaching support and capacity building to teachers and students alike while being “rewarded” with cultural excursions and interaction with the local community.

Background

Yangrima School started off in 1986 as a “literacy” class with just 7 children and grew to educate about 200 children from several neighbouring villages. Volunteers and overseas based support-groups have historically played an important role in the school and community. Volunteers boosted the skills base of local teachers and financial support help employ teachers and development activities. The local “team” of staff and villages played their part by expanding their links and capacity through sports, music, boarding houses, exchange programmes and support services / businesses. The school managed to provide a modern education mixed with local cultural values and skills. There were also pioneers in that for the first time girls were able to join the Lamas (Buddhist equivalent to priests) and move out of traditional roles.

Not only was the community deprived of quality education after the school closed down during the political unrest in 2001 but the wider community suffered to job and income loss. Many people migrated to Kathmandu in search of work and a livelihood leaving mainly the aged and a few children behind.

A society of ex-students who made it their goal to re-open the school and breathe life back into the community has been working tirelessly. Formal and informal discussion were held with influential local  Maoist individuals and groups. Fortunately, there was recognition that the closure of Yangrima School had been detrimental to all stakeholders and the community and that ways of re-opening the school should be explored.

Current Situation

The “new” school that opened is a community run entity governed by a legally registered Trust of ex-students, ex-teachers and local community representatives. Day to day operations are overseen by an appointed co-ordinator and management committee comprising members of neighbouring villages.

Many of the people who left Sermathang in search of a better life in Kathmandu and the West have returned. In addition many ex-students have completed or are in the process of completing their higher education and have brought back these skills into the community. Kathmandu’s high level of unemployment, pollution and inflation means that it is no longer attractive and ex-teachers have opted to return to their community buying property and employing local people.

Current Needs

Historically volunteers have played a critical role in the success of Yangrima and will continue to do so today. He school has employed 3 male and 4 female teachers but they unfortunately lack teaching experience and many skills. Thus, teacher support and training remains a priority for the school. Funds need to be raised and allocated for teacher recruitment and training as many have no formal teaching skills. Teacher training and support is a must in order to provide quality education. Volunteers provide an invaluable bridge in teacher training and support. Furthermore children are exposed to broader cultural interactions and their spoken English is improved by volunteer-student interactions.

Student numbers vary but have been as high as 75 ranging from ages 3 to 14 years old coming from up to ten neighbouring villages. Within a short time after re-opening there was a large demand for boarding facilities for those from Kathmandu and further a field.

Basic renovations to the existing nine buildings have taken place but the facilities are still in need of a major face-lift. Funding is needed to plaster and paint walls, insulate classrooms, set-up classrooms and build modern toilets