Saturday, June 4, 2011


The Mirge School Environment Program has begun!

Today and over the next 3 days, representatives from Kalidhunga Higher Secondary School and Majhgaun Lower Secondary School are involved in the Youth Training phase of the program at the capital of Dolakha, Charikot. Check out the link on the ECCA site.

The participants in this phase will concentrate on developing a coordinated and collaborative vision for Mirge’s improvement in community sustainable growth and quality education. ECCA’s and our role will be defined in line with specific directions and targets identified by the participants. Essential to this process will be building awareness of sustainable practices and developing skills in community and project leadership and autonomous and empowered project management.

Next week, after the Youth Training phase has been concluded, ECCA’s training team will go to the village and facilitate a children’s training program that includes leadership skills that will manifest in the creation of student leadership teams, Nature Clubs and encouraging students to take direct responsibility for the care of the school environment.

ECCA will continue with the community consultation process as they engage with parents and other stake holders in the village.

So, in a few days we should have a clear vision and some enthusiasm for change and action for improved sustainable practises in education, living and economics throughout the village.

On another matter, a UK charity, Classroom in the Clouds, have agreed to fund the construction of 6 rooms for the new Majhgaun Lower Secondary School and the government has supplied funds for another two. Construction is expected to start in October/November. The new school management committee have agreed that the quality of the facilities should be equal to the standards set out by ECCA and other organisations which promote quality education for example, early child learning classrooms will have floor coverings, modular furniture, white boards and generally a cleaner less dusty and colourful environment. This is quite a development in attitude considering the conditions teachers and parents were prepared to accept in the existing schools as can be seen in my photos on the blog or Picasa. There is a growing awareness that facilities and learning can be improved and the villagers can be in charge of that process. It is incredible to think of how much change has already taken place in 10 years since the first library was established. We will still have a major role in raising funds for construction and renovations not only for Majhgaun but for Kalidhunga and other schools yet to be embraced.

Kalidhunga now have 3 more computers supplied a rural development fund (a total of 6 and internet connection albeit slow and expensive) and funds from the education department to replace the toilets.

Also, thank you to Bookery, John Wiley and Sons and MacMillan Education Australia who donated mountains of books for the schools in Mirge. Thanks to Linda and Richard for making contact with the publishers and Aaron, Trish and Joan for storing them until I can work out how to get them to Kathmandu.

Finally, I wish to thank all the donors for your generosity. We have reached the $4000 mark which has enabled the program to make a start. THANK YOU. However, we still have a long way to go over the next 10 years. Very soon I should be able to let you know about the next focus for fundraising and the details of further developments.

I wish you all well in the next few cold months of winter.