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| Laxmi |
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| Ramesh, Seti and Rajesh Lama |
It is uplifting to see how attitudes and self belief have evolved so much over the last decade due to the vision of community members and the support from individuals, government and non-government sources. No longer is the paradigm merely subsistence alone; new cash crops have emerged, roads provide better access to markets and health support, biogas waste management systems are appearing in homes and the young people talk of such high ideals as being doctors, scientists and better educated farmers. School based and community education is driving change, but there is still much to achieve; a thirst for new knowledge and sustainability runs parallel to a firm grip on traditional ways and poverty.
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| Kalidhunga Higher Secondary School new library |
In April 2011, Majhgaun Lower Secondary School will introduce Class 7 and Kalidhunga Higher Secondary School will start their first ever Class 12. In 2010 we raised money to stock each school with new library books and visual and kinaesthetic learning resources, thank you Room to Read, Nepal.
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| Class 5 and Head Teacher Ram Saram |
However, there is still much work to be done in both these schools and the other seven primary schools, to achieve the vision of the community, which has been to create two secondary schools that will provide the highest quality education possible for rural students equal to that provided in the larger cities, like Kathmandu. For example, there are infrastructure, facility and curriculum challenges for all schools, limited access to clean water and hygienic sanitation in all of Mirge’s eight schools and private homes, a need for increased awareness of sustainable technologies and practises for use in the homes and access to teacher professional development, especially in English and other teaching methodology other than rote learning.
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| Class 3 |
Even though the vision and specific goals for the program will be established by the community during the ‘Training Phase’ of the Mirge School Environment Improvement Program, the schools have already identified some targets for change. These include; building a complete new school at another site for the Majhgaun Lower Secondary School so it can cope with expansion and growth to Class 10 and (later Class 11, 12 and 13). At Kalidhunga Higher Secondary School the older classrooms require renovation, safe water and hygienic sanitation needs addressing, more specific texts and novels for the library, creation of a senior science laboratory and a class set of computers, as well as access to the wireless network.
Above all, addressing the issues related to responsibility and sustainability are the keys to improving the environment, future lifestyles and the quality of education in Mirge. In April 2011, ECCA will start with the ‘Training Phase’. This empowering process is designed to build skills and confidence in local youths 18-25, to promote community responsibility (environment / school / enterprise / health) to the community stakeholders and children. Through ECCA’s facilitation of this training, knowledge and awareness will be disseminated through the curriculum, conversation and leadership / action by the local community. Specific community needs will be identified and these will become the focus of the ‘Mirge School Environment Improvement Program’.
Have a look at the video in the left column of the Blog; it provides a really good explanation of the process and exemplifies some of ECCA's achievements.
To start we will need at least $3000.00 to be raised through Global Giving. So far, we have about $900.00, so if you can help reach our first target together, then we can launch ahead in April. This is the start of the school year and by far the best time to commence our program. I will be posting a range of fund raising ideas soon and if you can help it would be greatly appreciated.
What is truly significant about this project is that it is driven by the needs of the community, not by our own agenda. Only in this way, through community ownership and vision, can significant change be sustainable and appropriate. We are at this stage, because over the last thirteen years, a few visionary community members saw a better future for their village and asked for help; we can only imagine what the community will have achieved with our support in another ten years.
