Evidence of empowerment and change of attitude

During June, I returned to Nepal and visited Mirge to personally check out the progress of the 'Herbal Garden' at Kalidhunga Higher Secondary School and the volunteer accommodation, catch up with teachers, community members, and meet and plan the next activities with the staff at ECCA.

The start to our journey to Mirge was an amusing and somewhat frantic beginning. Angel had organised micro-bus tickets for our party, which included Sean who was to be our first volunteer in this program. We arrived early but unsuccessfully searched for our bus at the Bus Park. We eventually heard that there was no bus to Mainapokhari because it had developed mechanical problems. We frantically went from bus ticket seller to ticket seller trying to get on another bus which would be heading in the same direction. The situation was getting desperate and it looked like the trip was going to be cancelled. However, I was insistent and determined to get to Mirge because I was eager to see the progress of the program and talk to teachers about its impacts. Constant monitoring is an important part of my involvement in the program. So with a quick call to a reliable travel agent we had within a few minutes reorganized the transport and contracted a 4-wheel drive and driver to get us on our way. In the end this was by far the better solution as we could get directly to the schools and avoid a 3 hour walk which we would have had to have done if we had taken the bus. So determination won out and 6.5 hours later we arrived at KHSS.

We were greeted by a beaming and animated principal, Bombari Dahal. Dragging me by the arm to look at a group of men and women who were sifting soil at a new building site, he displayed the  broadest smile I had seen for a long time and with broken English that translated roughly as "look, look. Community!", he pointed at the beginnings of a new passive solar classroom in construction. I could sense that something had significantly changed in the attitude of Bombari, the community and other school staff. 

Herbal Garden

As Angel showed me the new 'Herbal Garden' which had been initiated by the student's Nature Club as a result of the Reformation and Management Training back in May, he told me that since this training Bombari had observed a radical change of attitude in his students. He attributed this to the emerging success of the Nature Club. I immediately felt like jumping up and 'punching in the air' like so many sportspeople do now after winning a hard earned victory on the tennis court or football pitch. However, I contained this and internally and silently yelled to myself "YES! They get it! It's working!"

New look KHSS Library

In regard to tangible results I could see and celebrate the efforts of the community who had come together to establish the Herbal Gardens, the water fountains and 7000 litre storage tank, but my absolute joy was in response to the subtle evidence of empowerment, ownership and responsibility within the teachers, community members and students. At last I had confirmation that this process was working and I contemplated at the time that we must support this enthusiasm until it is permanently embedded in those who it will benefit. After all, this program is entirely about empowerment and the skills of self-managing change. 

Clean Water Drinking Fountain

At the time of this post, the WATASOL water purification program had just been completed and I await eagerly the report. I have added a link to the details of this program and you are invited to read about the goals and processes that will lead to a sustainable community based approach to water purification. With careful management gastroenteritis and associated health issues will be eliminated from this community while simultaneously creating an income stream for the school. I will report on the programs details in the next blog.

 Thank you again for your ongoing support and I look forward to telling you more about the latest developments.