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A blog during these strange times!

I thought this would be a good opportunity to update everyone on our school and also how Coronavirus is affecting Nepal.

We last received an update email from Devi Prasad on 16th March.  He told us that the students were in the midst of their annual examinations and that they were doing well.  Once the exams were complete, the end of year school holidays would begin and they would all be off until the start of the new academic year.  During the school holidays, the teachers would be doing preparation and a door to door visiting programme to admit children to the school.  He said that he was hoping and praying that God would aid the parents to make the decision to admit their children to the school. 

photos of students sitting their exams – some of them even wearing protective facemasks

He went on to say that they had all seen the photos from the 150th Anniversary at St. Mary’s School, Hawkshaw and they made them very happy.  He said he thanks God for the relationship between the two schools and hopes it will continue forever. 

On that note, I had the privilege of seeing some of the letters from the Nepal students to the Hawkshaw students this week.  I was stunned at the quality of the handwriting and content of these letters.  Most were written by 9 and 10 year olds and were often accompanied by colour and pictures.  It appears that they mostly come from farming or carpentry families and many of them have pets.  One delightful letter said “I have a pet dog, cat, many hens and a buffalo” – anybody else fancy having a pet buffalo? 

Snippets of some of the letters to St. Mary’s

Unfortunately, Devi Prasad had just spent a few days in hospital due to a problem with his left amputated leg.  He had been unable to walk but he had just been discharged and the pain was becoming more tolerable.  We pray for him and his continued recovery.  He asked that we pass on their thoughts and Namaste to all family, friends, trustees and supporters. 

We haven’t had any direct update from the school itself about the effect that Coronavirus is having but today we received an update from UMN (United Mission to Nepal).  Their update said that Nepal had just had it’s second confirmed COVID case (whether that is due to actual low numbers or lack of opportunity to test, we do not know) and that the whole of Nepal was beginning a week of total home quarantine and lockdown from 6am today.  The hospitals were staying open and trying to prepare as best as possible for an outbreak – converting TB wards into isolation wards, etc. 

So, we ask that you remember in your thoughts and prayers all associated with our school and the wider community in Nepal as they also face the horrors of this awful pandemic.  What we are witnessing here is not something that any of us would ever want to have to face but Nepal simply does not have the infrastructure/social care system to cope with a largescale outbreak. 

Thank you for your continued support. 

Take care and stay safe! 

LEARN

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Quick Blog!

We recently received a brief email with a school update from Devi Prasad. He informed us that the weather in the village is good and the children are happy in school. They have just posted some letters to the children at St Mary’s School and are enjoying their communications. 

The school have just announced the results of the third terminal examinations and they have all done well. The parents are happy with their children and the school.

He was also excited to share the news that the primary level children have just competed in the Rural Municipality Level Dance Competition and secured 1st place.

Great to hear that they are having all these other opportunities alongside their high standard academic education.

Thank you all for your continued support! 

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Merry Christmas 2019 and Blessings for the New Year Ahead

It is with great delight that we, the trustees, receive regular updates from Devi Prasad about how things are going at the school and what they have been up to. 

This year, there are 198 students at the school and 103 of these are on full or partial scholarships.  We received news earlier this year that 52 of these students are from particularly poor families and as such, they were unable to afford the uniform needed for school.  We, therefore, decided this year that we would concentrate some effort on fundraising for uniforms and it is with great delight that we have been able to send money to the school to buy uniforms for these children.

I love this photo of them in their new uniforms – so proud! (and plenty of growth room – look at those trousers and shirt sleeves!!)
How adorable do the nursery class look in their PE kit?

Earlier this year, a relationship was forged between pupils at St Mary’s School in Hawkshaw and pupils at Shree Gyanjyoti.  They have written letters to each other and Devi Prasad wrote that he prays to God that this relationship can continue forever.

St Mary’s, Hawkshaw
Shree Gyanjyoti, Nepal

The weather is now turning cold in Nepal and they have just had their harvest so it has been a busy time for the families of the school children.  Devi Prasad also wrote about how the ladies in the village are continuing to benefit from the school with lessons in literacy, sewing and goat farming (remember last year – our appeal provided goats for the poorer families so that they could create an income from the milk, etc.).  He wrote that the ladies are very appreciative of all that is provided at the school.

LEARN really does try to provide lifechanging education for all and if we can help the ladies of the village, not only do they benefit themselves but they realise and appreciate the importance of educating the young girls in the village.

In the regional examinations, the year 8 students once again came out top of 38 schools in their rural municipality.  This is a fantastic achievement and shows the dedication of both the staff and students.  However, they also continue to strive for all round education for the pupils, not just academic achievement.  They recently took 67 pupils and staff on a day trip to Banbatika Park where they shared a picnic and the students sang and danced and they organised an interclass cricket tournament.

On 20th December, Devi Prasad wrote “I want to express Greeting and best wishes on the occasion of Christmas and New Year.  The staffs and students also pass greeting and best wishes on the occasion of Christmas and New Year – 2020.  May the God fulfill all of our wishes and desires on this great occasion of Christmas.  May the God give bless and power for the sustainable progress in further days.” And he included the following photo:

So, all that remains is for us to say a massive thank you to all who have supported and continue to support LEARN.  The school continues to do amazing things and with your help, we look forward to another year of supporting top quality education at Shree Gyanjyoti School in Nepal.

We hope that you were able to enjoy a good Christmas and that you will have a blessed New Year (and start to the new decade!)

THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!

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A Blog Of Hope – what an extraordinary man!

I was recently sent the following document to read.  It was written some time ago by Devi Prasad Neupane (Shree Gyanjyoti’s founder).  I was really touched by what I read.  Not only does it emphasise the importance of enabling children to go to school who wouldn’t otherwise get that opportunity, but it is also so filled with hope.

To suffer such a life changing accident, to then be ostracised and rejected – so many people could just have given up their dreams.  Devi Prasad didn’t and as a result of his hope and determination, so many children are now being given an amazing opportunity.

When Dr Pam Dodson provided the funding for Devi Prasad to attend school, she would never have dreamed of the impact that his education would end up having on so many other lives in the future. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed by the size of a task ahead and end up doing nothing but every little thing counts!  Thank you for your support of LEARN.

Let Us Gather Up Courage

In 1970 our village acquired a grain mill. The mill was such a novelty that as soon as it started its daily grinding work, the children would rush to watch it operate. I was one of these children. My name is Devi Prasad Neupane, and I was born into a family that could not afford to send me to school. One day, as I stood watching the mill at work, my scarf got caught in the machinery and instantly I was pulled in.  

When I woke up I was lying in Tansen Mission Hospital. To my horror, I saw that my left arm and right leg had been amputated, and my left leg was in plaster. Fifteen days later, my left leg developed gangrene and had to be amputated below the knee. I was devastated. My wounds took a long time to heal, but the hospital staff comforted and encouraged me. They cared for me as a mother nursing her infant. Furthermore, they arranged for me to attend a nearby primary school—my first experience in a classroom! I was carried to and from the school every day.

Six months later I was taken to Vellore, India, and fitted with artificial limbs. I could hardly believe it—I had new legs! Slowly and painfully I learned to walk again. When I finally returned home, two years after my accident, I desperately wanted to attend school.  Dr. Pam Dodson at Tansen Hospital provided funds for me to enrol in class four, and continue up to class ten.

I decided I wanted to be a teacher, and applied for various teaching positions. But I received rejection after rejection. Schools did not want to hire a handicapped person. I nearly gave up hope, but then a friend’s brother, a local official, recommended me for an appointment at the school in my own village. This time, I was given a chance. Not only did I become a teacher, but I have also received appreciation and awards.

Today I am a happy man with a wife and two daughters. My wife, lamed by polio, shares my experience of the hardship and ostracism suffered by so many disabled people in Nepal. The compassionate help I received from UMN enabled me to ‘gather up courage and move ahead’, a message I share with others with physical disabilities. Compassion and courage have given me a new life.

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Good Times!

We recently received an update on the facts and figures for the school and it was fantastic to see that numbers of pupils are continuing to rise and that the school continues to deliver a recognised excellent education to its pupils.

However, with this wonderful news, there is inevitably a generation of some problems – problems that are wonderful because they demonstrate that the school is doing above and beyond what it sets out to do but problems nonetheless.

The school now has more pupils than ever who come from a very impoverished background.  This is fantastic as it exactly this type of child that the school was set up for – children that would have no access to formal education in any other way.  This means that there are more children requiring scholarships to be able to attend but it also means that these pupils are coming from backgrounds that mean that they cannot afford the school uniform.  The school uniform is so important – it gives them a sense of identity and belonging but also reinforces the equality of all who attend.

We now know that we have 50 children who cannot afford the uniform – the total cost of which is £22 per child.  The school’s staff were going to give up part of their salary in order to purchase these uniforms.  We, the trustees, don’t feel that this is a fair solution to the problem.  We have, therefore, set up a ‘special fundraiser’ for the purpose of buying these uniforms.

We thoroughly appreciate everything that LEARN’s supporters already do and we certainly do not want to put anyone under pressure to feel that they should be doing more.  We are just providing our supporters with the information and inviting you – if you can, and if you want to, to make a special donation to our uniform fund.  You can do this by donating on our JustGiving page (putting in the message section that it is towards the purchase of uniforms) or by contacting us through our enquiries link.


As always, thank you for your interest and support from all involved with LEARN and Shree Gyanjyoti School.

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News from our latest visit

On Saturday 2ndMarch 2019, Michael, Maureen and two others – Rosemary and Cath, flew out to Nepal to visit the school.  Whilst in Nepal, they thoroughly enjoyed doing LOTS of shopping for Nepali goods to sell at their LEARN talks and sales back in Britain. (Please do contact us to book a sale – there are lots of lovely items!)

They spent a full day at the school, accompanied by Devi Prasad Neupane and the Headmaster – Balkrishna Gaire.  Upon arrival at the school, our visitors were greeted by a small number of pupils – they gave a warm welcome and a small posy of marigolds.

Michael officially opened the new science room (really grateful thanks to Bamford Chapel in Rochdale for raising the funds for this valuable extension to the school) – a fantastic resource, staffed by an incredibly enthusiastic science teacher.

Our visitors were given a tour of the school during which they were taken round the classrooms, giving them the opportunity to see the children and the teachers at work.  They were really impressed by the quality of the education that the children were receiving and also by the atmosphere of learning, support and love that was clearly evident to all.  In fact, whilst reflecting on the visit upon her return home, Rosemary wrote “The children were given firm instructions, not barked orders. They seemed happy children.  What a constructive environment for young minds to learn to think for themselves!  What role models they have in their teachers, leaders and community elders.”

Following the tour, they met with Devi Prasad, Balkrishna and the school committee to discuss how things were going and the vision for the future.  Again, everyone was delighted at the progress being made and the commitment from all present towards a really successful future for the school and pupils.  Michael and Maureen were also handed a shopping list of items for the school for funding approval by LEARN trustees.  This was useful but also humbling at the same time.  It listed items that are common place in British schools but considered almost luxury items in Nepal.  We were amazed to see that they had a computer suite with 10 very old computers and six of them no longer worked.  They wanted to know if they could replace the six that no longer worked.  When asked if they wanted to replace the whole suite with updated technology, they said that they didn’t– as long as they had enough working computers to use, that would suffice.  It wasn’t a decision based on lack of ambition or lack of desire for better, more of a ‘needs must’ decision – there were other more important uses for the money.

The LEARN trustees also felt that it was important to negotiate pay and working conditions with the staff.  The staff are so talented and committed to the school but so far, had been underpaid compared to those in some government schools.  We wanted to be both fair to the staff but also realistic in what we could offer.  Negotiations went well and all involved were happy with the outcome.

Devi Prasad then provided our visitors with lunch outside his old house which was lovely and a chance to just take a break, relax and chat about his family and his new house which is well underway and looking good – it will be lovely for his whole family to finally be able to live in a home instead of the ‘shack’ that they’ve lived in since the earthquake.

Post lunch, back at the school, our visitors were treated to an afternoon of entertainment provided by the pupils of the school.  There was singing, dancing and taekwondo performed by children of all ages.  They were very proud to be able to perform for our visitors and some members of their families.  What an absolute treat it was to be able to share this with them.

Michael, Maureen, Rosemary and Cath had a fabulous visit to the school, enjoying the opportunity to meet with children, parents, grandparents and staff and to see for themselves just what a fantastic job Shree Gyanjyoti School is doing.  The staff and school committee were keen for all of LEARN’s supporters to know just how much they value the work of the charity in supporting the school – a sentiment which LEARN’s trustees would like to echo – without your support, the charity could not help the school like it does and the children and families in this village in Nepal would not be receiving this education that should be a right, not a privilege.

To sum up, during Cath’s reflections of the visit upon her return home, she wrote “All in all, a lovely school, with a strong ethos of personal development and of caring for each other, which will help the children to grow into confident, responsible adults. I repeat, I was very, very impressed by this amazing school.”

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Nepal Visit Update 2

Fabulous to hear from our ‘Nepal Trippers’ yesterday as they completed their visit to our school. One described it as “one of the best days of my life”, another spoke of the “impressive school”, “gentleness of the teachers, children and relatives” and the “underlying self-discipline”. She also talked of the “amazing, inspirational, yet modest mentor” that they have in Devi Prasad and the “determined, committed and far sighted” head teacher – so it seems that the school is in safe hands!

It was great for us to see the new science room that has just been added to the school. It is a wonderful addition but is still very short on equipment at this stage.  That will be one of LEARN’s next priorities – to provide the equipment that they will need but it is wonderful that, thanks to our supporters in Bamford, these children are able to learn the subject in a scientific environment.

Our ‘trippers’ were treated to some entertainment by the children and it was lovely to see the photos that the school had posted themselves on their Facebook page (some of which are included in this blog) along with the message “thank you to all helping hands”.


We look forward to our next trustees meeting when the ‘trippers’ have returned home.  To know and understand first hand what will be best for our school and to work towards providing that will be a real honour.

Our ‘trippers’ took with them a small plaque for the school.  We, at LEARN, can’t thank our supporters enough for providing the means by which these children are able to gain their “wings to fly”.  THANK YOU!

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Nepal Visit Update 1!

A couple of our trustees are currently visiting Nepal along with a couple of our other supporters. We were delighted to hear that they had arrived safely in Kathmandu and that the weather is pleasant.  On Tuesday, they visited the UNCLE orphanages (in their role as UNCLE trustees) and it looks like they were all enjoying the party!

They have been doing lots of shopping to buy items to sell when they present their talks about the school and have now safely (although it was a very bumpy 8 hour bus ride!) transferred from Kathmandu to Pokhara where even more shopping awaits! 

Tomorrow they travel to Tansen from where they will visit the school. We, at home, are really looking forward to their update on the school – it’s the first visit there since completion of the science room. It’s also wonderful to see first hand how the school, staff and students are progressing thanks to all of LEARN’s fantastic supporters. 

Thanks for all the support you give and look out for the next blog sometime after the school visit! 

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2018 – A Big Year For LEARN!

Wow, what a year! Shree Gyanjyoti school has already been in existence for some time with much financial support being raised by Michael and Maureen.  This year, the school celebrated its 10thanniversary (in its current building) and LEARN was formed, becoming a registered charity in May, thus ensuring a more secure future for the fundraising for the school.  We have developed a website and various other social media sites (also gaining some media coverage in The Methodist Recorder!) alongside the more traditional methods of letters and going out giving talks/sales at many places across the UK.

We are very grateful to Bamford Chapel in Rochdale who have raised the money required to add a brand new science room to the school.  The building work is now complete and will be a really useful addition to the school.

During 2018, the school has had 199 pupils, 80 of whom are on scholarships and we have been able to provide books and other essential school equipment.  Again, we have our supporters to thank for this.

In addition to LEARN’s activities, we have (not using LEARN money but connected with the school) been able to send £800 to Devi Prasad Neupane towards the building of a new home following the devastation of his home in the earthquake a few years ago and also been able to buy 22 goats (with money still coming in!) for some of the poorest families who attend the school so that they are able to generate their own income.

In March 2019, a small group of us will be visiting Nepal and will be stopping off at the school. We look forward to spending some time there, meeting with the students and staff and to having the opportunity to discuss with them, as well as seeing for ourselves, the next priorities for spending the money raised by LEARN.

We take this opportunity as one year finishes and another begins, to thank you all, whether you support us financially, by following us on social media, by attending or organising one of our talks or sales or just chatting to us and encouraging the work that we do. Your support has and is making a massive difference to these young people – never underestimate the opportunities that you are giving them!  Thank you on their behalf!  We firmly believe that education is one of the best ways to tackle poverty and with thanks to you, we are successfully achieving this for a small but important group of people.  THANK YOU!

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Trips and Goats

We have received a lovely letter from Devi Prasad Neupane telling us about an educational school trip that students and staff from our school have been on.  During November, they visited Pokhara-Gorkha-Chitwan National Park-GC Temple-Lumbini.  They have sent us some photographs as included in this blog.  It’s fantastic to see a village school being able to provide this kind of experience for its students – something that we just take for granted in this country.

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Also, following a talk given by Michael and Maureen, someone offered to buy a goat to enable one of our more needy school families to start goat farming.  The school have met with the parents and a number of families could really benefit in this way.  Consequently, the ‘goat fund’ is increasing and people are continuing to donate to this fund.  Great news for the families that will benefit.  Each goat costs around £35 and ideally, it would be nice to provide a pair of goats for each of 20 families. 

Thank you as always to our supporters – it is your continued and valued support that makes all of this possible.

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