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. 

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? 

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