covid19 – LEARN

May 20, 2021May 21, 2021

What A Time To Live In Bolton!

Bolton currently has the highest new Covid-19 infection rate in the whole country and there is much speculation that we Boltonians may all be put under local restrictions yet again whilst most of the rest of the country isrevelling in being able to regain most of its freedom. (The story of Bolton’s life for much of the last 14 months!)

Last weekend though, my children were able to receive their first Covid-19 vaccine because of where we live. This means that every member of my family (and much of my extended family) has now received at least one vaccination – what a blessing and what a privilege. After their vaccinations, we had a little treat visit to a local ice-cream parlour, before coming home to get food out of the freezer to eat after we got home from work/school the following day.

We may be fed up of the restrictions and missing our family and friends but we have never been in the situation of wondering how we could possibly get enough food and other supplies to survive or whether we would be able to afford life-saving treatment if we could actually find a hospital with enough resources/space left to treat us. The following makes me really appreciate just how lucky I am to live and work where I do – yes, even Bolton ?!!

On Monday, we received an email from Devi Prasad. Their village is in lockdown with markets (no popping to the fridge or freezer for more food for our Nepalese families), banks, schools, etc. shut. Covid-19 cases are rising rapidly and they are beginning to experience some deaths. Most of the community have lost their jobs and, unlike during the first Nepal lockdown, there is no support or supplies from the government nor NGOs, etc. Only 7% of the population of Nepal has received a first vaccination and the programme has now been halted due to supplies of the vaccine drying up.

Devi Prasad estimates that there are 100 families in the village who are in dire need of help and estimates the cost to be about NPR 3000 (£18) per month per family. He has a plan to be able to distribute food to the families. However, they will need financial help to be able to do this (and he is also delighted to report that our school community have made 2500 facemasks for the protection of others in the area).

We are asking, therefore, that if you feel you want to send a donation, no matter how big or small (every penny helps), please send it to Maureen, the Chair of LEARN, as the charity was registered solely to support the school and this appeal falls outside that object. Donations can be sent:

Directly into Maureen’s EC account:

Maureen Hawksworth

Sort code: 60-60-06

Account number: 46256539

USING THE REFERENCE: C-19 HELP

or by post to:

Maureen Hawksworth, 9 Brockenhurst Drive, Bolton, BL2 4HP.

A HUGE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE. PLEASE KEEP THEIR COMMUNITY IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

June 21, 2020

The Work Continues!

We received an update from Devi Prasad last week. He informed us that the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 is starting to rise relatively quickly now across Nepal with over 20 deaths being reported. It has now reached their district but there are still no cases in their village, which is great news and we pray that it continues that way.

Access to technology is clearly not very easy in the village so there is no chance of internet/zoom lessons. However, lockdown there has eased and so the teachers are very busy teaching the children in safe groups. The juniors are not attending, they are staying at home with their parents but there are 100 boys and 82 girls participating in the learning activities. All of the staff are involved in the teaching and the children are being taught in 10 groups.

It’s fantastic to see that even in these difficult circumstances our staff are determined to do their best for the students and the students are still so keen on learning. Even more important than making sure that quality education is given, they are still giving priority to the safety of the students and all staff, students and parents are happy with the arrangements. Well done and thank you to the staff and students for their efforts and commitment!

Thank you all for your continued support and please continue to hold our school and the village in your thoughts and prayers.

May 2, 2020

School Exams and Covid-19 Update

Last week, we received an email update from Devi Prasad. Our last blog mentions that the students were just completing their end of year exams. The news is that the results are now through for the exams and once again, they are outstanding! All of the students in all years passed the exams with good marks – one student in nursery even achieving a fantastic 99.3%

If I understand the Nepali education system correctly, they have taken ‘external exams’ and the eighth grade students (those in the final year at Shree Gyanjyoti before they move on to the next stage of education) have done really well.

3 of the 16 students scored 4.0 (the maximum achievable!) and they have achieved the first position in their rural municipality. So, as LEARN Trustees, we send big congratulations to all of our students and their outstanding teachers and a massive thank you to you – all of our supporters, without whom this would not be possible! The staff really are committed and constantly do a wonderful job of educating the children – offering them a future that many could only have dreamt of.

In terms of other news, there isn’t much to report as they are all in strict lock down as we are here. Devi Prasad reports that the number of Covid-19 cases are increasing but as yet, Nepal has no deaths to report. They have not had any confirmed cases in their village and, hopefully with continued lock down, it will remain that way! Some of them in the village are struggling financially and for food, etc. but some aid is getting through to them.

The new academic year should now have started but they obviously cannot open the school until it is safe to do so. However, the Head – Balkrishna, Devi Prasad and the staff are all working hard to ensure that they will be ready to start as soon as it becomes possible and are making whatever attempts are possible to ensure that all students are able to return along with other new starters.

So, thank you all for your efforts and support and please remember our students, their families and the staff in your thoughts and prayers. THANK YOU

March 24, 2020

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 16^th 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 150^th 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