Our project manager Bikram observed, government teacher, Rexsona’s class – who has recently participated in training via Room to Read. Nine children were present in the class. He found she was using a new method of teaching and reading Nepali words. And he noticed children were reading Nepali words correctly that were written on the whiteboard. He said it is the positive impact of the training provided by ROOM TO READ.
Rotarians from Scotland and Nepal visit Aandhimul
An update from our project manager Bikram Piya:
“First of all I would like to beg my pardon being late to report on the school and village because I have been very busy for the official opening of the Bandipur social enterprise. Finally it was opened on 12th October. It is named “BANDIPUR CHHEN” HERITAGE GUEST HOUSE AND COFFEE SHOP. There was a grand program in front of BANDIPUR CHHEN on that day. Our headteacher Rameshwor and SMC chairperson Resham Bhujel took part in that program. 12 Rotarian guests from Scotland stayed at the guest house from 12th October. There were 16 Rotarians from Scotland and many Rotarians from Kathmandu, including District Governor Mr. Sanjay Giri. Rotarians from Scotland stayed 4 nights in the guest house.
On October 15th all 16 guests visited our school and they looked at our classes and interacted with the teachers. The Headteacher answered the question asked by the guests. I explained how the Aandhimul Project has been helping the school and village for 10 years.
Rexsona (a government teacher) participated in 3 day training from 15th to 17th October that was organised by ROOM TO READ. This time training was focused on how to teach students to use the library.
With best regards,
Bikram Piya”
Videos from Angela’s August trip to Nepal
Summer holidays over and school reopens
School reopened on 6 August after summer vacation. Yesterday i visited school. All the teachers were present in school. Room To Read has provided following materials for our school –
For library
1. teacher table 1
2. teacher chair 1
3. white board 1
4. notice board 1
5. low hight table 5
6. doormat 1
7. cushion 25
8. colourful book rack 2
9. colourful inclined book rack 1
10. books 216 types 1623 pieces
11. PVC foam 27 meters
For class one
1. colourful inclined display rack 1
2. low hight table 2
3. stationay rack 1
4. Yeti carpet 18 meters
5. 1o mm PVC foam 27 meters
6. white board 1
7. cushion 20 pieces
A colourful inclined display rack for class two and three.
Yesterday all the teachers were busy in the library. They were putting level stickers in the books. There are books of five levels. I also joined with them. Now class one looks perfect.
Kind regards,
Bikram Piya
Nursery building preparations have begun
The end of school year exams are over and the school is planning to publish the results on 10th April.
Project teachers Pampha and Kamala took part in one day training at Seto Gurans nursery in Bandipur on 24th March. That training was focused on preparing materials. Sister Miriam was the trainer.
One of our long term supporters and donaters is in Bandipur, Christina from Germany. She gave Bikram US$200 to spend for our school. Thank you Christina!
Bikram will buy things for the school after consultation with project staff members and SMC.
On 26th March four Rotarians including Dr. Madan Kumar Piya (senior chest and cancer physician ) originally from Bandipur visited the school. School family and villagers welcomed them. They promised to help our school in the future like making a new school building.
As of 28th March, they have started to build the new nursery building. Bikram has bought construction materials like cement, steel bars, bricks, sand, stone, metal frame for windows and doors.
Bikram and the teachers also repaired their educational materials in preparation for the new school year. Bikram was also involved in checking the answers, marking the students end of year exams.
It was also noted that the climate is becoming warmer day by day 🙂
School update
The school exams are going to start from 20 March and will last to 27 March. The results will be published on 9th April. Admission campaign will start from 14 April and lasts to 28 April.
In the current fiscal year Bandipur municipality provided NRP 21,000.00 to the Aandhimul school and with that money the school bought 5 wooden chairs that costs NRP 13000.00. Rest money is in school’s account.
Mr Santosh Shrestha, a person originally from Bandipur and now living in Chitwan, came to the school with his friends of the Lions Club of Bageshowri, Chitwan and donated 70 pieces of school bags and 25 pieces of maths kits. Bikram and the school will distribute these things in the beginning of the new academic session/school year (mid April 2016).
It was discussed with the headteacher, chairman of SMC and project staff members separately at whether some money from the school ( that which was given by District Education Office (DEO) NRP 250,000.00 ) can be spent on project teacher salary. Final decision to be confirmed. This we hope will help to contribute to the wages the projects provide.
In Bandipur Bikram and some others are going to start renovation work of a house ( a house rented by Rotary club to establish a cafe and lodge) from 14th April. They are planning to finish it within one year of starting. Once up and running, the profit will be split between five local schools, one of which is Aandhimul’s. With Bikram being a part of this project he will try his best to help our school and make it a success.
There was an article published in “KANTIPUR” the Nepal national daily on 12 March 2016 about our school. The theme of the news was “poor students’ neglected school”. It shows media also showing there interest in the school and how things can change like what is happening now.
KANTIPUR is widely read in Nepal. This news drew the attention of District Education Office and Ministry of Education too.
Below is a picture of Kumar the site manager and valued member of the project, busy at work.
New nursery school building update
On 6th March Bikram, our project manager, took an engineer, Suman Shrestha, who prepared the new nursery building drawing to the Aadnhiuml school and had a meeting with nursery building construction committee (the school committee have already formed a five member nursery building construction committee as follows: Bikram Piya, coordinator; Rajaram Prajapati, NGO member; Harischandra Bhujel, SMC chairperson; Rameshwor Lamechhane, Headteacher; and Gyan Bahadur Bhujel, founder chair person of SMC as members).
They have chosen a new location and the location is between the present nursery classroom and the bamboo classroom. As previously mentioned, it is not practical to construct the nursery building where the demolished youth club building is located.
The engineer marked the area to make the foundations. They also appointed Bir Bahadur Gurung as the construction contractor. He is making a school in Thumka (a nearby village) too.
So the work will start after 2 weeks. They will still build to the the existing drawing and there will be no compromise in the quality.
Bikram will take the engineer time and time again throughout the project and will send pictures once the work starts.
School’s 28th anniversary and parents day
On the 3rd March the Aandhimul school celebrated its 28th anniversary and also parents day. The parents participation was remarkable. Our project manager Bikram says it shows their concerns and commitment towards school.
On this Occassion Ram Bahadur Gurung, candidate for the constituent assemble election 2023 was the chief guest. Resource person from the District Education Office, Durga Bahadur Ale; Surya Bahadur Bhujel, president of Bhujel social welfare committee and Bikram, our project manager were special guests. Headteachers from neighbouring schools, former teachers of the school and social workers were invited. The schools teacher Nirmala Poudel gave a welcome speech. As a member of the Bhujel community Kisan (an ex-project teacher) addressed the gathering. He spoke that Aandhimul Project has played a crucial role in the development of school as well as community. Headteacher, Rameshower, presented an annual programme of the school.
On the basis of attendance, Nira Bhujel and Manoj Bhujel received prize as most regular girl and boy in school. Teacher Sarita Shrestha rewarded as most motivated teacher. Ward civil society forum representative Dhruba Lamichhane informed that the Bandipur Municipality has allocated some budget to our school for this fiscal year 2072/2073 (2016/2017).
Then the school management committee chairperson Harischandra Bhujel offered a token of love to the resource person. It was a bamboo photo frame with Goddess Saraswoti. In addition, past chairperson of the SMC, Resham Bhujel, was honoured for his contribution to the school.
Addressing the gathering Bikram spoke on behalf of the Aandhimul Project. He explained the projects help for the earthquake victims, providing salary to 3 teachers, school caretaker, litter officer, khaja (school lunch) and school materials monthly. He conveyed the message of hello and thank you from project members to the community and also about the financial aid to help build the new nursery building.
Every speaker after Bikram praised the projects attempts in their speech and expressed their thanks to the project members. Resource person, Durga Bahadur Ale, told that they are so impressed from the school’s progress, that the District Education Office has decided to provide two lakhs and fifty thousand rupees (NRP 2,50,000.00) to our school in this year. This money can be used according to SMC decisions.
Teacher training and immunisations
On 26 and 27 February project teachers, Pampha and Kamala Gurung went to Seto Gurans Nursery in Bandipur to take part in a two day workshop.
In school teachers and students themselves have been dubbing the classrooms. This is a traditional method of repairing the clay floors and walls of houses and buildings, with the use of water to soften the surfaces.
On 28 February two project teachers, Pampha and Sarita and some mothers, took their kids for immunisations of rubella, polio and measles. Bikram and the teachers took 14 children from school and some other mothers took their children themselves. After the immunisations Bikram treated the children with some biscuits.
On 3rd March the school will be having its anniversary day, with lots of celebrations. We are really looking forward to seeing the pictures!
In the classrooms
Bikram visited the school yesterday and observed classes being taught by all the teachers.
Kamala was teaching maths in class 2 by using cards ( number, words and picture ) which she prepared during teacher training in Bandipur.
Sarita was teaching English in class 3. The topic was ” Animal Habitats “. Bikram found that she was having trouble to pronounce some words appropriately like shade, cylindrical, wind, hares, hive and kennel. So after she had taught the class, Bikram and Sarita sat in the office and Bikram helped her to pronounce correctly. He also advised her to use the English dictionary they have in school to help her to pronounce words correctly.
In class 1 Rexsona Dhakal was teaching maths. The students were learning numbers. Bikram asked the students if they could spell numbers 1 to 10 in English and then he wrote the on the whiteboard next to the Nepali.
Bikram also met with Ram Maya Bhujel, our new litter officer, and discussed and showed her about her duty. And below is a nice picture of the children enjoying play time.
