Nepal-02: Visiting Schools

The Japanese group I met was 14 college students and their teacher from Kyoto. They were staying in the same guesthouse where I was. Mr. Fujiwara, the teacher, told me that he comes to Nepal with his students every year to help government schools in poor villages around Pokhara. They collect donation of about 10,000 USD in Japan, and then help poor government schools to build new classrooms. Not only donation but they help the construction as well. “That’s a part of our activity that the students help them by their own hands. It would be a great experience for themselves.” told Mr. Fujiwara. That sounded really interesting to me, so I asked them to let me join their tour. And Mr. Fujiwara willingly accepted my request.

The first two days, we visited some schools which they had helped so far. One of those schools was located in middle of a hill, and we had to walk on a trail for one hour. At every school, we were given a hearty welcome by the teachers and children with flowers. And after greetings, Japanese students handed out the stationery that they had brought from Japan to children. 

On the way to the school

Welcome ceremony

Also they held an opening ceremony of the new classrooms. According to Mr. Fujiwara, the construction was managed by his friend who runs the guesthouse where we stayed. He was an honest man, and tried to make as good building as possible within the limited budget. And thanks to his efforts, the cost was not too high even though the structure of the buildings was quite solid.

New school building

The third day, we visited another village school about 20 km away from Pokhara. This school was where Mr. Fujiwara had chosen to donate classrooms in the year. This “Shukla Gandaki Primary School” had about 70 students in 5 grades, one classroom for each grade. But two classrooms made of piled stones with mud looked too old and going to collapse sooner or later. Mr. Fujiwara visited this school the year before and decided to help them.

Old building with cracks

Like the other schools, Japanese students handed out stationery to the children. After that we went out to help the construction with the teachers, villagers and children of 4th and 5th grade. The construction of new building with 4 classrooms had already started, and we were going to help filling the floor up with gravel this day. Teachers and villagers dug up gravel, and then Japanese students and Nepali students made pairs and carried it together. I also worked with a boy, and it took about 2 hours to be done.

Carrying stones

And then we planted trees around the school with children. After that we played with children. Village children looked so happy and excited to play with Japanese students since most of them had never seen foreigners before, even though they hardly communicated each other. 

And while they were playing, I was talking with a teacher of this school. He could speak English very well, so I asked him about education in Nepal. And he told me that there are too many problems with government schools.