SEEING THE PHYSICAL PROGRESS OF THE SCHOOL, THE AUSTRALIANS WERE MOVED TO TEARS

Dinesh Dulal
Kartik 16, Sukute (Sindhupalchok). A team from Umbrella Foundation Australia including Chairperson Linda Harwood and board member visited Bhimsen Secondary School located in Khatrithok, Ward No. 10, Chautara Sangachokgadhi Municipality. The school was built from the financial support from the foundation. They were excited to see the completed structures of the School and were surprised seeing how beautifully the library, ICT rooms, computer laboratory were in place.

They were very enthusiastic to see that the school has well managed the amount of support provided by the Umbrella Foundation. School Principal Janardhan Nepal lead the guests for the inspection of the school including the science laboratory, generation room, computer laboratory and ICT board built by the school; Chairperson Linda and her team had tears of joy in their eyes.

This scene is from Wednesday during the School handover ceremony organized within the school premises. The ceremony was attended by elected personals from municipality, former school management committee members, community peoples, the school teaching staffs and students. Students welcomed the guests from Umbrella Foundation and Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT) with flowers and garland. On behalf of the school, Linda, the Chairperson of the foundation, was also felicitated by blowing a dosalla, and an letter of appreciation was handed over to the foundation from school management committee.

The school was built successfully with financial support from Umbrella Foundation Australia and coordinated by Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT), is handed over to the School Management Team today. After the massive earthquake destroyed the school, it was Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT) president Megh Ale who brought the School management team and Umbrella Foundation together for this humanitarian work. Social worker Anjan Khadka and former member of School management committee coordinated for dealing an agreement between School management committee and Umbrella Foundation Australia back in 2073. It took more than 5 years for the completion of the School infrastructures.

Chairperson of the foundation Linda, openly appreciated the physical progress made by Bhimsen Secondary School during the ceremony. She also thanked the school for making good use of their support. “I am very excited to see the progress made, and would like to congratulate the school management team for utilizing our support,” said Linda. She also stated that the funds have come from various institutions and Australian citizens and students collections which the foundation has donated to the school. Linda, who promised to continue cooperation and support in the coming days, also said that she expects that the school will make academic progress in coming days.
In the event, the Executive Director of Nepal River Conservation Trust, Mausam Khanal, said NRCT acted as just the coordination between the foundation and the school management for utilizing the available funds effectively. He praised the local community from Khatrithok for their enthusiasm and support for the completion of the project. Likewise Program coordinator, Bijay Bashyal stated though Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT) works mostly for conservation and sustainable management of river systems in Nepal and has been working in Sunkoshi corridor, however not limited to that. And our aim to not only protect river ecosystem but help communities along the river corridor has brought Umbrella foundation connected to the school.

After the devastating earthquake we took this responsibility to help the community when they were in need. He also informed that with support from different institutions they were also providing scholarships for higher education to outstanding students including students from Sukute Secondary School.

It is only because of Umbrella Foundation Australia that the school is fully equipped now said principal, Janardha Nepal. According to him, the agreement was signed back in 2073 BS and with a condition that school management would bear 20 percentage of amount would come from labor donation from the community. Along with the construction of the physical structure of the school, the facilities including computer laboratory, science laboratory, ICT room have been built, informed school’s Principal. He also claims that after this support, the children of that area have been able to achieve excellent education. He hopes that the connection with Umbrella Foundation and the school will remain for further projects inn future too. Janak Pathak, the chairman of the school management committee, said that they will never forget the merits of Umbrella Foundation and will continue to cooperate with them again. He also thanked Umbrella Foundation for providing motivation and encouragement along with educational support. Chairman Pathak claimed that the physical and academic progress of the school has taken a leap after the support of Umbrella Foundation.

Remember, there was no help from the Nepalese government before for the construction of the building. According to the school, class rooms have been at the lower floors and various laboratories have been built in the upper floor with this support. Meanwhile, on the occasion of the same program, the Umbrella Foundation with support from YETI Trust New Zealand has provided educational and sports materials for children of the school, according to the school administration. The organizing organization claims that the support provided by Foundation is probably the largest in the district.