On September 9, 2013, Pax Earth conducted an educational materials distribution program each at Shree Raktakali Primary School and Shree Kalika Primary School of Kanpur VDC of Kavrepalanchok, Nepal. More than 120 underprivileged children and 10 teachers of these two schools benefited from the distribution. Pax Earth has been supporting in the education of these needy children under the project name “Mission Education & Environment” since June 2010. In the same visit, Pax Earth conducted a Project Cycle Management (PCM) workshop with the stakeholders to identify the major problems in the Kot Timal village. A 16-member Pax Earth team led by PEN President Sujan Koirala traveled to these two schools and successfully carried out both the programs. PEJ President Dr. Soko Aoki, Pax Earth’s Country Representative for Australia Saroj Ghimire and Pax IV Hyper members also joined the programs. A full report is provided below.
At 7:30am, members from Pax Earth and Pax IV Hyper started to assemble at PEN Secretariat, Pashupati, Kathmandu. After having a cup of tea, a 16-member Pax Earth team led by PEN President Sujan Koirala along with PEJ President Dr. Soko Aoki, Secretary Binod P. Mainali, Treasurer Bal Gopal Shrestha, Country Representative for Australia Saroj Ghimire, Executive Members: Laxman B. Pahari and Manohar Sapkota, Hon. Member Kapil Koirala, Members: Debraj Ghimire and Rajan Dulal, well-wisher Akira Sahukhal, and Pax IV Hyper members: Keisuke Uchida, Hirotada Ikegami, Mizuki Suzumura, Hayate Harashina and Yoshiro Yamamoto headed for project sites in Kavrepalanchok at 8am in two jeeps. The team stopped at Dhulikhel for the lunch.
The Pax Earth team could arrive at Shree Kalika Primary School located at Kalikasthan village of Kanpur VDC at 12:15pm. Upon arrival, Principal Ram Lal Shrestha and teacher Sujata Mainali cordially welcomed and honoured each member with khadda. Without any formal distribution ceremony, the distribution team headed by Treasurer Bal Gopal Shrestha entered into each class (grade 1 to grade 3) and distributed the educational materials to the students. Out of 25, 20 students were present on the occasion; and among 20, 50% were girls. Each student received a carrying bag (manufactured by Member Rajan Dulal), a few notebooks, a few pencils, an eraser and a sharpener. They not only distributed the educational materials but also interacted with these students. The main motive was to encourage these underprivileged children to use these materials properly and pay more attention to their study. The distributed stationeries are sufficient for next four months while bag will easily last for more than 2-years. The team also distributed a carrying bag, a diary and a few ball point pens to the two teachers so as to encourage them to pay more attention on students’ education. The team headed for Shree Raktakali Primary School, Kot Timal after receiving farewell from the students and the teachers.
The Pax team arrived at Shree Raktakali Primary School located at Kot Timal village of Kanpur VDC at 1:30am. Upon arrival, Principal Hira Kaji Tamang cordially welcomed each Pax member at the entrance. Then, the entire team separated into two teams: (i) PCM workshop committee and (ii) educational materials distribution committee. The PCM workshop committee comprised of President Sujan Koirala (coordinator), President Dr. Soko Aoki, Secretary Binod P. Mainali, Executive Members: Manohar Sapkota and Laxman B. Pahari while educational materials distribution committee comprised of Treasurer Bal Gopal Shrestha, Debraj Ghimire, Saroj Ghimire, Rajan Dulal, Kapil Koirala, Akira Sahukhal and Pax IV Hyper members: Keisuke Uchida, Hirotada Ikegami, Mizuki Suzumura, Hayate Harashina and Yoshiro Yamamoto. Each member was honoured with red tika and khadda by Principal Hira Kaji Tamang.
Though no formality was observed, the distribution committee headed by Treasurer Bal Gopal Shrestha distributed the educational materials to all the students (preschool to grade 5) in the school arena. Out of 95, 80 students were present on the occasion; and among 80, 50% were girls. Each student received a carrying bag, a few notebooks, a few pencils, a few ball point pens, an eraser and a sharpener. Besides distributing the educational materials, the Pax members managed to interact with the students as well. The effort was to encourage these underprivileged children to use these materials properly and focus more on their study. Likewise in former school, these stationeries are sufficient for next four months and a carrying bag will easily last for more than 2-years. The team also distributed a carrying bag, a diary and a few ball point pens to the six teachers and a warden to motivate them to pay more attention on students’ education. Pax IV Hyper members were quite delighted to involve in the distribution. The distribution committee members (including Pax IV Hyper members) could manage to visit nearby tourist attraction: Narayanthan temple.
The PCM workshop committee conducted a project cycle management workshop with the stakeholders to discover the major problems in the Kot Timal village. Pax Earth had organised a PCM workshop in last March but the outcome was overshadowed by the lack of experience. Hence, the present workshop was organised to overcome the limitations of the previous one. PEJ President Aoki’s presence has brought hands on knowledge on conducting the PCM workshop properly. He had recently attended the PCM workshop organised by JICA. In addition, the preparation meeting of the previous day was very useful in conducting the workshop. The workshop was actively attended by 14 stakeholders as listed in Table 1.1.
Among 14 participants, 29% were female and 71% were male. The age group of the participants ranged between 20 and 55 years. The stakeholders were comprised of parents (3), teachers (2), ward representatives (2), social worker (1), businessman (1), employee (1), farmers (3) and Pax Earth member (1). These stakeholders were divided into three teams and conducted the detailed problems analysis and solution analysis also. The workshop identified three major problems in the village: (i) water (ii) agriculture and (iii) health. Problem tree of each problem was prepared and comprehensively discussed. Among three, the water has come as the topmost problem which needs to be tackled at the earliest. Most of the stakeholders agreed if the water problem can be resolved, it would help address more than 50% problems associated with agriculture and health. However, they were afraid that the extreme scarcity of water might lead them to migrate from the villager. In other words, if the water problem cannot be resolved soon, no other options will be available for the villagers rather than to migrate into other villages or urban areas by vacating the entire village.
On behalf of the participants, teacher Netra Prasad Pathak heartily thanked Pax Earth for giving them an opportunity to participate in such workshop while on behalf of Pax Earth Secretary Mainali extended a vote of thanks to all the participants for their active and valuable participation. Taking a special time just before the wrapping of the workshop, well-wisher Akira Sahukhal shared some useful tips on reusing plastic bottles and eggshells and thereby reducing the garbage in the village. President Aoki handed a souvenir to each participant. Juices, sweets and biscuits were served during the workshop. The PCM workshop was properly coordinated by President Koirala; assisted by Secretary Mainali and Executive Members: Pahari and Sapkota; and actively counseled by President Aoki. After a few snapshots with the students and workshop participants, the Pax team left for Kathmandu. The teachers and students bid farewell to the Pax team. The team could make a small visit to Secretary Mainali’s home to say hello to his parents on the way back to Kathmandu.
Accomplishing both the missions, the members of the first jeep arrived at Kathmandu at 9:30pm while the second jeep which stopped at Banepa for the dinner arrived an hour later.
It is a matter of pride for Pax Earth to continue supporting in the education of the needy children of remote villages of Kavrepalanchok under “Mission Education & Environment” since June 2010. Since the inception of the project, Pax Earth has been contributing in girls’ education too; as half of the beneficiaries are underprivileged girls. The outcome of the PCM workshop clearly indicates that the water is the key problem in Kot Timal village. As such, Pax Earth must endeavour to address this problem to bring prosperity in the village.
Pax Earth would like to thank PEJ President Dr. Soko Aoki for bringing the hands on experience on conducting PCM workshop. Pax Earth would also thank Country Representative for Australia Saroj Ghimire and Pax IV Hyper members for managing time to visit the project sites and involving in distributing the educational materials enthusiastically. Pax Earth extends a sincere gratitude to PCM workshop committee coordinator President Sujan Koirala and his team and distribution committee coordinator Treasurer Bal Gopal Shrestha and his entire team for successfully carrying out the mission of the day. Member Rajan Dulal deserves a special thank for manufacturing carrying bags in a concessional price. Pax Earth expresses a sincere gratitude to the principals and the teachers of both the schools and all the stakeholders of PCM workshop for their support in successfully carrying out the mission of the day. Pax Earth must thank the driving team for offering a comfortable travel despite the rough and tough road. Last but not the least; Pax Earth would thank all Pax Earth members who directly and indirectly contributed in implementing the mission of the day successfully.