Twenty years ago HOPE worldwide Nepal opened a school in Kathmandu. Little children started coming and learning. The school enrolled the poorest of the poor. The majority of the parents were illiterate migrants from far off districts of Nepal.
Twenty years later we are celebrating 20 years of HOPE worldwide Nepal. Some of the former students are now teaching at the school. The school administrator is also a former student. Many of those children are now university graduates. Some are pursuing careers in places like London or Singapore.
As our students leave our school, most receive full scholarships to study in excellent private schools where they receive a first class education. Our students shine and have a reputation of hard work, discipline, and a positive attitude to learning.
This week we had a celebration of the first twenty years of HOPE worldwide Nepal. Some great victories took place in the last couple of years especially. The students now enjoy a midday meal as part of their school day. We have premises especially designed to the needs of the school by our wonderful landlord. We also have proper toilets and a boundary wall.
The most exciting news this week is that we were able to inaugurate a vocational training center right next to the school. This had been a long standing dream of ours. The center has a brand new computer training program, a spoken English program, and we plan on starting courses in hospitality training, customer care, language training, etc. Kathmandu has a thriving tourism industry and we wish to prepare the youth for that market.
Our goal is not simply to educate children but to take them all the way to a job. We want to thank all of our wonderful benefactors who have stood by us over the years. We cannot mention every single individual in this report but you know who you are and we are so grateful. We do want to highlight the role of the Surrey Church of Christ, now a part of the South Region of the London Church of Christ, for supporting the school over the last ten years. If it weren’t for them, the school would have closed down.
We want to mention the Zurich and the Helsinki Churches of Christ who gave substantial amounts recently and have enabled us to start the vocational training center, build a kitchen and boundary wall, as well as help with the midday meal scheme.
As I said earlier, I cannot mention the dozens of individuals who have volunteered their time, money, and efforts, but I do wish to mention a few: Andrew Lorimer (midday meal help, construction, teaching, trips), Stefanie Christanti (website), Alexandra Seele (laptops, teaching, building of toilets), Mamoru Moriyama (many donations). If I did not mention your name, please forgive me. It takes many good hearted people like you to build a program such as the Asha Vidhyashram School.
We also now have a new program manager so you will be getting regular updates and our website will be upgraded. His name is Dev and his wife Sorjo will be teaching at the
school.
Brilliant student:
I met Saroj five years ago when he graduated from our school. He had been rescued from being sold into slavery as child. His older brother enrolled him in our school and he turned out to be a brilliant student. After leaving our school he won a full scholarship to one of the best private schools of the area. He is thriving, has great dreams for his life, and is very grateful. He just finished his 10th standard. He shared about his life at the anniversary function.
From student to teacher:
Tulasi was once a cute little student at our school (front row, second from left). The family were desperately poor, having to eat the grass off the side of the road to survive. She always had a lot of spirit and turned out to be very bright. She is now a teacher at the school.
I will leave you with a short video of the older girl students performing a traditional folk dance at the anniversary celebration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzGXTVi7R5Y&list=UUsVV0LFPoVBMXTPmO90tITw
Gratefully,
Nadine Templer and the HOPE worldwide Nepal team
