There is a huge technology deficit in Nepal; this is how we are giving our children in Hangdewa better life-chances for the 21st Century.
Nepal has just made it compulsory for students in computers at the equivalent of A-level to have access to a computer. Most schools do not have enough for students to use regularly and almost no student has their own. In Taplejung district, our school is the only one that has practical computer studies timetabled in several times a week from Class 1. With a maximum of 30 students in a class, we have 34 laptops, which includes 4 Apple Macs. These are all 2nd hand, brought out from the UK, gifted by people like you. They are cleaned up, and really ancient ones are butchered for parts where necessary, and all are updated by Alfred Ashley Group. We have run out of your offerings, so please send us any old laptops languishing in cupboards. Recently, we bought 4 new laptops out of money received from Mentors/Sponsors for our Alumni who are studying GCSE equivalents at Kangchenjunga School, where there is no access to computers (and no access to ITC support: the reason we went for new). The students were delighted.
 
Thank you for sending me a Laptop. I am very happy and excited to receive it from Manoj sir, who brought it back from Kathmandu. It will help me in my studies, in solving different problems in my computer project, and in teaching myself programming. I will try to get lots of information from it too. I promise you that I will make you feel proud, and I will try to score well in my studies. I don’t really have the words to say how delighted I am.
We are now looking for placements to give our 14 Alumni work-experience between Class 10 (GCSE equivalent) and Plus 2s (A-level equivalent). They have three months between courses (1 April to 30 June) and they have the right to travel and work in India. If anyone can help, they dream of becoming an engineer (including software), doctor, nurse, architect, accountant, sports coach and more. Their work ethic surpasses all understanding, and many are straight A students. Meanwhile, Class 2 has been role-playing these careers and having a lot of fun in their English lessons.
 
Kick-off Student Exchanges between Kathmandu and Hangdewa
The excitement was palpable as children from EIFION Trust CIO’s Child Centre in Kathmandu boarded taxis to take them to the airport on their first-ever holiday, where they would fly – for the first time – to SE Nepal before a jeep journey through the mountains, with a horse ride (another first), to camp (yes, another first) at our infant/Montessori school. The wait at the departure Gate was magical: selfies with icon Melina Rai YouTube
Having learned from Millfield School’s visit in October, our school swung into action with projects, sports, and activities. It was fun for all. Our prefects and Alumni (some of whom will be at Charlotte’s Haven for studies next year), joined our visitors to walk to the suspension bridge, Class 2 and 3 Ambassadors went for kite-flying and ice-creams high up at Suketar, and Class 4 went to Chandeshore Dham (Buddhist and Hindu temples by a lake) and on for lunch in Taplejung. There was a stiff trek up Mount Pathibhara to the most sacred Hindu temple outside of India (with the most exciting bit seeing, touching, throwing and rolling in snow), and a day of local skills including milking cows, churning butter, and cutting down bamboo for basket weaving.
We are now geared up for school-trips from around the world!
When will your local school visit?
Hangdewa is ‘in Limbu territory’ and Limbus are animists, mainly. But the school welcomes all faiths and enjoys Christmas and Diwali (called Tihar) alike. One of the most colourful and enjoyable Hindu festivals celebrates the goddess of wisdom and learning: ‘Saraswati Puja’. The children have their schoolbooks blessed and everyone enjoys the feast.
Practical science continues to be one of our students’ favourite subjects. It is what they miss most when they go to their next schools. Nonetheless, the memory of doing experiments and seeing the reactions inspires them to want to study science for Plus 2s (A-level equivalents). EIFION Trust CIO has agreed to sponsor 7 such students next year at Southwestern State College in Kathmandu. They can’t wait!
We are up to the roof on the new classrooms adjacent to the infant Montessori School.
– and what a view!
We are working to find a way to keep our students at our school for the two years they are currently sponsored at the boarding school in Taplejung (up to GCSEs). Negotiations with local government continue and the building of the two new classrooms is nearly there; we may find a way to help the nearest government school and benefit even more children in the locality. Next year we expect to be educating over 300 students aged 3.5 to 19.
