Nepal may be in strict lockdown but, behind the scenes, we have been incredibly creative and busy!
The pictures may look like everyday life and so it is hard to explain how special they are. Outside in Hangdewa, bullocks plough fields, landowners and day workers plant row after row of rice by hand, buffaloes are milked in the shed by hand too and no-one has a personal computer, or a holiday away from the mountain…and yet cabling for the internet has arrived opening up possibilities in learning, understanding the world and new experiences.
We have recruited Siddhartha Limbu, a new higher Maths and Science teacher who will teach the older children, including our new class 8 for 14 year olds. He is still in Pokhara (800 kms West) but daily teaches via zoom all the children we can get a device to in classes 7 and 8.
All our teachers are now signed up for English conversation improvement lessons via zoom and the British Council in Delhi. They take a test to set the standard and have lessons twice a week. Only a year ago, most couldn’t work Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc and now they are using the internet by themselves to learn!
With the Olympics happening a world away, and Nepal having only 5 entrants and never won a medal…..
We contacted past world championship teams in Australia in Rhythmic Gymnastics who have promised us inspiration and classes/mentoring. It seems a good fit with our villagers’ love of dancing and music – and requires minimal equipment. We may have to adapt the flimsy clothing! And basketball too – our new court stands waiting as does our very own high-level, basketball coach, also in Australia. How exciting is that!
