Keshari

Date: 2009 ongoing

Partner: Vinayak Shiksha Niketan (VSN) English Secondary School & Creative Learning Academy (CLA) School in Thimi, Seabird International (Higher Secondary) college in Thimi, Prisoners Assistance (PA) Nepal, Shree Pasang Chowk School, Tawal

Objectives: To improve employment opportunities for young Nepali students involved in three NAFA supported projects: Prisoners Assistance Nepal (PA Nepal); Tawal School and VSN/CLA Schools and Seabird college (Thimi); and for young people with disabilities supported by JOY Foundation Nepal.

Details: The FEAT program focuses on students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 who are approaching or recently have attained their School Leaving Certificate (at the end of Grade 10 in Nepal); students with a disability; and other young people who have reached their educational potential and are seeking vocational training opportunities to increase their chances of finding their first job. Each situation is considered on its merits. FEAT students commit to doing volunteer work in their community to give back to the wider community and share the benefits of their higher education or vocational training.

Keshari is an example of a VSN graduate student who is benefitting from the FEAT progam. Keshari comes from a subsistence farming family. She made good use of support received from NAFA’s educational sponsorship program, gaining Distinction in the Grade 10 public SLC exam (2006) and graduating with Distinction at the end of Grade 12.

In 2009 Keshari enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing course at Kathmandu University, after her parents obtained a loan from relatives to pay her admission and first term tuition fees. Now, thanks to the generosity of 5 donors and with a contribution from her parents, the costs of Keshari’s nursing studies are guaranteed for the duration of the course. Keshari has expressed in her own words the heartfelt appreciation she feels about the support her sponsors provide:

“Every student brews in her, the desire to graduate, the desire to acquire higher degrees and the desire to become something that counts, after her study. But because she is “SHE” and she is from uneducated and poor family, all her desires cannot always be fulfilled and in such condition like the streak of light in the pitch darkness; like an oasis in the desert, the support, that NAFA sends for students, works… And now I’m doing bachelor. How very difficult it had been for me and my parents to meet all the fees and expenses of the university. NAFA sponsor again saved me by supporting my study economically. I therefore extend my sincere gratitude and felicitation towards the school and NAFA for arranging this support. It always encourage me to further my education as limelight and inspire to work for the community” (Keshari 24th Feb, 2010).

Ashok training at UCEP Technical College

Outcomes: There are 16 students currently (September 2011) being supported through the FEAT program. Two young people have completed their training.

In 2010 Ashok from Tawal village successfully completed an electrical wiring course at UCEP in Kathmandu and Ashok returned to Tawal where he has set up a small electrical appliance and repair shop. Ashok will be trained to maintain the micro-hydro electricity plant being installed at Tawal. He has successfully wired 200 village houses to receive electricity. Ashok worked diligently to pass his course at UCEP as shown in the supervisor’s report: “According to them (teachers) they are very happy to have Mr. Ashok in their centre and Mr. Ashok is doing his best on the training. Mr. Ashok performance is very good among the students. They are findng him as hard worker and gentleman”.

In 2010 Gopal from Tawal completed a gem cutting course in Kathmandu. He is currently exploring setting up a gem cutting and selling business in Dhading, the nearest large town to Tawal.

Project to build two classrooms in a remote school in Nepal

New classrooms

Agreni

Brief History:

The child educational sponsorship program for Prisoners Assistance Nepal and Vinayak Shiksha Niketan English Secondary School Thimi commenced in 2003 with 11 children. The purpose was to help disadvantaged children receive a basic education to help break the poverty cycle. Since then we have reached our goal of sponsoring 100 children in these two organisations. NAFA is committed to this program and acknowledges the loyal support of NAFA members and donors. NAFA members sponsor individual children and we offer a unique service where sponsors receive their child’s annual exam results and each child sends a letter to their sponsor to maintain contact. While under no obligation to do so sponsors may send letters and photos to their student.

Prisoner Assistance Nepal (PA Nepal):

An organisation started by Indira Rani Magar to address the problem of lack of care for the children of prisoners.  She has set up homes for these children to give then a sense of family, receive a good education and to maintain their cultural traditions and festivals..

Usha is now in Grade 10

Vinayak Shiksha Niketan English Secondary School Thimi:

The current principal, Surendra Prajapati started the school in 1989 with a borrowed table in one room of his house and 6 students. Over the years with his drive and commitment he has developed the school to grade 10 with 1,000 students. His visionary ideas has improved the school and has a number of extra currucular activites such as a range of sports, scouts and an Eco Club. The school hosts a annual art competition for local schools and takes part in national competitions of traditional dancing, singing and drumming.

 Some of the children who have benefitted from our sponsorship program

Surman works hard at school to improve his life

Agreni  has been sponsored since 2004 and is now studying Bachelor of Pharmacology in our Further Education and Training program (FEAT).

Usha’s father died when she was very young. When Usha was 6 years old and was enrolled in another school in the village. A generous donor offered to pay for her education as her mother had no income and was unable to continue to pay her school fees. She is now in Grade 10 and regularly comes in the top 5 in her class. It is most likely that if Usha wasn’t in school her life would have been one of staying at home every day making wicks from cotton wool for ceremonial oil lamps.

Suman Yongan is one of 4 children who came to the city from a remote area in south western Nepal with his family. The family live alongside the school in one large room with a cold cement floor. Suman’s illiterate parents are employed by the school. They work very long hours cooking, cleaning and maintaining the grounds of the school to enable all their children to receive an education. Suman receives sponsorship support.  He is a very shy boy, a quiet achiever now in class  8 who has topped his class for the last 2 years.

Sachin

Sachin is in class 8. His father died after a long illness and his mother runs a little shop to raise her 2 sons. He tries hard in his school work but finds some of it difficult. Sachin has had to grow up quickly to help his mother and younger brother in their small home and shop.

Meena was attending school with her 2 older brothers but the family were struggling to keep them all at school. It was planned for Meena to leave after class 7 to help her father make clay pots like most of the families in their town. Sponsorship enabled Meena to complete her schooling like her brothers and she now has a job in an office.

Rajan is the youngest of 4 brothers whose father is unable to work after a back injury. Sponsorship enabled Rajan to stay in school but he was easily distracted and showed little respect for his parents who tried to get him to settle down. After a couple of incidents his teachers recommended he be expelled but the headmaster spoke with Rajan and agreed to give him one last chance. Rajan knuckled down and passed his school leaving certificate with good grades. He decided to continue to study and is completing grade 11. His sponsor was advised of his behaviour and of the good outcome and she identified with that. She herself ran away from home when she was a teenager. She thinks they were meant to be connected in the universe!

Jyoti

Jyoti is the youngest of 3 sisters . Their father was in prison and their mother remarried and was unable to care for them. NAFA sponsorship enabled them to finish their schooling. The sisters gave each other emotional support and worked really hard at their studies. All 3 sisters have now passed their school leaving certificate and are continuing to study. They will all become productive members of their community. Jyoti’s dream is to be a medical officer and there’s a possibliity that her dream just may come true.