School Renovations - Kathmandu Nepal

During my recent trip to Nepal I spent a day at Shree Purao Guheshwori  School in Kathmandu.  It broke my heart seeing the condition of the school and hearing the struggles the students and teachers have to endure.  I am not sure where to start in explaining but know I want to do something to help.
Many of the students do not live with their parents and bounce between family friends or being homeless.  At the start of the school year there were around 400 students there are now around 300.  The teaches have no way to find out where the students have gone or if they are ok.  The students are issued uniforms that must be worn everyday and the books are government provided.  No other learning utensils like pencils, notepads, backpacks are provided.  Many students are too poor to have them or are not in a stable environment that ensures they bring them daily.  The school does not provide any food so the students either bring lunch or go hungry all day.

The school consists of 6 stand alone buildings around a dirt court yard.  As you enter the gate on the right you first come to the main building that has the principal's office on the 2nd floor, covered picnic tables on the top floor and the only toilet for the school on the ground level.  The next building is a single story building with a metal roof where the older kids study.  This building is in terrible shape and when the wind blows or it rains class can not be held due to the roof leaking and flapping.


The next building that is on the far end is brand new, however, incomplete.  It was started by the government and never finished and is un-usable.  The 4th building was built by a Japanese group many years ago.  It was once teal but now has started crumbling.  It is being used by the middle-aged kids.  One of the classrooms on the 2nd story is the "library" which consists of one cabinet of books which the children rarely use as they are not at their reading level and there is no real process for checking out and tracking them.  


The final 2 buildings are in mediocre condition but still substandard by all means.  These are for the youngest kids.  The school has 5 computers none of which work (most likely due to the dust) and none of the teachers are sure how to use computers.  None of the buildings have electricity and all are open to the elements.  


While I was there the youngest kids were laying on a foam mat outside to try and stay warm from the sun. 


Older students had to bundle up in the cold or open the shutters to let air in if it is warm.


 The teachers said when it rains the courtyard floods terribly and the younger students are walking in knee deep water.  Remember they have to be in uniform so if it gets wet they are wet all day.  During dry season the courtyard generates clouds of dust that freely migrates into the classrooms and creates a very unsanitary learning environment. The principal said if they could fix one thing today they would pave this courtyard to minimize the dust and mud the kids have to deal with every day.  As many of these kids don't have means to clean or dry their uniforms before the next day.   I curiously asked what it would cost the school to do this and I was provided and estimate of 925,771 Nepal Rupees ($8252 US or $7248 Euro).   Go fund me takes 2.9% and $0.30 US from each donation so we set our goal to raise $8500 US.  

While trekking in Nepal I met Jessica W. from Germany and told her about this school.  She wanted to see it herself and planned a visit.  She was also deeply disturbed by the students learning conditions.  The day she visited was exam day and many students couldn't compete their exams as they had missed too much school. 


We have decided to return to Nepal in the Spring of 2020 and would love to be able to help pave the courtyard for these students.  If you would like to help us we have generated a GoFundMe page with all funds going to the school.  If we exceed the needed funds we will ask the principal and staff what else we can help with. This could be roof repairs, computer equipment, library resources or a number of other items.  If you want more information or have questions please let me know.  

Thanks for your time.
Amy & Jessica