Support New Marigold Schools Nonviolent Education

Namaste friends,

Recently, I have had the privilege of volunteering at New Marigold Secondary Boarding School in Besishahar - 11 Chiti, Lamjung, Nepal. Over the last few months, our friend, principal Shamser Bahadur Thapa, has been working tirelessly to acquire the deed to this school and bring to it his vision of a free, non-violent, creative curriculum. He now runs four schools in Nepal like this because it is his dream to give all children, regardless of their social or economic situation, access to a good education that does NOT use corporal punishment. He has given a Ted talk on the situation in Nepal and his experience and vision with it; I will link it below if you'd like to hear more.

When Shamser came to this school, there was not a single pencil, no color on the classroom walls, no electricty or plumbing, and the teachers did not feel supported. In just the three months since assuming responsibility for this school, Shamser, with the help of volunteers, has installed working electricity, clean running water, notebooks, pencils, even a computer lab for the students, and made countless other improvements all over the school grounds.

The changes he has made here have already brought the number of students who attend the school from 25 to 143! Some children walk over an hour to come to Shamser's schools because of their reputation for quality education and a peaceful environment that fosters creativity and learning. And we have a microscope!

Currently, 75 children here receive free tuition and food. The long-term goal is to provide free education for 300 students. There is no support from the government, so donations and fundraising are the only source of funding for the school.

We are currently wanting to raise funds for the following:

1. Metal lockers for the teachers- the teachers do not have any place to keep their belongings during the school day. If left out, their food and papers will be eaten by rats. New lockers would give the teachers a sense of security and belonging at the school.

2. Basic school materials: notebooks, pencils, art supplies- the students have a minimal supply of materials which limits the teacher's creative license and the children's ability to do homework and basic school projects.

3. Paint- most classrooms are made of grey cinderblock walls with little color. Paint would allow for students, teachers and volunteers to work together to bring color and life into the school, increasing attention in the classroom.

4. School Uniforms- students are required to wear uniforms daily; this will equalize students from different villages and backgrounds. Each student will pay 30 USD for their two required uniforms. For our disadvantaged children, we need to provide the uniforms for them.

5. Keyboards- the computer lab has five laptops that have been donated, some of which do not have working keyboards. New keyboards would allow the students to continue exploring and learning about the power of technology.

6. Growth of the school - We also need to hire more teachers and make room for more students. Currently the school only goes to grade 7, but if we can hire another teacher, the older kids can continue their education.

Thank you so much for reading about the needs of this school and considering a donation. Every bit will make a massive difference in the education and lives of these students. It's not easy to find the means to do what he does, but Shamser is relentless in pursuing his vision. I've heard him tell others about his journey many times already during my two months with him, and it never ceases to inspire. Something I hear him say often is "education is everything." Despite all the obstacles, we simply must educate these kids. This is how he thinks and is why so many volunteers come from all over the world just to lend a hand. If you're able to support the project in any way, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Whether it's a donation, coming to volunteer with us, or just sharing the inspiration and message! Thank you.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela

Shamser's Ted Talk: https://youtu.be/2c26wf3L13g