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Fe y Algeria (FyA), a Movement for Integral Popular Education and Social Development, was initiated in Nepal in 2021. It was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Fr Amrit, the Superior of Nepal Jesuits and Fr. Carlos Frintzen, the former Coordinator General of the International Federation of Fe y Algeria, during the opening ceremony of Kavre Regional Center at Panchkhal, Kavre. Currently, NJSI is advancing towards developing and implementing the FyA program in rural Nepal in the coming years.
With support from our donor, Xavier Network, and guidance from our consultant team led by Xavier Mir, we are conceptualizing our vision for FyA in Nepal. The team has led several meetings and workshops, exploring various elements for our future FyA program. The NJSI Management Committee and all staff have been actively involved in this process. Ms. Pilar Lopez, Asia Regional Manager at FyA, has been accompanying us throughout the process.
The numerous meetings and workshops have laid a foundation for FyA program, resulting in a Concept Note, a roadmap that we aim to finalized soon. Our future program will focus on the education sector, with a special emphasis on formal, non-formal and inclusive education in selected rural municipalities where we have previously worked.
FyA is a global educational movement. Many countries are part of this movement. Each country has developed its own model to uplift vulnerable populations through education. We are in the process of creating a FyA model in Nepal that is contextually relevant and beneficial to the community we serve.
We understand that our vision of creating a new model will not emerge overnight and has a lot of challenges. We may face numerous hurdles, challenges and rejections. It may require change in our strategies and approaches to address the various challenges in the implementation of the program. However, our primary focus remains: to keep working with faith to make this movement a success in Nepal by bringing joy to the community we serve.

When the Earthquake hit Jajarkot on 3rd Nov, 2023, initially, NJSI helped with Temporary Learning Centers to 19 schools of Barekot Rural Municiplity, Jajarkot than with the follow up programs, NJSI saw the need of educational materials and clothing for the students. Consequently, NJSI distributed educational materials and sweaters prospering 4886 students in total.
In Addition to the “Earthquake Relief and Distribution Program”, NJSI fulfilled the urgency of furniture in 21 schools of West Rukum, one of the districts which was affected by the earthquake. Each school were provided with 20 sets of desk and bench. In total, 7482 students got benefited. The NJSI team started the journey from 28th May to 19th June and returned at June. On 18th June, a Handing Over Ceremony was held by Aathbiskot Municpality at Shree Nepal Rastriya Secondary School. The program was conducted in the presence of Mayor Rabi K.C, Section Officer of Education, Youth and Sports, Indra Bahadur Bista, Principal of Jeevanjyoti, Fr. Joman, ward chairperson of School Management Committee, chairperson of wards and rest were the principals, teachers and students of the schools who received the furniture. These all schools were recommended by the local Government. As to testify the recommendations, NJSI witnessed the students were sitting on the floor in the classrooms with no furniture, in some schools, the furniture was in the verge of damage. Though the schools were not well furnished, the no. of students in all 21 schools were quite high, the students were coming regularly. Comparatively to otheir schools the parents have understood the prosperity of sending their children to the schools for their better future.

NJSI conducted 2 ECD Training programs at Pyuthan, one in Shawargadarika Municipality and another in Airawati Rural Municipality. The ECD Program was organized for 3 days, from 17th to 19th May at Shawradarika Municipality. In total 42 schools were participated where one teacher from each school were present. The resource person was from “Seto Guras” named Sita Devi Shrestha. And from 20th to 22nd May, another, ECD training program was held at Airawati Rural Municipality where 50 teachers were participated from 50 schools. The notion of providing ECD Training program is to the teachers to gain deeper understanding of the physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of their students. The knowledge would help them to adapt significant teaching methods and activities in order to reach the students need at various stages of development.
On 20th May, the team went to Shree Aishwarya Nepal Rastriya Primary School for the REIN program. The school is located at Sormarani Rural Municipality And, on 22nd May, the team went to another school named Shree Gyan Jyoti Primary School which is located at Pyuthan Municipality. The school is situated at the border of the Pythan and Rolpa, districts. These both schools are situated at the remote areas of Pyuthan. They have limited access to facilities, even struggling for their basic needs hence NJSI is giving a helping hand to them for their development.

The St. Xavier’s School reach to NJSI for their student’s outreach program. The students of grade 9, 10 had a program for 2 days and one night from 4th to 5th May. Therefore, NJSI selected the two schools of Kavre district which are comparatively short distance plus the students would get their experiences with the students of rural area. One was with the students of Shree Narayansthan Basic School and another with the children with special needs in Shree Bhagawati Secondary School. The students observed the rural scenario through the interaction, they conducted activities like face paint, led art and crafts activities to different classes, done plantation program and provided some stationery items too.
As it was their first experience in rural area, according to the students, these two days had become their one of the memorable experiences. For the accommodation, the students stayed in NJSI’S Regional Center at Kavre. There were 16 children with special needs from Shree Bhagawati Secondary School and 85 students from Shree Narayansthan Basic School. The program demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity. This kind of programs could provide opportunities for further growth and expansion of initiatives, benefiting both the community and to the students involved.

In the leadership of Fr. Roy, two Teachers Training Program was held at Nepal Police School, Surkhet and St. Capitanio School, Palpa. The training program was on “Education for Transformation”. It is a dynamic and innovative approach that emphasizes in developing student’s critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and flexibility through teachers. This way of thinking is the foundation of a teacher training program that gives educators the abilities, perspective and knowledge they need to adapt for transforming learning environments in the classroom. The main objective of this training program is to motivate the teachers to become the change executors of their students.

From 8th to 9th April, 40 teachers of St. Capitanio School and From 17th to 19th April, 21 teachers of Nepal Police School were equipped. Back in the days, schools, institutions used to ask for allowance for conducting Teachers Training Program, on the other hand we were strictly against it, in some cases we had to cancelled the program as well but now seeing our good practices people are inviting us to provide the Teacher’s Training Program. DIGP Lalmani Acharya, actually invited us to conduct Teachers Training Program at their Nepal Police School.

In collaboration with Jesuit Curia Rome, St. Mary’s Pokhara, Pillar Fathers, Amarjyoti School and Pastoral Center Kohalpur, NJSI Fe Y Alegria Nepal, distributed sweaters and stationery items to the earthquake affected schools of Jajarkot. The residents of Jajarkot suffered seriously from the powerful earthquake that struck on November 3rd, especially the children. Initially, supported with the Temporary Learning Centers in 19 Schools. Subsequently, NJSI realized the urgency of materials as well. In an effort to that, NJSI conducted a week-long operation from 22nd March to 27th March known as “The Earthquake Relief Material Distribution” got underway. In total, 4886 students of 19 schools got benefited. The stationery items contain pencils, pens, copies, erasers, and sharpeners. The Early Childhood Development (ECD) materials were also supplied. These comprised the following: rubber horse, ball, football, chart, elephant ring, soundable ball, block (1,2,3 and A,B,C), pyramid ring, vegetables set, pump, rettles, dancing ring, volleyball, skipping, 1,2,3 Board and block. The relief material also included the 4886 sweater pieces with necessary sizes to the students.

The extensive effort showcases a holistic strategy to meet the urgent needs of the students impacted by the disaster, addressing education, recreation, and essential items like clothing. Following their earlier assessment, the NJSI team identified significant challenges faced by students, including inadequate clothing for the cold weather and a lack of proper stationery materials. As a result, the follow-up initiative ensured that every child receives the necessary tools to pursue their education with renewed enthusiasm and confidence. The provision of Early Childhood Development (ECD) materials will encourage interactive learning and overall development among the students. The warm reception and positive feedback from the local community have encouraged the team to persist in the efforts and maintain the dedication..