Blog

At Kavrepalanchowk District of Kharelthok VDC Ward No.5 lies a school (Susta Manasthiti Punarsthapana Kendra) for special children. NJSI has been working for the betterment of the school and welfare of children in various manners. From 11^th of April 2017 – 13^th of April 2017 NJSI organized a training session especially for the teachers of the school. The training was guided by a special trainer from SOS Balgram, Jorpati Mrs. Rama Karki (Assistant Director) of SOS Balgram. There were total 10 participants in the training including the teaching as well as non-teaching staffs of the school and members of NJSI. The main objective of the training was to widen the knowledge of the teachers of the school regarding the techniques to reduce the challenging behavior of the children.

The training mainly focused on the functional assessment of the special children of the school and different methods and techniques to deal with the children with such problems. The trainer also taught the trainees about the symptoms of the special children and behavioral problem in functional assessment. Most importantly the trainees were taught about the techniques of keen observation, therapeutic communication, PFA (Psychological first Aid), strength based assessment, Art Expressive therapy and music therapy. The training also included the art therapy classes and hygiene maintenance process.

 

The hostel of these special children at Shree Jangagriti School in Sangachowk, in VDC in Sindhupalchowk district was completely destroyed by the earthquake in 2015. NJSI in collaboration with “Amici Dei Bambini” and with the financial support of “Provincia autonoma di Bolzano Alto Adige” had taken the initiative of building a new hostel. This is one of the four hostels for special children under construction by NJSI while the other three are in Nuwakot district and supported by MZF and Xaveir Network.

The construction of the hostel building was completed by Nepal Jesuit Social Institute by the end of January 2017, while finishing and some toilet works took another month. The Hostel has the capacity of 20 children, but at present there are about 12 children residing. The children who have returned back to their village due to lack of space in the makeshift shelter, are expected to come back now.

The Hostel has two dormitories, (one for girls and other for boys.), a well-furnished kitchen, a study/activity room. It has two new toilets and two bathrooms, separated for boys and girls. It has a water filter plant providing highly purified drinking water for the special children in the hostel.
The hostel building is made with proper structure design as per the instructions of the Engineers in order to withstand earthquakes. The building has features that are disabled friendly. The rooms are given different colours and ambience to help the disabled children to recognize the activities associated with each room.
NJSI handed over the completed hostel building over to the School Management Committee and to the children on 2nd March 2017, in the presence of the District Education Officer, Sindupalchowk, the principal of the school, the supporting staff, the special children accompanied by their parents, representatives of Amici Dei Bambini, representatives of Nepal Jesuit Social Institute and local supporters.

            

Shree Jangagriti School in Sangachowk VDC has the responsibility of admitting the special children (physically disabled) as part of the inclusive education program by the Government of Nepal. The hostel of these special children was completely destroyed by the earthquake in 2015. They have been staying in their makeshift shelter since then. This has affected their normal education and support system.

NJSI in collaboration with “Amici Dei Bambini” had taken initiative of building a new hostel for special children in Sangachowk. The construction work is also looking after the sanitation and hygiene requirements of the hostel premises.
On 16th February 2017 NJSI staff and Amici Dei Bambini staff organized training on hygiene and sanitation and distributed the water filters to the parents of special children. For the safe water drinking, a high capacity water filter also is fixed in the hostel. The main objective of this training was to give awareness to the parents about the special care that their children need. Fr. Arulanandam SJ, Mrs. Tulsa Kharel, Miss. Francesca Giovannini and Miss Mina Raut and the teachers of the school also participated in this program. The District focal person was invited for the training the parents of special children. She spoke about the different behaviors and physical disability of the special children. She also emphasized on love, care and cleanliness of the children and government policy for special children.

After training on hygiene and sanitation, water filters were distributed to the families of the special children. They were very happy to receive the water filters and also thanked NJSI and Amici Dei Bambini.

Shree Haleshwor Higher Secondary School was handed over to the school authority on 8th February 2017.  The 25th April 2015 earthquake had caused widespread damage to Dolkha district and further damage took place as it was also the epicenter of 12th May 2015 earthquake. Suri is one of the VDC in Dolakha District with 970 houses consisting 55000 population and 9 schools. Out of nine schools seven schools were damage and destroyed and NJSI has supported the reconstruction and recovery of 4 schools . This VDC is 200 Km away from Katmandu and the access road is very challenging and dangerous. 

Shree Haleshor Higher Secondary School in Suri VDC, facing the beautiful Gaurishankar range of the Himalayas, was one of the schools NJSI had been supporting with educational materials during the emergency phase and now completed two truss fixed semi permanent buildings. Since the area is prone to landslides it was a very difficult task to complete the repair work of this school. With hard work of NJSI in cooperation with the school management committee, staff and local people the repair work was completed.

The handing over ceremony was held in the school premises with the morning assembly of the students, On this awaited day members of the School Management Committee, Teachers, Parents and students were gathered to express their gratitude to NJSI. The NJSI staff and the invited guests were welcomed by children with welcome songs and cultural dances. Fr. Bonyface Tigga SJ, the chairperson, Fr. Roy Sebastian SJ the director and Fr. Arulanandam SJ, the District In-charge of NJSI thanked the entire school team for their cooperation and encouraged the students to make best of the facilities that is provided by NJSI and assured them for further support. 

The Shree Ban Sangu Secondary school of Jure VDC was affected by huge land Slide in 2014 and further destroyed by earthquake in April, 2015. Whole village was wiped out in the slide. The school too was badly affected and children had to study in temporary learning center.

NJSI took initiative of building the school. As construction work of the school was over, it was handed over to the School Management Committee on 10^th January 2017. This day was the awaited day for all as once again children could have suitable education environment. On this joyful occasion the members of the School Management Committee, Teachers, Parents and students were gathered to express their gratitude to NJSI.

The NJSI staff and the invited guests were welcomed, and the children felicitated the program by performing cultural dances and songs. The key of the school was handed over by Fr. Roy Sebastian SJ to Mr. Shyam Thapa, a resource person from Education department of Sindupalchowk.

Fr. Roy Sebastian SJ, the director of NJSI and Fr. Arulanandam SJ, the District In-charge of NJSI, wished them all the best of luck for their future endeavors and encouraged them to work for the development of Nepal. The School Management Committee as a token of their gratitude gave NJSI an appreciation certificate.

In Chapadi-1 village there is a group called Sundevi women group. This group does not have any place to gather and conduct their activities. They conduct their meeting and activities in the open space, sometimes in their own houses but place is not enough and have lot of inconvenient. To support this group NJSI is helping to build a hall.

The construction work of women’s Safe Space’ is going on at Rakathum VDC in Ramechhap District. The framing of window, doors is completed and wall has been raised.  The construction work, was started on 20^th November 2016 and scheduled to be completed at the end of January 2017. The NJSI has taken initiative to build the women friendly toilet too.

 The constructed women safe space facilitates the 60 women of the locality. It will be beneficial for the women to conduct meetings, trainings and social discussions such as gender based violence and community development work.

 As many as Volunteer and laborers have been working to complete the construction on time.