Perm K Khatri- Founder and Managing Director of Ace the Himalaya P.vt. Ltd & President of Sambhav Nepal was elected as the New Chairman of Arupokhari Society ( Non-profit Social Organization) for next two years. Realizing, Prem's great contribution throughout Arupokhari Villages and his sincerity towards the social service, all the general members (more than two hundreds) were agreed him to be a Chairman.

Arupokhari Society (Samaj) is a non- profit social organization affiliated with Social Welfare Council, Nepal with the affiliation No 23537 and registered in District Administration Office with the registration no 292 as a Non- Profit Social Organization in 2064 aiming to make overall development in the remote villages. Approximately, 10000 people are living in Arupokhari Village Development Committee. All these people can be directly and indirectly benefited if this organization works on behalf of the village.

Congratulations! And wish him and his team all the best for the success for his working period.

Sambhav Nepal has currently started the building construction of a ‘New Toilet Project’ in Bhairabi Primary School, Arupokhari-6, Gorkha. The project was sponsored by Australian Embassy under ‘Direct Aid Program’ and Nepal School Project Fund. The project was approved by Social Welfare Council Nepal

Training Period: 30th November 2009 to 7th December 2009

It’s our great pleasure to present the fianl progress report of a a week “The Leadership Development of Headmaster and School Management Committee and the Subject-wise Teachers Training Programme" which was proposed by this organization. This is to inform that the project was approved by Social Welfare Council in B.S. 2066/07/23 to be run under the aid of its Australian donors- Nepal School Project Fund. The training program was held in Shree Dharapani Secondary School Arupokhari-7. The program was inaugurated by the chief guest of the program Mr. Khadananda Pudashini- Resource Person of Bhimodaya Resource under the chairmanship of Mr. Murari Khanal.

The organization has found the teachers training program very valuable which benefited 60 participants (teachers and the SMC members) of ten different schools of Arupokhari Village Development Committee of Gorkha district directly. Besides these, approximately three thousands students are indirectly benefited as the teachers are intended to use the skills and the techniques got through the training program in their work field.

Participants

The following activities were carried out during the project-

1. All the students and the guardians of ten different schools were informed about the training program
2. The ten headmasters and the all the School Management Committee (SMC) members were trained about the healthy administration and the creation of good academic environment by Bom Bahadur Thapa on the first two days of the program. Mr. Thapa is a very reputed education trainer of Nepal with more than 20 years’ work experience involved in Education Training Centre Nepal.
3. Subject-wise discussion and the training took place in between the educationalists and the teacher trainees for additional four days. The training was focused for English, Mathematics and the Social Studies since these are the major subjects on which the teachers and the students often get difficulty for teaching and learning.
4. All the trainees were provided with the certificates of the training program according to their specialty.
5. All the participants were provided with the light lunch during the program
6. All the trainees and the trainers were provided with the small amount of cash as an award for their co-operation for making the program successful.
7. The formal ending of the training program was performed by Mr. Niraj Bhattarai and Mr. Shyam Lamichanne- reputed trainers of Mathematics and Social Studies accordingly.
8. The Teaching-Learning activity was conducted in a very blissful environment

According to the participants own version the training was very effective and a motivating one as the program was targeted for three different factors- healthy academic environment, roles of guardians towards their children and the teachers' efficiency in teaching strategies. After the completion of the program the participant teachers expressed that despite the short period, the program was successful from all aspects. The participants also commented that it was better than the training organized by the government sector. The project has made a remarkable contribution to the children and whole community. We are very thankful towards our Australian Donors for their pure contribution to make this event happen.

We are delighted to present this work report of Shree Jalakanya Primary School. The project was approved by Social Welfare Council under the aid of its Australian donors- Pam and Ray Sleap. Though the project seems to be completed within five years, it has made some of the remarkable development on the old and decayed classrooms in its initial years. It has also provided the educational materials like books copies, pencils, and the dresses to all the needy children who belong to the Dalits (socially low caste people) and the economically poor families.

Lack of education and the opportunities in the village, most of the young people have left their village and have been working in the country and the abroad as armies, police, and the laborers which has resulted the village living only with the old, and poor community. This village where mainly the Gurungs and the Dalits live does not possess any sign of the infrastructures of the development. Hence, realizing education is the most important needs in this village this project was targeted with the aim of facilitating Jalakanya Primary School with all the basic needs in the school. The school is located in Ward No.3 of Arupokhari Village Development Committee. Through the aid to the school, the project aims at motivating all the children of this area to go to the school and making them aware of the importance of education. In a long run, the project aims at producing the skilled and the educated manpower even from such a remote village.

Obviously, it is the matter of reputation of both donors and the organization that this project of "Academic and Physical Improvement of Shree Jalakanya Primary School" has made entirely a positive and improving intuition upon the local community. Despite the geographical, political and even the cultural atrocities, the mission of the organization has been taken as bravery. The donor individuals and the organizations are well credited for this pure mission. It will be injustice to deny the reality that running this project in such a remote area of Nepal where the majority of people are ethics and Dalits (socially low castes) was a great challenge. Hence, the role of the project to enhance the local children and community is exemplary and praiseworthy. The children who were deprived with educational materials, dresses have been benefited. The old and decayed school building have been repaired and maintained. The organization believes that through the basic physical infrastructures made on the school will certainly develop the academic status of the students.

Activities carried out during the project
- The coordinator visited the spot
- A joint meeting was called between project Co-ordinator, School Management Committee and the guardians to inform about the project
- Purchase and delivery of the necessary items for refurbishment of the school to the field
- Distribution of the books and stationeries and the school uniforms to the students
- School walls, floors and even the windows repaired
- A new school gate constructed
- Banyan tree inside the school compound was fenced well
- Project Co-ordinator and Sambhav Nepal representative visited the school after the project completion of the project of this year 

Beneficiaries
Through this project, 18 students, their guardians, teachers, staffs, School Management Committee are directly benefited. And the 1000 Gurung people and 50 Dalits living nearby the school are also benefited in some sense. However, we can't deny some of the drawbacks during the project as the project appeared to be a bit expensive due to the transportation as well as the project completed a bit delay.

Sambhav Nepal has started the construction of 'Community Library Project' in Dharapani Secondary School, Arupokhari- 7, Gorkha under the aid of its Australian donors. Though, the work started a bit late due to the series of festivals in Nepal.

This is the first and only one library in such a remote corner of Arupokhari. After the completion of the construction, the library will have a couple of a thousand of books, which directly benefit the students of five different schools including the people of twelve different villages of Arupokhari VDC. However, the organization aims at increasing the number of books on a regular basis.

Please see the related photos taken on 10th Feb 2010. More information and photos will be uploaded soon.

After the construction of two-roomed building in Bhairabi Primary school last year (2008), a four-roomed new school building has been recently constructed under the aid of regular Australian donors of Sambhav Nepal. The organization finds the remarkable improvements have been introduced both in the physical and academic dimensions of the school. This is the matter of glory of both donors and the organization that this project of "Academic and Physical Improvement of Shree Bhairabi Primary School" has made entirely a positive and improving intuition upon the local community. Despite the geographical, political and even the cultural atrocities, the mission of the organization has been taken as bravery. The donor individuals and the organizations are well credited for this pure social mission.

Under the 'Physical improvement' of the project, a four roomed new building with essential furniture have been handed over to the school under the preservation of construction committee after its completion in 2009. The new building has been replaced after deconstructing the twenty years old and decayed building. Altogether there are 6 new rooms including prior 2 built in 2008 under the project. Among all, the largest room (from new building) has been used as office room and remaining five are used for the classroom purpose (Nursery, grade LKG, One, Two and Three). The doors and windows have been fixed in all the rooms. Besides, the old and decayed playground has been repaired and the blackboards and roof paintings have been fixed in all rooms. To stop the water entering into the building during monsoon, a tunnel has been constructed around the school compound. In order to enhance this project, the proposed sample building and other raw materials have been carried out as mentioned in the proposed proposal of Sambhav Nepal. This project employed around 1500 locals temporarily. The project took Six and half months to complete, starting from mid March to October 2009.

Upon completion of the rooms, the number of students has been increased from 71 to 115 which is a grand success of the project. The locals have been found more concerned on English medium education as they have shown initiatives in the schooling of their children.

Last year students- 71
This year students- 115
Increased students in percentage- 61.97%
 
The project also funded one year’s supply of books and stationeries to all children. The new playgroup children have also received uniforms (2 sets each), school bags, and exercise books to begin their education.

Since the number of students has increased, the organization has made an arrangement of required teachers and staffs for the school. Presently, we have 2 male and 4 female teachers for the academic year 2009 and 2010.

According to our master plan the whole Bhairabi School project will take two more years complete for over all improvements up to Grade 3 in English medium. We will update the every progress report of the project every year.

To uplift the overall possibilities of the students and even the school, the organization has been considering deeply for establishing computer library, building biogas toilets and volunteers' room in its upcoming plans. The organization intends to module this school as a model one throughout the Gorkha district.

Allan, Richard and many Australians are involved in this project and they all are our supporters. This project has supplied the local community members with income throughout the construction of the new rooms. The people of Ratmate Village are and will always remain thankful to all our supporters who have contributed for this project.

Photos which was taken in October 2009 after Completion of the Project.

New building construction work of Bhairabi School has been completed
After urgent refurbishment works at Bharibi Primary school last year we have now begun the construction process to add two more class rooms at Bhairabi Primary school. The work was started on the 25th March 2008 and it has taken three months to complete the whole process. The project employed roughly 1400 local people.

From the new project, one room is being used for the new comers (playgroup children) whereas the other new room is being used for school office. The pervious office is now being utilized as a new class room for grade three.

Upon completion of the new rooms we have been able to accommodate a further 24 more children in playgroup class. Last year the total number of children was 39 and now that number has increased to a total number of 71 children.

The project also funded one year’s supply of pens, pencils and writing books to all children. The new playgroup children also received uniforms (2 sets each), school bags, and exercise books to begin their education.

As the number of school students has grown we have employed two more teachers from May 2008, now there are four teachers, (1 male and 3 female).

Allan, Richard and Heidi have provided the financial support from Sydney to complete this project. This project has supplied the local community members with income throughout the construction of the new rooms. The people of Ratmate Village will always remain thankful to all our supporters who contribute for this project.
 
You can see some photos of the projects below: For more photos please click here.

Replacement of old building urgently needed
The old Bhairabi School building is very damaged and now rather unstable. We now plan to re-build this old building, also changing the direction of the old building to match the new one. This will allow additional space for a children’s playground. If we can arrange to have the walls rendered in cement plaster inside and outside of new and old building this will ensure both buildings last longer.  A school compound will is required to protect the school from animals.

Please donate to rebuild old building, your gift reaches the Ratmate village and helps the children most in need.

You can see the condition of the old building from the photo below:

Urgent refurbishment works are complete at Bhairabi School.
Prem is the only one from his home village that comes into contact with many foreign people from outside Nepal through his Travel and Trekking Business. Therefore he has set about using those contacts from people that have shown interest and who want to contribute and make a difference, ensuring that the next generation of children have a better opportunity to make something of themselves and fulfil their education and career dreams. Rather than returning to the fields.

Allan Waldon trekked to Everest Base Camp in April 2006 with 2 other Australian along with Prem Khatri as the Nepalese Trekking Guide and his team of porters, Alan hasn't forgotten what he saw along the way. Seeing the Nepalese children faces and the constant struggle made him want to do something. On return to Australia he realized how privileged the Australian children are with modern facilities, quality education and clean clothes that are sometimes taken for granted in the western worlds.

Allan and Prem remain in constant contact and established that there was an urgent need for school renovations along with many other basic requirements, with the long term view of significantly improving the neglected remote communities of Arupokhari and Ratmate.

Allan has been able to seek support with sausage sizzles from his Eastern Road Quality Meats Butcher store along with the added help from Wahroonga and Pymble public schools, base in Sydney. With this support they have been able to employee local people while providing a new tin roof as the old one was ire-repairable and continually leaked. New wooden support frames were also added to ensure its stability and safety.

Allan has also been able to supply enough funds to provide desks for both classes.

Prem and Kathleen made a personal donation which supplied the school of class 1 and 2 with enough text books and stationary to last them for one year.

As the existing water supply is contaminated with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, we have been able to install the Ratmate Village with a new water supply system which provides a constant stream of clean water to over 3 villages which in-habits more than 600 people along with the advantage of many access points.

The immediate building and structural repairs have been complete, which has saved the school from being demolished. Now the children have desks to sit at rather than the floor.

This will allow us enough timing to establish and build the new English Medium Primary school, with a many more facilities to promote and facilitate a modern learning environment.

School Snags built
Allan Waldon owns Eastern Road Quality Meats at Turramurra in New South Wales Australia. He established that there was an immediate need for school renovations along with many other basic requirements. Alan donated sausages from his Eastern Rd Quality Meats Butcher store for sausage sizzles along with the added help from Wahroonga and Pymble public schools, he has raised more than $8000 for renovations to Shree Bhairabi Primary School.

Allan's new efforts is to seek further support to establish the first English Medium school for Ratmate Village Area which will benefit around 9 villages and 250 children each year.

See the attached Hornsby News paper article, published on

Thursday 18th of October 2007

Click here for Newspaper article in PDF format

Kathleen's Story
Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp in November 2006 (her very first trekking trip) with a group of 10 other Australians along with Prem Khatri as the Nepalese Trekking Guide and his team of porters, Kathleen was completely mesmerised by the local people and the heart felt generosity that she experienced while stepping inside and observing the local Nepalese culture and lifestyle, for Kathleen it felt like coming home, they truly made her feel like one of the family. Throughout the trekking route and while sharing many stories and experiences along with getting to understand and witness the raw Nepalese culture, she was and still is completely captivated. With no real hiking experience behind her, she now has a new found respect.

Upon arriving back in Australia she knew that this trip had changed her life forever. With an immense desire to return to Nepal, little did she know, this would confirm and highlight the significant impact that Nepal has, in her life.

Kathleen wanted her next trip to be far different to the first; she wanted to get away from the general trekking routes and explore the real Nepal and participate in life as the locals do, with the outlook of social and charity work in mind.

Back in Australia Kathleen told all her family no Christmas presents this year as she planned to use that money and take gifts to Nepal for the less fortunate children and provide them with a Christmas that they have never had, nor would they forget. Prem allowed Kathleen the opportunity to be the first white women (second western person) to ever step into his home village of Ratmate. The local village people were fascinated to see her, as she was with them. No-one in the village knew that she was visiting it was a complete surprise.

After observing the school roof renovations that were taking place at the local Bhairabi School and taking in the local surroundings, Kathleen begin to hand the two classes of Bhairabi Primary with exercise books, pencil cases, pens, pencils, coloured pencils, for each of the sixty students. Kathleen also provide the boys soccer team of 16 with new shoes, socks, along with four brand new soccer balls, pumps and needles to ensure that nothing could deflate the happiness. The boys club performed an amazing game with their new gear. Also providing a volley ball set for the local community children, upon night fall Kathleen handed out sparklers and glow sticks which no-one had ever seen before.

The local boys club and women's committee set up and performed a number of traditional dances as well as a comedy show. It was a rear and fascinating experience Kathleen was stunned to see such immense gratification from people she had never met before.

Arriving in Nepal for the second time confirmed that this was home and the place the she was destine to be. Kathleen now lives and works from both countries (Nepal and Australia), from where Prem and her run Ace the Himalaya, Ace Express and Sambhav Nepal.

Kathleen has since returned to the village with Prem and they provide the students with enough Pens, pencils, and exercise books to last a full year.

"My long term goal and commitment is to one day see the Arupokhari Area transformed, through Education, Health and Community Development. If they had the facilities many take for granted in the western countries, the economical status of Nepal would be very different. For me Nepal is now and always will be home, it has been a life changing experience in so many ways. Now I have the motivation to achieve anything in life, it's amazing that one country could change someone so much, now its my turn to give something back!