Inspiring story of educating children in earthquake-ravaged Nepal sets template for fighting social concerns
An inspiring story from Nepal, shared at the 4th Global Education & Skills Forum (GESF) by Dr. Tshering Lama, Country Director of Childreach Nepal, defines the power of education to bring transformative change to an entire community, also motivating them to fight child trafficking and promote better health care.
'Can you teach me?' That concern by two children to the volunteers of Childreach Nepal was the beginning point of a remarkable trip that today sets the design template for promoting rural education, particularly in natural disaster-prone nations.
After the disastrous earthquake in Nepal last year, the instant concern of Childreach Nepal was to guarantee that its motorbike volunteers reach as many people as possible if only to bring hope, said Dr. Tshering Lama.
"While we distributed food and relief products, our 'moving moment ' was the question by the 2 kids," stated Dr. Lama. With almost 1 million children influenced by the earthquake, a considerable number of them in rural communities still out of school or going to bare school structures, Childreach Nepal chose to contain them the gift of education.
Dr. Lama connected to Japan, which has prototypes of earth-quake resistant structures, to develop finding out centres that were "better than the centers that existed." Starting with just one school, Childreach Nepal has built 3 schools with 20 class, all in one of the worst-affected districts of Sindhupalchok. Offered the situation, children have actually been taught 5 'survival abilities' which are important when it pertains to education - computer training, English language studies, first aid, presentation skills and management skills.
He said that the schools also provide health care facilities, which is accessible for the senior in the villages. Adult literacy classes have also started with the schools now serving as neighborhood development hubs that also handle the threat of child trafficking that was widespread after the catastrophe.
Dr. Lama stated that the effort has actually acquired great assistance from various quarters. However, what remains is the huge task of offering primary education to thousands more. Making sure that children go to schools, he said, has a bigger social purpose: It assists deal with the social issues of child marriage, trafficking and child labour.
"With education, there is 80 percent less chance of children being susceptible to human trafficking," he said.
Childreach Nepal is now on course to constructing 100 schools that can host over 6,000 students. One school of 2 classrooms costs about US$ 20,000 with the products utilized consisting of fire-resistant cement fibreboard walls with plywood insulation. "These schools, therefore, likewise act as safe shelters for the neighborhood," stated Dr. Lama.
GESF is convened by the Varkey Foundation and held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
With partners including UNESCO, Harvard Graduate School of Education and Dubai Cares, GESF features intense arguments on fixing up the relevance, quality and inclusiveness of both public and private learning environments. GESF 2016 will culminate on Sunday March 13 with the live announcement of the 2nd annual award of the United States $1 million Global Teacher Prize.
