Nepal: The School Lunch Programme
Our journey…
In 2015, Nepal was struck with a devastating earthquake. A family friend, John, was working in Nepal as a humanitarian, providing emergency relief, when he and the Maryam Najafian Foundation joined forces. Most villages in affected areas were destroyed and many lives were lost. In a country, just healing from a recent civil war, and continuously suffering from economic and political turmoil. Entire communities across the himalayas had to start re-building. The impact on the future of young children and their education was critical.
Through community participation, we wanted to develop community-led programmes that has encouraged parents to send their children back to school, and improve their learning.
Kids from the village learning in the makeshift classroom 2 years after the earthquake. Kattike school 2017
Through a commitment of mutual respect and humility, we established a strong reciprocal relationship of trust with the Sherpa community of Kattike, a remote village high up in the Himalayas. We brainstormed ideas of how we could improve the life of the children, and their education. The villagers drew our attention to the lack of school lunches provided to the children and we discussed ideas of how to tackle that.
Public schools in Nepal do not typically provide a school meal. While at school, children often go the entire day without eating, and this affects their ability to concentrate and impacts negatively on their behaviour, and their health. This leads to an incoherent learning environment, and many families chose not to send their children to school, instead they are expected to work on the farm.
We now fund a free school meal programme where providing a nutritious daily meal for schoolchildren in the village. The programme was created in collaboration with the local sherpa community, who have been successfully running the the programme, for 3 years, completely independently.
After just a few months of the programme, it was reported that more children were attending school!
Positive changes - Kids enjoying school lunch, in front of the new school building. Kattike school, January 2020.
Impact.
Through our efforts, the local government education officer, our friend ‘Badri Tamang’, was so inspired by the initiative in Kattike, that he made the programme compulsory across all 46 pre-schools and learning centers in the district of Indrawati, Sindhupalchok.
Sustainability.
Alongside the food programme, our friend Thomas has initiated a small garden project which promotes the planting of trees, fruit and vegetables for school consumption and hopes to ensure greater ownership and sustainability for the long-term survival of the programme.
Teacher Training.
In order to enhance the quality of teaching in Kattike and surrounding communities, our friend and fantastic teacher Miss Kailey, conducted a three-day teacher training. Teachers were taught innovative methods and how to use lesson plans, as well as to encourage ‘learning through play’.
Learning Center.
By empowering and supporting the local youth, through in-situ learning initiatives, established and guided by Miss Kailey. Dolma Sherpa, Maya and Razu Tamang have taken over the running of the after-school learning centre where children and adults alike can attend English language, singing, and dancing classes, where educational methods such as ‘learning through play’ are at the heart of the practice.
Help us to continue transforming lives in Kattike, and beyond.
Contact us to find out ways you can get involved. You can also send a donation, even the smallest contributions can go a long way.