Reaching To Rural Poor

SAME International and WE show how construction of a school building helps to bring about positive changes in remote parts of the country

By KESHAB POUDEL, Mahottari

From small children to elders and from women to men, the villagers of Dhungri Village Development Committee (VDC) of Mahottari district, 300 kilometers east of capital Kathmandu, have reasons to rejoice as construction of a new school building has opened an opportunity to acquire primary education in their own localities.

Leaders of SAME and WE : Coming together for good cause

With the support from Women in Environment (WE) and Japan-based International Volunteer organization called SAME, the dream of Dhungri village has come true. Situated 15 kilometers north of Bardibas in Chure Hill region, Dhungri’s children had to walk about five kilometers of road built in dense tropical forest to get to their school.

Year after year, the villagers of this remote village knocked the doors of different government offices, elected representatives and other organizations demanding the construction of school building nearby their village so that they can send their children to school. But, all their efforts went in vain.

Finally, Women in Environment, an NGO, accepted the challenge to open the school building. With the request from WE, a Japanese NGO, SAME International Volunteer organization agreed to construct a school building for Dhungri Primary School.

Working with WE, SAME has already constructed a number of school buildings in Nepal through the individual contribution of Japanese people. The credit of constructing school building goes to Toshiko Ariizumi, president of SAME, who has been encouraging individual Japanese to contribute in building schools in remote parts of Nepal. With the initiative of Toshiko, 83-years-old Eiko Miyazawa, acting director of the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum Foundation, agreed to provide financial assistance to school building.

Dhungre Village, which has a population of about 2000, has many deficiencies including the lack of supply of drinking water, electricity and health posts but the rural population there considered the construction of school building as their main priority.

“The education enlightens our children so as the society. The construction of this building will open the minds of more than one thousand children in this area,” said Dhan Bahadur Syangbe, outgoing chairman of Maisthan Village Development Committee of Mahottari District. With the low income and high illiteracy, the school building encourages children to join school.

In the past, one had to walk for more than an hour to reach middle school and majority of children, particularly, girls dropped out following the completion of primary level school. “We are now in a position to include classes up to eight,” said Dal Bahadur Thapa Magar, primary school teacher at the school. “The new school building is a light in our community.”

This is not a first school building in the district. With the personal contribution from Japanese, WE have already constructed nine school buildings in the remote parts of Mahottari district.

“Education is one of the basic components for the improvement of livelihood of poor rural community. Along with health posts, drinking water project, education is also key to our program,” said Kamala Dhungel, president of WE. “We are very grateful to International Volunteer SAME and its president Toshiko Ariizumi for her support.”

Chandika Basnet, 17, the first girl to pass School Leaving Certificate (SLC) from Dhungre, expresses happiness that other children will not have to worry now about passing through dense forest to reach schools in other villages.

“This three-room school building will bring a change in the education status of our village. At least girls will have opportunity to complete the middle class at their own village,” said Basnet, who discontinued her education after SLC because of lack of higher secondary schools in nearby area.

Although the village is just about 15 kilometer north of East-West high way, it is still economically backward with high prevalence of Malaria as the village was settled following clearance of forest two decades ago.

“This is one of the backward villages in terms of literacy and basic infrastructure. The construction of new school rooms will bring a lot of change,” said Nirmal Ghimire, acting chief of District Education Office.

Experiences have shown that education is key to bring the social and economic transformation. The construction of new school building in Dhungre is an example for change.

Impressed by the enthusiasm of local community who came to welcome a dozen of Japanese visitors, Minehaha, a popular singer known as an angel of Japan, also agreed to contribute something to the rural poor. “I have realized that our small contribution can bring substantial change in the rural parts of Nepal,” said Minehaha.

“I Will Continue To Involve In Helping Education Sector In Nepal”

- EIKO MIYAZAWA

EIKO MIYAZAWA , 82, a Japanese national, recently visited Nepal to attend inaugural function of school building in Mahottari district where she contributed to build a school building. Eiko, acting director of the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum Foundation, spoke to SPOTLIGHT about her experience in Nepal.

How was your experience of visiting rural parts of Nepal?

This is a very nice place as people are kind. Don’t you see such a large number of people have come to welcome us? I had not imagined that my small contribution would have such major implications. Although I am old, I wish to come to visit next time. I would like to thank Toshiko Ariizumi, president of International Volunteer SAME, for giving me an opportunity to donate a small amount of money to build school building.

How do you see Nepal?

We also live near Fuji Mountain in Japan. Our place is also like yours. I cannot explain the beauty of Nepal in words. I will never forget the warmth shown by people here. During my weeklong stay in Nepal, I found this place as completely peaceful and quite. I have not seen any sense of violence in the face of people, as they are innocent.

In what way will you associate with Nepal in future?

I want to continue to involve in Nepal in the education sector. I think education is key to bring change in society. As our children in developed world cannot think that people can live without electricity, running water and other infrastructures and the children in this remote parts of the country cannot think that our life is so mechanical. If we start an exchange program, it will help a lot to understand about living in developed and developing world. I think Japanese and Nepalese student can learn a lot of things by sharing their own experiences.

At a time when there is global publicity regarding deteriorating law and order situation of Nepal, why did you decide to visit this remote part of Nepal?

There are many more dangerous places in the world than Nepal. No country is safe now. All the countries have their own problems. After visiting this village, I can say now that Nepal is peaceful and safe.

“We Are Going To Have More Programs”

- TOSHIKO ARIIZUMI

TOSHIKO ARIIZUMI , president of International Volunteer SAME, Japan, has been encouraging Japanese to contribute to help the rural parts of Nepal to construct school buildings. Ariizumi spoke to SPOTLIGHT on various issues.

How do you see your visit to Nepal?

Like last time, I came here to take part in the inauguration of primary school building in Dhungre village. I am very proud to say that our small contribution is helping rural parts of Nepal to have school buildings. Like in previous times, I find Nepal as peaceful and happy place to visit.

Are you satisfied with the project implementation in Nepal through your contribution?

I feel pride to make small contribution in the area of education. We have been supporting to build schools in Nepal for quite a long time. You need to educate the people to bring transformation in society.

Do you have any more programs for next year?

We are going to implement some more programs in the district. With the support from our local partner Women in Environment and local communities, we want to build a public center for everybody. We will also contribute to build a child-care center.

What different experience you are taking from Nepal this time?

Nepalese people are friendly and they are very nice. People are hard working. Our support is just a small part to help their quest to move ahead.