Kathmandu, 20 september 2022

Online Bahas

The official handover ceremony of the new school building for Shree Jalpa Devi Basic School, located in Makalu Barun Rural Municipality, mountainous village in the Sankhuwasabha district was held on 16 September 2022. The school building construction was supported by the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) Nepal with financial support from the late Ms. Stella Park and Shema Foundation through the Korea Hope Foundation. The local implementing partner was NPO Volunteer Social Service. The school has been renamed Shree Jalpa Devi Stella Park School in honor of Ms. Stella Park's contribution. 

It was unbelievable to each member of this project to accept the fact that the main donor Ms. Stella Park, who had been supporting the project ever since its initiation passed away just a few days before the inauguration ceremony of the new building. It was an irony that the funeral took place on the same day as the inauguration ceremony. It seemed as though she was living just to make this effort a tremendous success. The team in Nepal prayed for her serene and tranquil soul to rest in heaven while she was taken for her funeral service in her homeland.

 At Shree Jalpa Devi Stella Park School, Bastola village, Makalu Rural Municipality - 6 Sankhuwasabha district, the project built five rooms and one early childhood development (ECD). The handover ceremony was conducted in the presence of Mr. Narendra Kumar Rai, Ward no. 6 President, Ms. Rhie Chol Soon (Maria), the Executive Director for the Korea Hope Foundation, Mr. Jeet Bahadur Rai, the School Management Committe,  chair, and Mr. Bir Bahadur Rai, the school principal. More than 200 locals, including Mr. Leo Park, an International Program Officer for the Korea Hope Foundation. Ms. Samjhana Shahi, Finance and Admin Officer for ICA Nepal, Mr. Lakpa Nurbu Sherpa, Chair NPO VSS, and Ms Karuna Mahat, a trainer at ICA Nepal, participated in the ceremony to officially launch the school's infrastructures.

 The primary level school was established back in 1998 and now has 70 students altogether. But back in 2015, The school was severely damaged during the earthquake. Since then the primary school pupils in the village have had no proper shelter and secure space for learning. A single building made up of mud and stone had been ruined and the school administration is obliged to run the classes in the ruined building. Even a small trigger can lead to an unthinkable accident. The problem becomes worse during the rainy season and school has to stop the study. Therefore, in order for the project to be furthermore supported in compound construction, construction of swing slides, furniture, stationeries, and a teacher training program.

The project team believes that it has provided an improved learning environment for the students in Bastola Village, Sankhuwasabha.