They registered a non-profit organization called Grassroot Movement in Nepal (GMIN) in December 2009 in the USA. And since then, GMIN has renovated 17 classrooms of government schools in different villages of Dang in Nepal.[break]
Apart from that, GMIN has been sponsoring 15 students from different parts of the country and training and sponsoring teachers. Ambassador of GMIN, Tsering Dolkar Sherpa, said that the organization was financially helped by Nepali people staying abroad.
Children & Youth First (CYF), on the other hand, is working on educating unprivileged students and creating opportunities for extracurricular activities, according to Haushala Thapa, founder of CYF. The kids from CYF will also stage a play to the students of primary school at Sunchaur village prior to the event.
Thapa emphasizes on education that is “not about books and chewy knowledge only.”
“My school provided me with an environment where I could both learn and engage in recreational activities, and through this organization I want to put this system to other schools as well,” says Thapa.
According to her, school students should not be made to mug all the time, they should be given a free space to be creative, to be a child.
GMIN and CYF, both youth-led organizations and working for education, are joining forces to organize a fundraiser event titled “2 for Change.
” They state that the funds collected from the event will be contributed to build classrooms in a primary school at Sunchaur village in Sindhupalchowk District.
Singer Raju Lama, himself originally from Sunchaur, is teaming up with GMIN for the project.
“Classes have been conducted outside for a year, as the teachers and villagers feel that the two-storey school built 23 years ago is not safe anymore,” says Ravi Kumar, Founding Development and Public Relations Director of GMIN.
According to Thapa, the name “2 for Change” signifies the collaboration of two NGOs working towards similar goals.
“There’s been too much competition among the NGOs themselves. Through this event, we want people to know about our works and seek help from other organizations as well,’ says Thapa.
“We collaborated with CYF in a hope to inspire other organizations in Nepal to work together in order to develop Nepal,” echoed Kumar.
“We intend to renovate and strengthen the sustainable education infrastructure of all schools in Dang in the next five years. Ultimately, we intend to help improve all government schools nationwide,” says Kumar on the future plans of the organization.
As for the Sindhupalchowk project, Raju Lama and GMIN will jointly raise funds to build three new classrooms in Sunchour village primary school.
The stone school building with two floors was built 23 years ago. No cement and mud were used. Classes are now held outside as it is not safe anymore, and teachers and students fear it can collapse anytime.
“2 for change” will feature live performances by Joint Family International on June 12 at Patan Museum, Patan Durbar Square, from 5pm onwards. The cover charge is Rs. 300.
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