TIKAPUR, May 10:  By collecting money through the social media, 13 youths have built a concrete building for a learning center at a settlement of former bonded laborers in Lamkichuha Municipality-1 of Tikapur.

The building constructed was started in October 2018 and was handed over to the community on May 4 after completion. The youths united under an NGO named Creative Nepal handed over the new building named Namuna Study Home to a five-member committee formed to manage the learning center. The committee is headed by Maituram Chaudhary of Badghar.
 

The building has a study room, a library, office room and a meeting hall. There also is a temple of Saraswati, the goddess of learning and wisdom, and a garden. 

Among many donors, Madanraj Kathayat who lives in the US, had provided Rs 100,000 for the construction of the temple in memory of his late mother. Til Kumar Gurung who currently lives in the United Kingdom contributed Rs 134, 588, which is the largest single donation.

Janak Sunar, chairperson of the NGO, informed Republica that the building alone cost more than Rs 1.1 million. The locals had also donated half the amount that was collected from social media and provided free labor. The youths decided to construct the building after they saw a local Sudama Chaudhary taking tuition classes for students of Kamaiya settlement under the shade of a tree by charging just Re 1 per student per month.  

The youths then launched a campaign on social media after which Nepalis living inside and outside of the country offered support. 

“We didn’t personally visited people seeking donation. We did it all through Facebook,” said Chairperson Sunar. However, the building still lacks a toilet, drinking water and electricity 
among others. The youths said they will collect more donations for the remaining work.

Currently, some 74 children study at the learning center. Also those who do not go to school come and study here.

 
• youth
 
• Kamaiya
 
• construct
 
• settlement