International Student Conservation Programme 2001-2000.

KEEP has already successfully completed the international school conservation programmes undertaken over the past three years. Here are reports of the following projects undertaken by the respective school. Click on the year to view report.

International School Conservation Programme 2001.

International School Conservation Programme 2000.

International School Conservation Programme 2001.

"The four-day work that the students of Crick Howell High School of (Wales) U.K did at Kalika Saran High School; Jarsingh Pauwa, had been the life of their experience. The blisters they got during this work had been the result of the most arduous work in their life, which they took as the gift of life. For they knew that these sufferings are the token of their help towards the development of the community of the country, that they care so much.

Under the theme of KEEP's "International School Conservation Programme 2001" and with the aim of studying the rich Nepalese cultural, environmental diversity, the seven different groups of World Challenge Expedition (U.K) representing different schools of United Kingdom took part in the cultural exchange programme through Environmental Conservation, Community Development and International Youth Integration activities. Every year, the "International School Conservation Programme, 2001", held under the KEEP auspices falls in the monsoon season during which the students in addition to their expedition to different mountainous region, spends some of their time helping the needy community of the country they visit. In order to carry out these programme each student had to do a year long preparation, the most time of which was spent on fund raising activities, while some even earned money through part time jobs.

This year the schools such as Auchmuty High School (Scotland), Bury Grammar School (Manchester), Pimlico School (London) and Crickhowell High School (Wales) took part in different community development programme held at Kalika Saran High School of Jarsinghpauwa (Sankhu) of Kathmandu Area. The programmme included digging of the foundation of the community toilet and safety tank, painting of the school buildings, environmental awareness programme, interaction programme, tree plantation, gardening and the landscaping of the school premises. Similarly, schools like Cardiff High School, Mill Hill School and Aylesbury Grammar School took part in the cultural heritage conservation programme such as toilet construction, painting and cleaning of the monastery (Gumba), school painting, tree plantation and landscaping of the school premises, in Shermathang and Kakani area of Helambu Region.

At the end of each programme, a memorable cultural programmes were presented by the local students as well as the International Students-the highlight of which were the drama based on the fairy tale stories, pantomime and the typical Welsch dance. The programme was chaired and attended by various important dignitaries such as Mr. Govind Pokharel, chief journalist, Mr. Dhatri Subedi, assistant chief editor - Gorakhapatra, Mr.P.T.Sherpa "Kerung",Executive Director-KEEP.The entire members of the School were given a tremendous welcome and farewell ceremony during which they were presented with huge garlands of flowers, Khada blessed with traditional auspicious "Tika".

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International School Conservation Programme 2000.

'Youth are the Future':
Student programmes have become an important component of KEEP's outreach activities. More and more groups from abroad want to 'do something' for Nepal, its culture and environment. Working in association with World Challenge Expeditions (UK), KEEP's versatile Amit Manandhar has organised these highly successful school projects for two years now.

The 2000 programme has been ambitious, with four school programmes running in July and one in August. Students have learned about life in Nepal at first hand, working and staying in small valley villages far from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu city. In early July, 15 students from Newcastle Royal Grammar School worked at Shree Rastriya High School at Indrayani, Shanku, in the Kathmandu Valley. They taught English and helped to clean up and paint the school.

In addition to the cultural exchange programme, art competitions were also held. In Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, two groups of students - 10 from James Allen Girls School and 18 from Dulwich College - worked at two schools in a Conservation Education programme. They cleaned up the schools and the Changu Narayan temple site, painted school doors and windows, and dug trenches to provide the school with drinking water. In addition, they played games with the pupils and arranged art competitions.

Then in late July, 14 students from Stonyhurst College arrived to carry on the good work in Indrayani, Shanku, with education awareness activities, teaching, school clean-up and school path work, classroom paving and painting and cultural exchange.The August programme involved 15 students from Torquay Grammar School working in the Shanku temple area. Based at Indrayani village, they worked at building a retaining wall and at tree planting, as well as being able to experience three Hindu festivals at first hand.

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PRESS COVERAGE

Nor has all this activity gone unnoticed by the media. The Sunday Despatch (Kathmandu) is one of several newspapers that took an interest in the programme. A few excerpts from its lengthy report on the work in Changu Narayan: 'They painted a school, laid drinking water pipes, planted paddy, dug sewers and also danced with the Nepalese kids… The students were based at Changu Narayan village. For the majority of them, coming from a city like London to a village in Nepal was a completely new experience, something which was beyond their imagination…They found the people and their willingness to offer help most impressive. But they think the traffic in Kathmandu is scary' . The Sunday Despatch quoted one of the volunteers as saying: 'I missed TV, the mobile, hamburgers and other comforts, but it is a great experience.'

'A great experience' - yes, indeed! And as the word spreads, we can expect to see more and more young people participating in KEEP's International Student Conservation Programme.

Check our new School Programme Gallery, as well as our special section on longer-term Volunteering.