International School Conservation Programme 2002.
Introduction:
In association with Peregrine Adventures,Australia, KEEP organized its first International School Conservation Programme of this year on March 30, 2002. This one-day programme was conducted in cooperation with Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC). Eleven students along with five teachers from Geelong College, Australia, eleven students from Bal Sewa School (eco club), Jhochhen and ten students from a local community club, ‘Machapucha Club’ participated in this programme. The programme was excellently coordinated by the Programme Officer of KEEP- Miss Anu Kumari Lama.
History:
In the early ages of Nepal’s history, Bahals or Courtyards have been a central place to carry out religious and socio-cultural activities. First seen in the early Malla era, more than 1,200 years ago, these Bahals were constructed in the middle of the housing community with a main Stupa in the centre surrounded by Chaityas or smaller temples at its periphery. Location: Located in the central part of the Kathmandu City, Musum Bahal is one of the 18 famous Bahals of Kathmandu. This Bahal constructed in the Lichhivi Era, is a conglomeration of four historic Bahals or Courtyards. They are known by the name the Barenani - the largest courtyard, Lyaku nani, Ma Phal-Cha and the Bhalenani. The historic significance of this Musum Bahal is that it has a famous Well - the Bhara Barshe Inar, which was constructed with the consent of the then Malla King - King Pratap Malla in 775 B.S. This well is cleaned once every twelve years, with prior seven days of continuous religious and spiritual offerings and prayer. It is also believed that when the country is struck by a serious drought and the consequent famine, this very Well is cleaned to please the God of rain, Indra to bestow the land with the rain shower.
Programme: 
On
the day of the Programme the students and their Leaders from Geelong
College were given a warm welcome by the Executive Director of KEEP
Mr.P.T.Sherpa “Kerung”. They were then briefed about KEEP, its activities
and of the Programme Schedules by the Programme Officer of KEEP.The
students were then taken to Bal Sewa School at Jhochhen and then to
the Musum Bahal. After their arrival at the Bahal, the Machapucha Club
- a local community club (formed with help of KMC) organized a traditional
welcome ceremony to the their guest students from Australia and Jhochhen.
After the completion of all formalities of introduction with the local
community group and the school students, the division of all the students
into three groups took place for the effective coordination of the programme.
The task for the day was divided among these three groups.With
four smaller courtyards to be cleaned, the groups all seemed in a jovial
mood for work.
Once
the group division was complete, they gathered their tools and set out
to work. Each group took a courtyard leaving the largest courtyard,
Barenahi for later on. As the work progressed the cultural barrier and
shyness that were present amongst the students, all ended with each
member of the group giving helping hands to their friends. The members
of each group distributed the task of cleaning the temple, painting
the community building (pati), oiling the statues and sweeping the perimeter
of the stupas and the entire courtyard. There was huge participation
from the local community which clearly indicated the impact that our
programme had on them. These international students helped to provide
inspiration as well as awareness to the local community to clean their
surrounding. By one o’clock the students had completed their given tasks
and were quite tired and hungry. The lunch break provided the students
a time to rest and get to know each other very well. During this period
the international students were given a taste of Nepali culture by the
dance and songs presented to them by Machapucha Club. After an hour
of lunch break, the students ended there entertaining rest with each
group again organizing themselves for their last clean up programme.
By three, everything was cleaned and furnished.
Closing Ceremony:
The closing ceremony was organized in Shanker Hotel, at Lazimpat. The ceremonial speeches were given by Mr. Bijay Shakya, Coordinator of Children and Environment Programme (KMC), Mr. Krishna Bhakta Manandhar, Principal of Bal Sewa School, and Leonie Brown, the Team Leader of Geelong College, Australia. Mr. PT Sherpa “Kerung”, the Executive Director of KEEP gave away the certificates along with the vote of thanks to all the participants involved, for their time and effort in making this programme a huge success.