OUTREACH: How First Steps Himalaya Is Rebuilding Quake-Proof Nepal Schools

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Almost universally, education is recognized as a tool of empowerment, through which poor communities can forge a brighter future. In Nepal, a country which in 2015 suffered one of the past decade’s most destructive natural disasters, education is seen as one of the most important investments in the new generation – and New Zealand child education charity, First Steps Himalaya, is playing a critical role.

Of course, poverty has many strands, with employment, sustainable agriculture and food production, and health all part of the problem. But a sound basis from which communities can lift themselves above the poverty line.

And while an investment in schools, classrooms and books are important, First Steps Himalaya also focuses on the standard of education by training local teachers in modern teaching techniques, and particularly in early learning techniques, to give their student children the best start – a positive first step.

Who are First Steps Himalaya?

Founded in 2009, First Steps Himalaya established a single childhood center with a mere 3 students to teach. But its vision was (and still is) to tackle its major issues regarding early education in rural Nepal, and developing a framework for a better system.

First Steps Himalaya

First Steps Himalaya

Education in rural Nepal struggles to meet modern demands, but with so many young girls becoming young brides and then young mothers, there is a vicious cycle that holds the youth back. Many of these young women have no knowledge of modern parenting and how important a role early education plays in the development of children, so the general concept of child development is non-existent.

Almost every school in rural Nepal has insufficient resources and students often have to sit on the muddy floors with teachers who are improperly trained and. The fallout from that situation is that teachers often lack motivation, which ultimately results in a high percentage of teacher absenteeism and low-calibre teaching.

Now, just over 6 years later, First Steps Himalaya operates 23 early learning centers and primary schools, serving over 700 students every year. Its projects are based in rural hill villages approximately 3 hours drive east of Kathmandu, in Sindhupalchok District.

EarthBags and Education

The earthquakes that struck Nepal in April and May 2015, brought much of the progress made in rural areas to a sudden stop.  Some 3,400 people were killed, with 95% of buildings and 90% of schools destroyed.

But First Steps Himalaya had only just completed the construction of a unique education and training center 5 days before the first earthquake. Constructed of earth bags instead of concrete blocks, the building withstood the destruction, and was the only one of the schools to survive.

Spurred on by this fact, First Steps Himalaya is now involved in a dedicated project to promote earthbags as the building material when rebuilding the schools. It is, after all, is eco-friendly and has been proven to be disaster-resilient

The Earthbag Rebuild Project aims to rebuild the destroyed schools, but not just that.

  • Promote Earthbag building methods as a safe, sustainable long-term building solution for schools and houses
  • Provide earthquake resilient high-quality Earthbag school buildings using a modular approach that can easily be scaled up
  • Provide on the job training on professional Earthbag construction methods
  • Provide easy to follow guidelines for Earthbag construction

 

As part of the promotional initiative, the first Earthbag Building Summit was held in Kathmandu in September 2015, attracting people from all walks of life. The second summit is planned for September 2016. To register your interest in Earthbag Rebuild Summit 2016, contact First Steps Himalaya us at admin@firststepshimalaya.org.

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To find out more about First Steps Himalaya and the work they do, check out their MyCharityMap Profile Page.

If you are interested in Volunteering with First Steps Himalaya, visit their official website

To read how First Steps Himalaya is part of an educational revolution in Nepal fuelled by the growth in Voluntourism, read our report on MyTravelsMap.

 

Image:The First Steps Himalaya team builds a school using earthbags instead of concrete blocks. Photo from  FirstStepsHimalaya.org. Published through Creative Commons.

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