The 2024 school year at the summer school in Lhuri and the 2024/2025 winter school period in Saldang and Nyisal in Upper Dolpo were successfully completed. A total of approximately €32,000 was spent on all three schools for the education of more than 120 children, ten teachers, nine support staff, school supplies, food, transportation costs, and minor construction work in Lhuri.
All schools are located at an altitude of approximately 4,000 meters. How did the projects go?
Winter schools in Saldang and Nyisal
Upper Dolpo is snow-covered in winter, especially on the passes over 5,000 meters high. As a result, the villages are inaccessible at certain times, and most schools are closed. The Winter School Program was created in response to this gap in educational continuity and offers structured learning during the winter months. The main objectives of the Winter School Program are:
- Minimizing learning gaps during the winter holidays
- Improving literacy skills among elementary school students
- Focusing on well-being, social responsibility, and self-esteem
- Strengthening cultural preservation through language, art, and religious practices
- Promoting community participation in children’s education
The children are divided into four groups according to their grade (Nursery to Grade 6). They are taught Nepali, Tibetan, and English, mathematics, and general knowledge, supplemented by dance, singing, cultural rituals, and hygiene measures.
The learning methods used consist of activity-based learning, storytelling with a focus on reading comprehension and vocabulary, as well as interactive games and group work. Individual support is provided for students with learning difficulties.
The villagers also contribute by providing the food we purchase from them, as well as free heating material (dried dung), and other assistant work paid for by us.
80 children attended the two schools, with more than half of the children staying overnight at the two schools. The locals are very happy and grateful for this opportunity. It is important to us that the children are enthusiastic, have fun, and enjoy learning. Furthermore, the school is important for the children’s social community.
Summer school in Lhuri
Before the start of school, over 30 teachers from Dolpo attended a teacher training course (see photo at the end of the article), funded by all foreign organizations operating in the Shey Phoksundo area. All teachers found the training very helpful.
School sessions in 2024 began on April 22nd after the long winter break. The children eagerly anticipated their first day.
Our dedicated team of teachers and staff has made great efforts to create a welcoming and inclusive learning environment where every student can succeed. The students were very excited to begin the new semester in their new classrooms. All children participated in various activities such as projects, presentations, and group discussions, which encouraged teamwork and critical thinking. In addition to the curriculum, which meets Nepalese standards, sports and games are important components of the session and promote health, discipline, and teamwork. Our teachers play a central role in guiding the children through lessons, offering support, and addressing individual challenges.
However, the school year also brings some challenges, such as the expectation of positive results, effective time management, and dealing with social issues. Despite these obstacles, the school provides a supportive environment where students and teachers work together to achieve growth, learning, and development. As with the winter schools, there were social programs such as the Shey Festival, a tree-planting event, a painting competition, and hygiene measures.
A total of 21 children attended the school. The main reason for the slight decrease is the fact that we have not yet been able to offer overnight accommodations at the school. We plan to address this shortcoming in 2025 by building a kitchen and a large dormitory (see plan in the image above), and hope to increase the number of children by 2026 at the latest.