Takha, Mugu
NEPAL RASTRIYE HOSTEL

Mugu is the most remote and least developed district of Nepal. Medical and educational infrastructure is almost non-existent and difficult to establish due to poor road conditions and many meters of altitude. About 63 % of the total population can neither read nor write, only 9 % of the women are fully literate!

The population is 80 % Bhote, a severely impoverished and marginalized Buddhist ethnic group, 12 % Hindu higher castes, and 8 % Dalits, the so-called “untouchables”.

Shree Nepal Rastriye Basic School is a type of comprehensive school located in Takha, a village in Mugum Karmarong Municipality. The school is currently attended by 299 students, of which 172 are girls and 127 boys. The children are between 6 and 14 years old, and the school offers grades 1-7. The children come from all nine districts of Mugum Karmarong municipality, many of them walk several hours a day (up to 3 hours each way) to attend classes.

Since Mugum Karmarong is difficult to access and there is hardly any infrastructure, this is the only school in the region that offers classes for older children. Next to the school building there is already a hostel for children between 9 and 14 years old. However, this dormitory is old, dark and run down, a new solution is urgently needed.

Ideally, the community would like to have two new dormitory buildings, one for boys and one for girls – but due to the remote location, the construction costs are extremely high because of the transport distances. So for the moment we have organized the funding for 4 bedrooms with 10 bunk beds each for 80 girls. Additionally, a room for supervisors will be built, plus toilets and a bathroom.

Challenge: The materials for the construction must first be transported on jeeps or small trucks, and then on the backs of people and mules.

Sustainability: 20 % of the construction costs and all follow-up costs will be covered by the community.