Yamunadanda, Sindhupalchok
SHREE GANESH SECONDARY SCHOOL

The Sindhupalchok region was hit the hardest by the 2015 earthquakes. Most of the local schools, which were built only of mud and stone, were badly damaged or had collapsed completely. In the mountain village of Yamunadanda (at an altitude of 1,125 meters), we therefore rebuilt the Shree Ganesh Secondary School for over 200 children with the help of the villagers. A total of ten classrooms, a teachers’ room and a kindergarten room were built according to the earthquake-proof requirements of the government.

When we became aware of the school, a local NGO had already financed and built two rooms, but then the money ran out. So classes had to be held in makeshift shelters made of corrugated iron and plastic sheets, which was an intolerable condition especially because of the cold winters. In the new building, made of reinforced cement (RCC) and earth bricks, children from underprivileged ethnic groups now have access to education.

In October 2016, the foundation stone was laid together with Sabine Klotz (chairwoman of Chay Ya Austria) and Kamal Thapa (Managing Director of Chay Ya Nepal). In a big celebration together with the people of the surrounding villages, flower chains were distributed, several speeches were held, and the gods and goddesses were invoked for protection and blessing. Of course, incense sticks and mantras were not to be missed either 😉.

For the construction, cement, iron rods and bricks had to be bought and hauled up the long road. In order to achieve the greatest possible earthquake safety, the foundations were dug very deep with the help of the hardworking villagers. By April 2017, the reinforced concrete beams had been completed and the children were delighted to receive another visit from Sabine, this time with Elmar Klotz, who had made school benches and shelves for them in his spare time!

In summer 2017, the first training of the village community in making earth bricks was held. Unfortunately, heavy rains and floods prevented rapid progress: the earth was too wet to make more earth bricks, so production had to pause for a month. But the foundations of the school, as well as the ceiling of the first floor and the construction of the staircase could be finished.

Over the winter, the ceiling of the second floor could also be put in place and three training sessions on the production of “Compressed Stabilized Earth Bricks” (CSEB) could be held. Over one third of the CSEB bricks (over 5,000) were produced and dried. Training for the construction of the walls with CSEB was also held by Build Up Nepal, so that the raising of the walls on the lower floor could begin. Nevertheless, there were further delays due to the vehement floods (35 out of 75 districts were affected!) and also due to the first regional elections in 18 years.

Nevertheless, by June 2018 the first floor with four freshly painted classrooms was handed over to the children, who were beaming at the opening. Another 7,500 earth bricks were also ready to go, allowing construction of the first floor walls to proceed quickly. On the second floor, two more rooms were built from lightweight prefabricated elements and both Sristi Silwal (chairwoman Chay Ya Nepal) and Sabine Klotz (chairwoman Chay Ya Austria) were able to be present at the ceremonial opening in May 2019. We are so happy for the 250 children and their families!