Invest Your Heart

Our kids at peace school say it all! Let us invest our love, passion and heart into nurturing their young dreams!

Partnership with Irene Nam & Secours Populaire Francais

We are extremely proud to announce our partnership with Irene Nam and Secours Populaire Francais from France!

Irene Nam

Irene is the ablest voice and life of our work here in Nepal. Irene Nam is a photographer and writer based in Paris, France. Her images have appeared in various print and online publications and on exhibit at the Fotofest Gallery in Houston and the Impossible Project Space in New York City. A social change enthusiast, Irene works with non-profit organizations and visionary individuals to help improve the quality of life, education and the future of children around the world. She is also a contributing author for ShutterSisters.com, a global online community for women photographers, and "Expressive Photography: The Shutter Sisters Guide to Shooting from the Heart" (published by Focal press). 

Secours Populaire Francais and Sarswati Peace School are partnering to initiate photo project for 50 children at Sarswati Peace School. We believe this is just the beginning of our lasting partnership here in Nepal. Our children will capture their daily life in the village and send it to France where the photos will be exhibited throughout France. The project will aid in furthering intercultural exchange and relations between our children and the French students.

Since its creation in 1945, Secours populaire has helped people who are the victims of insecurity, poverty and natural disasters and conflicts both in France and across all continents. The SPF leads its international aid projects in partnership with local associations who are close to the people.

We hope that our partnership will further enhance existing ties between the two countries.

Birthday for a Cause!

Irene Nam's Amazing kids! Irene will be introduced later this week.

On February 19th, 2012, Sean and Will will celebrate their 10th birthday. And this year, instead of gifts, they're asking family and friends to make a donation to help bring clean water to the 200 students of Sarswati Peace School in Nepal.

100% of the money raised will be donated to Sarswati Peace School to help buy water pump, pipes and water tanks, and other materials required for the water project.

Help them make a difference! Join the party!

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Le 19 février 2012, Sean et Will fêteront leur 10ème anniversaire. Et cette année, plutôt que des cadeaux, ils ont décidé de demander à tous les membres de leur famille ainsi qu'à leurs amis de faire un don pour l'aménagement d'un accès à l'eau potable pour les 200 élèves de l'école Sarswati Peace School au Népal.

Les fonds récoltés seront intégralement reversés à la Sarswati Peace School et aideront à l'achat de pompe, tuyaux, réservoirs d'eau, et autres matériaux nécessaires pour le projet d'accès à l'eau potable.

Aidez-les à faire la différence! Cliquez sur le lien ci-dessous pour faire un don!

 

Source: http://www.irenenamphotography.com/10 

Inspire a Child-Sarswati Peace School Long-term Partnership

This week, we are announcing a series of partnerships with people and organizations from around the world. 

Inspire a Child is a non-profit initiative, which builds and renovates environmentally sustainable soccer fields and classrooms, organizes student-to-student mentorships, and promotes peace education in developing countries. It aims to encourage underprivileged children to excel both in the classroom and on the field by fostering sportsmanship and scholarship while creating a safe and sustainable environment for children in developing and impoverished regions of the world to pursue their dreams. Through partnership and collaboration with local schools and community centers, Inspire a Child seeks to create a peaceful and positive atmosphere for the entire community.

Please support the fundraising campaign to build soccer field and classrooms!

Inspire a Child: Initiative of Olivia Wong

Inspire a Child was designed in response to the surge of trafficked young soccer players in Western Africa following the 2010 World Cup. Boys as young as four with a passion for soccer and in poverty are trafficked by predatory agents who promise contracts and tryouts.  Some families even value soccer as a path to monetary success rather than schooling. Inspire a Child seeks to provide alternative opportunities to play soccer while attending school in order to bridge the gap between sport and scholarship.

Olivia Wong is founder and director of Inspire a Child. She is an undergraduate at University of California Santa Barbara and is currently an exchange student at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan as a Boren National Security Education Program scholar. Olivia serves on the Board of Directors at ReEnvision Your Future, a social-media based network of young individuals, which seeks to inspire, engage, empower, and cultivate the next generation of global change makers. In July of 2011, she was chosen as a 100,000 Strong Grantee to represent the U.S. at the Global Development Youth Summit in Beijing, China, delivered a workshop on the UN Millennium Development Goals, and volunteered in underprivileged schools across northern China and inner Mongolia. Since 2010, she has been working on Inspire a Child, an initiative she founded and is now overseeing the design and construction of a soccer field and classroom in Arupokhari-1, Gorkha, Nepal.

Makhamal-Sarswati Peace School Announce Long-term Partnership

Started in 2007, Makhamal has been providing scholarships to disadvantaged children as a part of organization’s mission of  "being a part of making a difference."

Subash Ghimire, the founder of Makhamal, has been actively involved in helping children attend school to fulfill their dreams. This work is a source of inspiration and motivation for him to move ahead in life.

Sarswati Peace School is proud to announce our partnership with Subash Ghimire and his organization, Makhamal. They have provided us with one hundred thousand rupees to help construct more classrooms at our school. We believe that this is just the beginning of our long-term engagement with the children that are in dire need of education to nurture their young dreams.

Sarswati Peace School and Makhamal Partnerhip

Makhamal is now undertaking a weeklong health project at Koseli School in Kathmandu. With the help of young doctors from Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital (NMCTH), Subhash and his team will not only teach the children at Koseli the basics of health, sanitation and sexual health, but a new deep-boring well will also be constructed. Dr. Sabi Gurung will be the lead doctor for this project from NMCTH.

Makhamal Founder, Subash Ghimire 

Born in a remote village in Sankhuwa-sava district in eastern Nepal, Subash is an Electronics and Communication Engineer, currently working at Thakral One Nepal as an engineer-Enterprise Solutions and Pre-sales (Microsoft Technologies).

We have known Subash since 2009 when he offered to volunteer at our summer camp in Arupokhari. He was the team leader conducting computer training to the students and teachers of Shree Darbar Secondary School in Arupokhari-4, Gorkha, Nepal.

P.S. Subhash Ghimire (our founder) shares the exact name with Subash Ghimire, except for the H in his first name! 

Teachers Who "Nurture Young Dreams"

Today, I want to introduce you all to our fantastic teachers! 


Chandica Lal Ghising

Headmaster

Mathematics and Science Teacher

Chandica completed his bachelor’s degree from Tribhuban University, Nepal. He comes from Ramechap district.

Chandica has more than three years of teaching experience in two schools in Kathmandu.

He joined Peace School in June 2011. Mr. Ghising was appointed the headmaster of Peace School in August 2011.

Dil Maya Dankoti

Nepali Teacher

Dil Maya completed her bachelor’s degree in education from Tribhuban University, Nepal.   She has few years of teaching experience in English medium schools in Kathmandu. Dil Maya comes from Arupokhari VDC-4, Gorkha.

She joined Peace School in July 2011.

Bikash Lama

Science, Math and English Teacher

Bikash comes from Kathmandu. He is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree from Tribhuban University.

He has few months of teaching experience.

Bikash joined Peace School in September 2011. 

Kum Tamang

Science Teacher

Kum comes from Kathmandu. He is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree from Tribhuban University, Nepal.

Kum joined Peace School in August 2011. 

Meena Sodari

Teacher: O & A levels, One

Meena is the permanent resident of Arupokhari VDC-1. She completed her bachelor’s degree from Nepal.

She has been with us since the inception of our school back in 2009. 

Nirala Thapa

Teacher: O & A levels, One

Nirala completed high school and is a resident of Arupkhari VDC-2.

She is one of the teachers teaching at grade O and A levels.

Nirala has been with us since the very beginning of Peace School back in 2009.

Punya Kafle

Math and English Teacher

Punya comes from Dolakha district. He is in the final year of his bachelor’s degree program at Tribhuban University.

He has extensive experience of teaching in English medium schools in Kathmandu and Dolakha.

Punya is the newest member of Peace School. He joined in September 2011.

Rupa Thapa Magar

Sister

Rupa is a permanent resident of Arupokhari VDC-1.

She looks after grade O and A level children.

She joined Peace School in June 2011. 

The teachers were chosen from an open competition. Exam in progress!

Peace School teachers and a helper (front row: first from left)

Computer and EduKit Classes!!!

We recently started using this program called EduKit for all levels at our school. The kids don't want to go home now!

The school chairman is teaching O-level using EduKit software!

For the first time the children are learning computer skills!

This would have been impossible dream for these children!

Thank you Lex Limbu and Deepika Tuladhar for generous contribution! You help made this happen!

Excitement!!!

Typing tutor..awww...soo reminded of my school days in this fancy school in Kathmandu! I first saw computers when I was in fourth grade at Budhanilkantha School in Nepal.

Typical Morning@ Our School!

the school surrounding 

school assembly in action!

off to classes!

teachers assist the students en route to their classes!

Connecting the Dots!

SUBMITTED BY SUBHASH GHIMIRE ON TUE, 11/01/2011 - 22:59

Let’s be honest. As a youth growing up in Nepal, it is sometimes very hard to get people – and by people I mean seniors in decision-making positions - to take you seriously. It is even more difficult to get them to listen to your ideas or acknowledge you as an important demographic, capable of more than burning tires and picketing politicians.

In the one week I spent in Washington DC, at the World Bank and IMF annual meetings, rushing madly between meetings, presentations, discussion forums and Indian restaurants, I learnt that this deep-rooted attitude is changing. And fast.

Maybe it is the Arab Spring. Maybe it is the realization that without embracing youth into the South Asian market economy, we will have made zero progress in terms of development even ten years down the line. Or maybe, it just makes sense – maybe we are finally realizing the inherent interconnectedness in our world. Realizing that one project from a little village in Nepal is directly linked to the socio-economic structure of our communities, countries and regions.

It was a pleasant surprise to us six South Asian delegates when we met senior officials from the World Bank Group and various other institutions, and they not only gave us an opportunity to share and express our opinions on youth and development issues, but they were keenly interested to work with us for the long haul. They were not only listening but also seeking ideas for collaboration and action! Every meeting we had, every discussion we were a part of, there echoed the same sense of urgency – to encompass youth in decision-making processes and working with them to accelerate development in South Asia.

I had always thought of the World Bank as unapproachable. Well, my experience was certainly different from my preconceived notions. My experience in DC was an affirmation of my faith in the power of collaboration and development. The people whom I met at the Bank were not only extremely knowledgeable and experienced, but they cared deeply and honestly about the development issues of the region. They were passionately interested in integrating and working with the youth in South Asia.And this gave me hope. Hope that, despite the politics, the conflict, the corruption, the seemingly-insurmountable challenges, we can still work together to create better lives for ourselves.

Making sense of everything

In the end, I think, it is all about connecting the dots. A school for slum children in New Delhi might be able to collaborate with a peace school in Nepal. An entrepreneur from Sri Lanka can learn from a business in Bhutan and that is exactly what we need to do. Embrace differences, celebrate similarities and above all, respect each other.

And maybe, just maybe, a South Asia free of poverty might not seem as distant a dream anymore.

Source: http://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/connecting-dots

(I was one of the six youth delegates selected from South Asia at the World Bank/IMF annual meeting in DC!)