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!)

Peace School in Action!

School Library

Peace at Peace School!

Kids in Action!

School Bell

Nurturing Young Dreams!

Our Library

School Assembly in Action!

Sarswati Peace School Opens for Arupokhari Children!

After more than two years of dreams and hard work our school welcomed the first batch of 250 some students! At this point, we want to thank all our supporters, donors and friends from all over the world.

The Office Building

The Honorarium 

There remains a lot to be done but we did it! Our three big projects yet to be completed: a building for a computer lab, library and teachers apartments; bringing the water to the school from 165 meters from the school compound down the hill and paying 3,00,000 to the internet company.

We will post videos and photos soon.

Thank you,
Sarswati Peace School Team

Our Headmistress: Caitalin Petruccio

We have finally selected the head of Sarswati Peace School. And here is a message from the headmistress:

Dear Sarswati community: I would like to say that I am incredibly

honored to announce that I will be accepting the position of

Headmistress! I look forward to working with everyone at the Sarswati

School and am anxious to get started.   With such an amazing group of

people I know we can accomplish great things. On a personal note, I am

finishing up my work in India and will be spending May/June completing

my coursework on social conflict in Israel/Palestine. Everyone in

India has wonderful things to say about Nepal and I am ecstatic to

arrive in July!

Namaste,

Caitlin

Her Intro: 

Caitlin grew up in New Hyde Park, New York.  She went to school in Boston where she graduated from Northeastern University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Human Services.  While there she traveled throughout the Middle East studying Arabic language, culture and social conflict. She also spent time in India working with local NGOs
Caitlin has worked with children ages 3- 17 for over seven years in many different capacities.  She spent most of her summers as a camp counselor for young children and tutored inner-city students during the academic year.  She has taught subjects ranging from civic engagement to personal hygiene and sanitation.  She loves working with children, particularly in India and is incredibly excited to join the Sarswati Team in July!

Our Teachers

Dear Friends, 

I am introducing you all the very first group of our teachers. Lets welcome them to Nepal! 

Jon Catalano

Jon was born in Buffalo, New York but has seen, worked and traveled to many parts of the States, Italy and South America.  He graduated with an Engineering Science degree before moving on to studying Mathematics and Teaching through the SUNY system in New York.
With education all around him, Jon grew up in the presence of many teachers, from elementary to university level, from both side of his family. He has worked and taught with a wide range of people. Running scout programs with younger children to teaching and tutoring in high school and college.  He has also has the experience of working at elevated heights, using his skills to instruct the newer climbers.
He is delighted to becoming a part of the Sarswati Foundation and hopes to be able to continue his personal goal of helping others in the world improving their lives.



Daniel Dittrick

Daniel grew up in a small town outside of Cleveland, Ohio in the US.  After receiving his BA from Dartmouth College in Classical Languages and Literature, he went on to pursue a masters degree in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford’s Department of Peace Studies.  Originally inspired and struck by the practical power of nonviolence from a high school class titled “Gandhi, King, and Conflict
Resolution”, Daniel is excited to harness these philosophies while working at the Sarswati Peace School.
A traveler at heart, Daniel completed a cross-country bicycle trip with a non-profit group raising money and building homes across the United States.  Witnessing the effects of generosity and selflessness, he also sensed the dire need for equal opportunity in education.  After a study trip in Sri Lanka, he further realized that “peace”, as a word, can have different interpretations in each culture around the world.  For him, it was awe-inspiring to meet such passionate people who struggled for the benefit of others and who would keep struggling in face of all adversity because they knew it was the right thing to do


Catalin Petruccio
Caitlin grew up in New Hyde Park, New York.  She went to school in Boston where she graduated from Northeastern University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Human Services.  While there she traveled throughout the Middle East studying Arabic language, culture and social conflict. She also spent time in India working with local NGOs
Caitlin has worked with children ages 3- 17 for over seven years in many different capacities.  She spent most of her summers as a camp counselor for young children and tutored inner-city students during the academic year.  She has taught subjects ranging from civic engagement to personal hygiene and sanitation.  She loves working with children, particularly in India and is incredibly excited to join the Sarswati Team in July!
More updates to follow..

Nepal's Biggest National Daily Publishes OUR story!

Dear Friends,
OUR story has been published in Kantipur Saptahik, Nepal's Biggest National Weekly paper. Apologies to our friends who cannot read in Nepali.

अमेरिकादेखि आरुपोखरीसम्म

नरेन्द्र रौले

सात वर्षपछि आफ्नो जन्मथलो गोरखाको आरुपोखरी पुग्दा उनी कम खुसी थिएनन् । नहुन् पनि किन ? उनी आँखाभरि सपना,  मनभरि रहर र  उमंगहरू बोकेर अमेरिकाबाट फर्किएका थिए । आरुपोखरीमा आफूले छरेका आशाका बीउ फलाउन र फुलाउन अमेरिकाको  प्रतिष्ठित अनुसन्धान संस्थाको जागिरलाई समेत उनले बाईबाई गरे । तलब पनि लोभलाग्दो थियो, वाषिर्क ५० हजार डलर । तैपनि उनलाई  अमेरिकाले मोहनी लगाउन सकेन ।

उनले आफ्नो पुरानो विगत सम्झिरहेका थिए । १४ वर्षअघि आरुपोखरीको दरबार माविमा चार कक्षामा  अध्ययनरत हुँदा पेसाले इन्जिनियर  अंकल चूडामणि घिमिरेले काठमाडौँबाट खबर पठाए । बूढानीलकण्ठ स्कुलले देशभरका उत्कृष्ट विद्यार्थीलाई निःशुल्क पढाउने व्यवस्था गर्दैछ ।  'परीक्षामा राम्रो गर्‍यौ भने तिमीले पनि अवसर पाउनेछौं ।' मुलुकभरका ४ हजार विद्यार्थीको परीक्षा लियो बूढानीलकण्ठ स्कुलले । सुवास  परीक्षा दिन दमौली पुगे । त्यसको केहीपछि रिजल्ट सार्वजनिक भयो । चार हजार विद्यार्थीमध्ये ३२ जना छानिए । रेडियो नेपालले बिहान र  बेलुकी ७ बजेको समाचारपछि उत्कृष्ट विद्यार्थीको नाम र ठेगाना प्रसारण गर्‍यो र सूचना दियो, 'आफ्ना अभिभावकका साथमा भर्ना हुन  बूढानीलकण्ठ आउँनु' भनेर । बुबा रविलालसँग पहिलो पटक उनी काठमाडौँ हिंडे । आरुपोखरी देखी धादिङबेसीसम्म नौ घण्टा पैदल हिंडेपछि  बल्ल गाडी चढ्न पाइयो अनि उनले देखे शहरका ठूलठूला भवन, बिजुली, गाडी, मोटर र अरू थुप्रै चीज ।

गाउँको सामान्य स्कुलबाट एक्कासि राजधानीको बूढानिलकण्ठ स्कुल पुग्दा अनौठो र गाह्रो दुवै महसुस भयोे । बिस्तारै बानी पर्दै गयो ।  पढाइमा राम्रो गर्दै गए । ५ कक्षा पढ्दा नेपालीमा ९७ र कलामा ९४ नम्बर ल्याए । 'राजा वीरेन्द्रले सम्मान दिएका थिए,' उनले सम्झँदै भने,  'एसएलसीको बोर्डमा जम्मा ६ नम्बरले परिएन ।' कक्षा ४ देखी १२ सम्म बूढानीलकण्ठमै पढेका सुवास स्नातक तहको अध्ययन गर्न अमेरिका  हान्निए । त्यहाँ त सबैलाई चकित नै पारेर देखाइदिए । मिनिसोटाको सेन्ट ओलफ विश्वविद्यालयमा अध्ययनरत विश्वभरका ७ सय १९ जना  विद्यार्थीलाई उछिन्दै सर्वोत्कृट भए । विश्वविद्यालयका प्रेसिडेन्ट डेभिड एन्डरसनले उनलाई 'डिस्टिङ्गुइस्ड सिनियर लिडरसिप एवार्ड' ले  सम्मानित गरे । अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सम्बन्ध एवं राजनीतिशास्त्रमा स्नातक उत्तीर्ण सुवासले त्यही योजना बनाएका थिए, फलस्वरूप उनले आफू  जन्मिएको गाउँ आरुपोखरीमा एउटा स्कुल खोल्नका लागि आफ्नै अध्यक्षतामा 'सरस्वती फाउन्डेसन' संस्था खोले । त्यतै बस्दा काम पनि सुरु  गरे । अन्य केही साथीले उनको काममा साथ दिए । 'क्लिन्टन ग्लोबल इनिसियटिभ युनिभर्सिटी' ले सुवासलाई 'डेभिस पिस ग्रान्ट- २०१०'  बाट सम्मान गरेपछि त थप ऊर्जा मिल्यो । सहयोगस्वरुप ६ हजार अमेरिकी डलर दिएपछि त पैसाभन्दा काम नै ठूलो रहेछ भन्ने लाग्न  थाल्यो र अन्ततः उनी स्वदेश फर्किए ।

केही साताअघि गोरखामा पाइला टेक्दा उत्तरतिरको चुरुङ र दक्षिणमा तान्द्राङ कुहिरोले ढपक्क छोपिएका थिए । यिनै दुई होचा पहाडको बीचमा छ, आरुपोखरी, जहाँ अमेरिकामा भोगिरहेको शानको जीवन त्यागेर स्वदेश फर्किएका सुवास घिमिरेले मुलुककै नमुना स्कुल स्थापना  गरेका छन् । सुवासले योजना बुनेको आरुपोखरीको सरस्वती शान्ति स्कुल मुलुककै लागि नमुना स्कुल हुनसक्छ । त्यही भएर होला,  गोरखाबजारबाट गाउँतिर गुडेका बसहरूभित्र प्रायःजसो यात्रुहरूले उक्त स्कुलका बारेमा कुरा गरिरहेका भेटिन्छन् । गाउँघरतिर पानी, पूधेरा र  चौतारीमा जम्मा भएका गाउँलेहरू पनि सरस्वती स्कुलकै बारेमा गफिइरहेका हुन्छन्  । 

Courtesy: Naren Raule, Kantipur National Daily

आरुपोखरी वरपरका स्कुलका प्राथमिक तहका कक्षाहरू प्रायः रित्ता भैसकेका छन् । अझ पोखरा, बुटवल, चितवन, काठमाडौँ आदिका बोर्डिङ  स्कुलमा पढाइरहेका अभिभावकले आफ्ना सन्तान फिर्ता ल्याइसके । कारण हो, सरस्वति शान्ति स्कुलमा आफ्ना सन्तानलाई पढाउने चाहना ।  मानिसहरू किन यति धेरै लालायित भए ? किन भने यहाँ पढाउने शिक्षकहरू अमेरिकाबाट आउँदैछन् र अध्यापनको शैली पनि अन्तभन्दा  फरक हुनेछ । 'पढाइमा अभिरुचि जगाउन चित्रकला, नाटक, अभिनय, कथा वाचन आदि शैली अपनाउनेछौँ,' सुवास भन्छन् । गरिब, जेहेन्दार  तथा सशस्त्र द्वन्द्वमा आमा बुबा गुमाएका बालबालिकाहरूले यहाँ निःशुल्क पढ्न पाउनेछन् । त्यसबाहेक अरूले भने शुल्क तिर्नुपर्नेछ । युद्धको  मनोवैज्ञानिक असर परेका, टुहुरा बालबालिकालाई पढाउने लक्ष्य लिएको बताउँछन् सुवास । घिमिरे भन्छन्, 'पालनपोषण गर्ने, हुर्काउने,  पढाउने, अभिभावक गुमेपछि कलिला बालबालिकालाइ कसले पढाइदिने ?' 'कम्तीमा २० जना राम्रा विद्यार्थी जन्मिए भने उनीहरूले देशलाई  केही योगदान देलान् ।' भर्ना आवेदन खुलेकोे एक साताभित्रै ४ सय जनाले आवेदन दिए । त्यो संख्या अझ बढेकाले भर्ना नै रोक्नुपर्‍यो ।

अबको केही महिनाभित्रै पढाइ सुरु हुने सरस्वती शान्ति स्कुलमा अमेरिकाबाट एक दर्जन शिक्षक आउँदैछन् । ती युवा शिक्षकले एक वर्षसम्म  आरुपोखरीको सरस्वती शान्ति स्कुलमा निःशुल्क पढाउनेछन् । विकासोन्मुख र द्वन्द्वबाट गुजि्ररहेको देशमा अनुभव बटुल्न ३५ जनाभन्दा बढीले  यहाँ आउन आवेदन दिएका थिए । तीमध्ये एक दर्जनलाई सुवास र उनका साथी निकोलस काङले छनोट गरेका हुन् । चाँडोभन्दा चाँडो नेपाल  आउन उत्सुक अमेरिकन शिक्षकहरू नेपाली भाषा, संस्कृति, परम्परा एवं बोलीचालीको अध्ययन गरिरहेका छन् ।

भगवानले भन्छन्  रे, 'तँ आँट म पुर्‍याउँछु ।' सुवासको सुन्दर अभियानलाई धेरैले साथ दिँदैछन् । लन्डनको इन्भेस्टमेन्टकी निर्देशक एनिया  लिचोटाले सुवासको कामबाट प्रभावित भएर १५ हजार डलर दिइसकिन् । विकासोन्मुख देशलाई सहयोग गर्दै आएको अमेरिकाको 'इपिक चे न्ज' संस्थाले पनि १२ हजार डलर प्रदान गरिसकेको छ । त्यस्तै अमेरिकामा सँगै अध्ययन गरेका साथीहरू पनि बेलाबेलामा कार्यक्रम आयो जना गरेर पैसा उठाउँछन् र सुवासलाई प्रदान गर्छन् । अमेरिका जान मरिहत्ते गर्नेले सुवासबाट धेरै कुरा सिक्न सक्छन् । उनलाइ पैसा मात्रै  कमाऊँ भन्ने लोभलालच कहिल्यै लागेन । पढ्न, बुझ्न र सिक्नका लागि मात्र अमेरिका जानुपर्छ, तर सधैँका उतै बस्न होइन भन्ने मान्यता  बोकेका छन् उनले । 'पैसा कमाउने भए यहाँ आउँथे र ?' उनले भने, 'आफू मात्र खुसी भएर भएन । आफू जन्मिएको गाउँ पनि त  बनाउनुपर्‍यो नि ।' सुवास मुस्काराउँदा पर हिमाल खुलेको थियो ।


Source: http://www.ekantipur.com/saptahik/article/?id=3774