A new earthquake-resilient school building in Purano Duwar in Nepal, which received a grant from the Isle of Man Government, has opened.
The new building at Shree Jaya Devi Secondary School now provides a safe, stable learning environment for 119 students.
This follows the significant damage caused by the 2021 earthquake and subsequent tremors.
Government Grant
The school in Nepal received a grant through the Isle of Man Government International Development Small Grant scheme.
The opening ceremony drew more than 200 attendees, students, families, teachers, and local leaders, who gathered to celebrate the occasion with traditional music, dance.
Headteacher Mr Shyam Prasad Sapkota said that Pahar Trust Nepal (PTN) “recognised the problems of the school and responded quickly”.
He added that the school and community are “very thankful to PTN for providing a safe, beautiful, and high-quality school building”.
In an interview Mr Sapkota remembered the difficulties of teaching in the damaged school and added: “If Pahar Trust Nepal hadn’t helped us build the school here, there’d be a lot of uncertainties regarding the future of these children.
“We’d be forced to continue classes undertaking huge risks, without knowing what the future holds.”
