Likhu is a village more than a five hours walk away from Kathmandu, Nepal. In the village live mainly farmers. Not long ago, a sandy path was built for trucks and are therefore now connected to the outside world. That makes it easier to have a school building built.

The government's school in the village was founded in 1962 and is called The Shree Rayaman Chapp Lower Secondary School. It exists out of six classrooms. Three classrooms are still from when the school was initially setup and three have recently been created but have never been finished. Corrugated iron roofs have blown off on various occasions and there are also no windows in the framing. The Nepalese government pay the nine teacher's salaries but do not invest in either the buildings or the school materials. The consequence being that the `richer` children end up going to the boarding schools in Kathmandu. The children from the poorer families unfortunately stay behind. The school has 250 students whereby 100 are girls.

The school is from the age of 6 till 14 years of age. This is why the school is called a secondary school. It is actually a combination between a primary school and lower section of a secondary school. The school is missing the necessary classrooms and materials for the two highest classes. The students are not able to take their exams. The closest school where they could take their exams is a 2,5 hour walk away. Many parents therefore take their children (especially girls) from school before they get to take their exams.

Many parents can't afford the school fees, that is why the charity `Friends of the Rajan Memorial school` (RMIS) has been set up to support these parents so their children can get a good education. The charity has also supported the project with 2/3rds of the total amount needed. They are putting a lot of effort in this project to make sure that the the schoolbuliding is improved and expanded. We wish to support this great project setup by RMIS and supported and approved by De Wilde Ganzen organsation.

Website RMIS; http://www.freewebs.com/rmibs/

Every year, Wilde Ganzen supports 350-500 new projects all over the world. Wilde Ganzen only supports projects through the so called ‘Dutch partners’. Dutch partners are, for example, schools and foundations in the Netherlands that raise funds for a development project. These partners are also known as private initiatives. Each project requires a private initiative in the Netherlands that makes an effort to raise the necessary funds for the project. Wilde Ganzen increases the funds raised by adding a Bonus of 55% to the result of the campaign, after which the project can be executed. Through their donation, endowment or inheritance, the donors enable Wilde Ganzen to support hundreds of campaigns year after year.

Between 2001 and 2011 an amount of 150.000 euro's has already been collected to support the RMIS charity. This also due to the support of De Wilde ganzen. The school expanded from 59 to 800 students and has the best exam results in the Balaju region. They are also financially independant.

The objective is: to support this project alongside the charirty RMIS, De Wilde ganzen, creating new classrooms and a complete school together with the Likhu community so that the children from the poorer families can get a chance for a good education and the possibility to take their exams. With this prospect have more opportunities in life ahead.

Fact File:
Amount of students: Likhu 700/Gorkha 4000

To be able to support a government school, you initially need all the dedication from the schoolboard it self and that of the Nepalese government. The District Education Office in Nuwakot has given permission for all the renovations and constructions planned with a further extension of teaching.

The objective is to build a two storey schoolbuilding with fourteen classrooms, earthquake safe and with good sanitation facilities. The schoolboard has had a drawing and an estimate created. Two old buildings will be demolished to create space for the playground. Three existing classrooms will be intergrated within the new building. These classrooms are already being used but are in bad condition and are in real need of repair.

There is 38.000 euro's needed in total for the project. This to make the ground ready to build on and for materials like cement and iron which have to come from Kathmandu.

The costs stay relatively low due to the fact that the ground needed does not have to be bought but has been donated by Mr Syam Bahadur Thapa (83). He was mayor of Likhu in the 1970's.

Shanta is a Nepalees lady who was adopted and grew up in the Netherlands. She too is one of the main supporters of this project with her father.

The budget also includes less wood and hourly rates as the local inhabitants of Likhu have offered to donate wood themselves from their own land for the construction of the windows. They also wish to help with the construction.

If we succeed in providing the school with good and safe classrooms then what will also be needed of course are tables, chairs, stools, blackboards and - for the extra classrooms-teachers.

In the Gorkha area, 7 school buildings have been built with water supply and toilets. We support the build of these schools so they will be earthquake proof. Unfortunately these school buildings have been renovated before the earthquake hit the area which was one of the worst hit areas in the whole of Nepal. For more information see the latest news.