For a bright future

Now everything happened so quickly, I thought to myself when I saw the two boys going to their respective classes in a good mood. Laxman in third grade and Dinesh, his older brother, three grades above him.

I feel proud and guilty at the same time. The thought plagues me from day to day, whether it was the right decision.

But let's start at the point where things started. In October 2022 I went to my village - Chandannath in search of my roots. Arrived in Chandannath, after a 16-hour drive, I didn't really have time to take a deep breath. I was greeted warmly by my family, relatives and many others. But none touched my soul more than my brother's children. Three energetic and innocent kids enjoying the day as it came. At the time there was the most important Hindu festival - Dashai. There was no school for a whole month, so I didn't have the opportunity to visit it. This should be possible later. So I took care of the children's education. In the morning I prepared the lessons and in the afternoon the children spent an hour and a half getting down to business. As a reward, we watched a film together on my laptop in the evening. But the gaps in education, especially of the oldest, worried me. So I had conversations with friends, with my parents and I informed the whole family that it would very likely happen that at least the two brothers would have to leave Jumla for a better future. But that all seemed so far because the new year begins in Nepal on April 13th, and the new school year also begins at that time. In Nepal we are already writing, according to the Vikram Sambat calendar- a former king, the year 2080.

So my parents and I considered which school would be suitable for my brother's children. Several options were considered, from the Snow Manjushree School to schools in Nepalgunj or suitable schools near Jumla. But in Nepalgunj there were no overnight accommodations. Due to Corona many hostels have been closed.

When I was recently in Jumla with my parents, we looked at the current school and went to class with them. We met with the director and there might be the possibility of turning it into a partner school in Germany, maybe as future idea. But the biggest problem was the number of students in relation to the existing teachers. 600 students, crowded together in classrooms that are too small. In the class that my mom and I accompanied, there were 51 students in one classroom. The lessons are ok, but like everywhere in Nepal, the teachers lack of the didactic teaching methods to design appropriate and more practical lessons. They ultimately lack the 6 years of study that German teachers have behind them. In Germany there have a study teaching program over 6 six years. Only then are you a full-fledged teacher and accordingly well paid. In Nepal the teachers get not this opportunity, because there is no teaching study program. Furthermore, many lessons are cancelled in this school at chandannath, due to hard winter and bad conditions.

After much considerations and many discussions, we decided on a school in Kathmandu. The Bidhya Sagar English Boarding School. Many thanks to the donations for the two boys. The money for this school year has been paid in full and I would like to thank everyone for that. Thank you also for the future support for the coming school years. After two years it is planned that the sister from Dinesh and Laxman will also come to this school. I've been volunteering at this school since November and I have a good relationship with the principal, the teachers and the didis in the hostel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z_Z-VavQUo

The two boys have been there for a few weeks and feel at home. They have already found a few friends. You hold on bravely and yet there are situations where emotions boil over and tears flow. Me and my nephew sometimes get at each other's hair when there are certain things that I doesn't have unlimited money in my pocket. I just wanted to make it clear to him at that moment that "money doesn't grow on trees" so that he understands the value of money. Then Dinesh gave me the books and said "they'll be also yours too." There was an emotional outburst when he tells me that he feels pressured and nothing new comes into his head. I put my arm around him and comforted him and said that he shouldn't put any pressure on himself and that even if you fall, it's not that bad. Because whether you get up again and keep fighting makes the difference. In such moments I start to ponder because I feel very responsible for both of them and yet I know that it was the right decision. At this school they have every opportunity, there is good food every day, excursions, sensible lessons, friends and much more.

For a good and successful future you two - love you!