isak's projectnepal: eq relief through health and ...€¦ · web viewisak’s projectnepal...

Introduction

Projects

Timeline and Challenges

Financial Details

Future Plans

Students holding an ISAK placard in Baasdol,V.D.C, Kavre, Nepal. July 2015

ISAK’s ProjectNEPALReport #1December 2015

Contents:

IntroductionISAK’s ProjectNEPAL was started two days after the devastating earthquake in Nepal on April 25, 2015. In the wake of this calamity, the students of the International School of Asia, Karuizawa (ISAK) decided to undertake a fundraising project to help the victims and families whose lives had been put into turmoil because of the earthquake. For a day or two after the earthquake, we couldn’t help but worry and do nothing else, but because of the resources and facilities ISAK has provided, after that, we decided we could help our home country with the help of the people at ISAK.

Initially, we did not have a very colossal aim, and all we wished to achieve was to raise some money, send it back to Nepal to the group we were in contact with so the earthquake victims could be provided with immediate relief supplies. However, our aim and goal transformed and escalated dramatically after our conversation with Mrs. Lin Kobayashi, our school founder. She encouraged us to aim higher and bigger. Around the same time, we were in the middle of our Spring Project Week, during which, we learned about aiming high and having a ‘Big Hairy Audacious Goal’, or a goal that may be impossible to achieve, but still motivates us to attain it. This provided us with all the confidence, reassurance and fortitude we needed to start something of tremendous responsibility and commitment for the first time in our lives.

Our project started out with two main goals: Short Term Goal : To provide help in rural areas in Nepal because the urban areas were already

receiving adequate help and relief services whereas many of the rural areas, which had been rendered inaccessible by the earthquake were relatively neglected.

Long Term Goal : To help restore affected rural areas around the country with special focus on educational institutions and world heritage sites. (As our project expanded and developed, our team decided to focus more on educational institutions on the basis of what is most important to us. World Heritage Sites were already under reconstruction and were having more than adequate international coverage and support.)

While all the changes mentioned above haven’t been as prominent, our goals did morph in response to the needs we evaluated from our interviews with experts and local members of the community and onsite observation that some members of our team conducted. There were several challenges we faced during and after our fundraising, which delayed the use of our funds for our initial aspired goals in the desired time. Nevertheless, we still were able to achieve our aspirations, all things considered.

ISAK’s Project nepal: REPORT 1 2

ProjectsSince the inception of the project six months ago, we have accomplished a lot with the tremendous help from our donors, supporters and advisors. We have accomplished projects and the projects we are currently working on.

Phase 1: Accomplished ProjectsTo date we have fully or partially helped other volunteer groups and accomplished the following:

13 Temporary Learning Centers – We worked with Let’s Build Schools Campaign (www.letsbuildschools.org), a campaign run by a Member of Parliament based in Kathmandu to build Six temporary learning centers for children to study in after their school buildings were destroyed by the earthquake in rural areas around Kathmandu, including Sindhupalchok district.

BEFORE AFTER

Contributions to Free Medical Camps – We worked with a volunteer earthquake relief group, Phulping EQ Relief Project, and individual monks to distribute medicinal supplies in Tsum Valley, Gorkha (one of the most remote areas in Nepal) and Sindhupalchok. We donated funds to buy medicines thrice, and in each case, the medicine was distributed at free medical camps in the above mentioned locations. We also bought special supplies for pregnant women and newborn babies.


Rebuilding Kitchen in Monastery – Although we initially hadn’t thought of helping victims or institutions outside Nepal, when a monastery in Darjeeling, India, whose kitchen had been destroyed because of the earthquake, approached us, we re-evaluated our focus, as we wanted to help earthquake victims in general, not focus our aid anywhere. Therefore, we donated money to them to help rebuild their kitchen, which would support around 100 monks.

Phase 2: Ongoing Projects Health Post – This is one of the first and one of the most major projects we have undertaken so far.

A health post is a healthcare centre that is similar to a clinic, and is common in villages in Nepal, as they cannot afford to maintain a hospital.

Why?The existing health post in Phulphingkatti, Sindhupalchok, was destroyed. The district SIndhupalchok was the worst hit from the recent earthquake. The devastation wrought by the earthquake was further aggravated by the floods and landslides that followed soon afterwards. During our summer in Nepal, we met with a local member of the Phulpingkati VDC of Sindhupalchok, who was already taking


initiative to help the people in his village and discussed our plans; thus we agreed to fund the building costs for the new building which will be earthquake resistant.

Akin to many of the villages in Nepal, Phulpingkati also rests on a hill far from the luxury of modern health care and facilities. Phulpingkati is a village development committee consisting of more than 10 villages. To get to the nearest health post, the locals must travel through treacherous trails. Therefore, a few years back, a health post was built in a hub of this many villages, so that all villagers could have access. Also, the hub village, Narayanthan is the only place that actually has road access, though a highly treacherous one. But the health post that once stood there was destroyed and hence we decided to rebuild the health post but better and more capable than before.

How are the villagers faring now?Currently, we have a temporary medical tent up and a health worker hired to meet the current needs of the villagers.

One of our member’s (Karma) mother

We have already received the full construction plan, however, due to road blockades and continuing landslides the construction was delayed. Nevertheless, we started our construction project despite the extremely high cost of oil. This will certainly cost more of our funds than what we previously allocated. Our contact in Nepal will calculate the extra amount spent because of the high oil prices and send us a report.


Price Details for the Health PostItem Rate Quantity Type Total

Cement 900/p 425 sacks A grade Rs. 382,500Bricks 15/p 6500 1 No. Rs. 97,500Sand 1700 20 truck ---- Rs. 34,000Rod 7900 4 Quintals 4mm Rs.47,400

7900 2 Quintals 2mm Rs.Concrete 7500 35 trucks Rs. 262,000

Total in Nepali Rupees

823,000

Total in Yen (¥) 919,482.16

Construction Images of the building of the Health Post


Before (the Previous Health Post)

Floor Plan + Planned Structure of the new Health Post


Timeline and ChallengesDate Action

27th April, 2015 Start of ISAK’s ProjectNEPAL

1st May, 2015 Launched GoFundMe

25th May, 2015 Reached our goal of CA$15000

15th June, 2015 Meeting with a local member (Mingmar Sherpa) and starting our project to rebuild a health post in Sindhupalchok

20th June, 2015 Meeting with a local member (Phurba Sherpa) and started our project to help rebuild school in Sindhupalchok

4th July, 2015 Funded and worked with Nepal EQ Relief Project to provide


medicines

15th July, 2015 Funded and started our collaboration with ‘Let’s Build Schools Campaign’

Funded rebuilding of kitchen in Dechen Choling Monastery in Darjeeling, India

26th July, 2015 Collaboration with a monk to provide medicines to a 7-Day Free Medical Camp in Tsum Valley, Gorkha (one of the most remote

areas in Nepal)

29th July, 2015 Worked together with the local member (Wangden, monk) from Sindhupalchok and bought and send medicinal supplies there

Challenges

GoFundMe – It was the first time we used a crowdfunding website and it presented a lot of challenges. After researching through a lot of other sites as well, we finally settled upon using GoFundMe because of its easy to use features. However, it had its downsides as well. To start a campaign on GoFundMe, we required a bank account in one of the following countries: UK, Australia, Canada or the United States of America, but none of us did. We overcame this by using the bank account of one of our team member’s family member who lives in Canada and is helping us with the project.

PM’s earthquake relief fund – The Prime Minister of Nepal announced any funds coming to Nepal will have to be sent through the ‘PM Relief Fund’ and then they would be allocating the funds as they deem fit. This was a huge shock to us as we had different plans for using our funds. Fortunately, this declaration was not accepted and recognised by the international community and the Nepali citizens, and it did not come to pass. Nevertheless, it did halt our progress to some degree.

Accounting – The funds donated to our project were in two different currencies, Canadian Dollars (CA$) on GoFundMe and Japanese Yen(¥) through others. The funds on GoFundMe would be managed in Canada through our team member’s family member and the funds we raised in Japan managed using the school’s bank account. To get the funds to Nepal, the money (both in CA$ and Japanese ¥) had to be exchanged into Nepali Rupees (NRs.) and then be allocated to a specific project. Because of the constant fluctuation that incurs with currency exchange rates, keeping track of how each amount has been used has proved to be a very daunting task. Currently, we are using the current exchange rate and then converting each amount we use into four currencies (US$, CA$, Japanese ¥ and NRs.). We have yet to find an efficient method for doing so. Our team will be having further ideation sessions on this and come up with a better, more efficient and coherent system of doing so.


Financial DetailsSub-Project Amount

Allocated/ spent (¥)

Working Partner in

Nepal

Description Remarks

Medicinal Supplies 26,967.26 Phulping EQ Relief Project

Medicines Phulphingkatti VDC, Sindhupalchowk Accomplished

Temporary Learning Centres

574,676.35 Let's Build Schools

Campaign

Built 6 Temporary Learning Centres (TLCs) in rural areas

of NepalAccomplished

Free Medical Camp 114,935.27 Wangchuk Rabten

Medicines to Tsum Valley, Gorkha Accomplished

Rebuilding Kitchen 45,625.49 Dechen Pema Choling

monasteryReconstruction of kitchen in a

monastery in IndiaIn progress

Medicinal Supplies 57,467.64 Wangden Sherpa (Monk)

Medicines in Phulphingkatti VDC, Sindhupalchowk Accomplished

Health Post 919,482.16 Mingmar Sherpa Re-building a health post in Phulphingkatti VDC. Ongoing

Total Fund

Raised(¥)

GoFundMe 1,858,782.27 Important Note:The donations were made to us in different currencies: Japanese, US dollar and Canadian dollar. For easier reference, we have put

the exchanged amount of all currencies in Japanese yen. The exchange rate is of 22 October, 2015.

As the currency exchange rate fluctuates periodically, we have yet to find an efficient method of keeping record that can be easily

understood and referred to. We would like to sincerely apologise for this.

Founders 1,450,000

sum 3,308,371.27

Total Amount spent (¥) 1,739,153.68

Remaining Amount (¥) 1,569,217.52


Phase 3: Next Project

Permanent School This is our most important and biggest project that we have undertaken. With the help of our contact in Nepal, we plan to build a permanent school in Narayanthan, Sindhupalchok, in place of the school that existed and was destroyed. The school that once stood was up to grade 3, but with our project, the grade will be extended until grade 5.

WHY?The reason why we are focusing on this area specifically is because of its remoteness. The parent generation of this area are all uneducated and if this school is not rebuilt soon, the current generation of youths will live the same future. From the interview with our contact person, Phurba Sherpa, also a young member of the locality, by introducing and extending and improving the quality of education, we will not only be giving education to the children of the society but changing the whole concept of education. His exact words, “By building a school and sustaining it as well will bring a revolution”.

What will the new structure look like and how will it be differentThe previous structure was made of mud and stones, but the new one will be made of concrete so

that it is not as susceptible to earthquakes. This is necessary as Nepal is an earthquake-prone country. Here too, we will be funding the construction costs, as the government has stated they would be able to provide teachers, furniture, books, etc., if the school’s infrastructure is sound.

The main problem with the previous school: Children from nomadic family cannot attend school because they have to constantly move around

with their herd of animals Students from another village needs to walk through treacherous path to get to the school and it

takes excruciatingly long hours to reach the schoolThese are the main problems our project aims to solve with our new construction.The new school will be built such that it can host and accommodate students for residential living as well. - the maximum number is 15.This way, the children of nomadic family who move around constantly with their herd and cattles and children from faraway villages are provided with equal opportunity for education. This is a long term project, not only in terms of the time it will take to construct the school, but because we plan to further support the students of that school once they finish their primary education.

The total amount required for this project is Rs. 2,986,853.53 which is approximately ¥ 3,450,674.183; however, we currently only have ¥ 1,569,217.52 remaining (after using the total funds for other projects. (See Table: financial detail). Therefore, the amount further needed for this project is ¥1,881,456.66.


Permanent school Amount Needed for the construction (¥) Current amount in possession

3,450,674.183 1,569,217.52

Extra funds needed (¥)

1,881,456.66

Here is the more detailed information for the costs needed for the construction of the school.

S.N

Work/ Materials Price (NRs)

1 E/w in excavation for Foundation 19,937.35

2 Dry Stone Soling 15,645.96

3 Stone Masonry wall in 1:6 c/s mortar 160,912.64

4 PCC work in 1:2:4 for RCC 513,717.26

5 Reinforcement work for RCC structure 2% 749331.86

6 Form Work 132,422.00

7 Brick Masonry wall in 1:4 c/s mortar 276,401.68

8 Local Hardwood work 252,793.43

9 Dry stone soling work for floor 87,885.10

10 PCC work in 1:3:6 for floor 218,860.32

11 12.5 mm thick cement plaster work 385,505.60

12 Painting Work 73,401.69

13 Collapsible gate 20,000.00

14 Electrification Work 80,038.64

Total Amount NRs. 2,986,853.53

¥ 3,450,674.183 (exchange rate of 2 Dec, 2015)


Images of the destroyed school

Sources of our funds:We had two major sources of our funding. (see table: financial detail)

ISAK founders GoFundMe

P.S: Many of the founders also donated through GoFundMe as well.

We also had donations from other sources as well such as Students from other school who took the initiative to do fundraising in their respective school Cash donations made by ISAK students, staffs and others

How are fundraising for the extra funds needed (see phase 3: Permanent school)So far we have had multiple fundraising events or people donating to our cause.

GoFundMe is still active Karuizawa winter festival Donations from individual person from the fundraising they conducted on their own

From the above activities, we have raised approximately ¥55,000.


Future PlansComing back to our vision for this project, our team now aspires to accomplish what we all postulate to be the ultimate success for our project.

Our ultimate goal is an extended version of our school building project. The school we are building will be up to primary school level (up to Grade 5). While rebuilding this primary school itself will be a huge accomplishment, we also need to think beyond that. In remote areas of Nepal, families often consider a primary education enough and stop children’s education so they can work at home or in the fields, that is, if they are fortunate enough to go to school at all. This is exacerbated by the fact that secondary and high schools are almost always in urban areas and require village students to travel a minimum of 4-6 hours by bus and can be as far away as many days walking and traveling by bus from families’ homes.

To tackle this problem, we came up with a strategy of renting (or if we have enough funds, buying) a house in Kathmandu, where there are many secondary and high schools. By doing this in Kathmandu, we will provide the primary school graduates from the school we will have built, a free residential life in Kathmandu. The place will be their home and from there they will go to different schools in the city. Their education throughout and until grade 10 will be funded either by us or sponsors who join us. And finally, we will try and find scholarships overseas for their high school education; at the very least getting one of the students to ISAK. This will provide them with the opportunity to gain more experience and knowledge. The same opportunity we have had and found invaluable.


isak's projectnepal: eq relief through health and ...€¦ · web viewisak’s projectnepal...

Documents