In a heartwarming display of solidarity and support, GKS Alumni Nepal and the Society of Nepalese Students in Korea (SONSIK) have successfully distributed school bags to students in the Jajarkot district, severely impacted by the devastating earthquake on November 2, 2023. What began as a fund collection campaign in December 2023 culminated in the joyous distribution of these bags to the children of Janasakti Primary School, Junichande-4, Jajarkot. This initiative benefitted around 145 students, inspiring them to pursue their education with renewed enthusiasm.
GKS Alumni Nepal is a group of students who graduated from Korea with the prestigious Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), which was established in 2023. SONSIK, a well-established association of Nepalese students studying in Korea for over a decade, joined hands with GKS Alumni Nepal to make this noble cause a reality.
The spark for this remarkable event was ignited by Dr. Ramakanta Lamichhane, President of GKS Alumni Nepal and Assistant Professor at Kathmandu University. He proposed the idea of supporting the students to the board members, who eagerly embraced the challenge of collecting funds and identifying students in need. The plan was to gather contributions from GKS alumni both within Nepal and abroad.
They reached out to SONSIK for additional financial support, which was readily offered upon reviewing the detailed plans.
The next step was identifying a school that urgently needed assistance. Dr. Lamichhane suggested contacting the Chief District Officer (CDO) of Jajarkot for guidance. After persistent efforts, they finally succeeded in contacting the CDO, who recommended Janasakti Primary School, one of the schools in Jajarkot that was significantly damaged by the earthquake. With around 150 students from classes 1 to 5, the school was in dire need of help. The board members decided that providing school bags would be the most impactful way to support the students.
Funds gradually accumulated in our account sent by various members of GKS alumni Nepal. Dr. Lamichhane shared that, their approach to SONSIK for financial support really turned into a fruitful achievement. SONSIK has a history of helping Nepalese community schools every year since long time through various educational supplements and materials needed for students. As our objective matched with their yearly plan, SONSIK president Mr. Meghnath Poudel on behalf of SONSKI agreed to support the humanitarian work of GKS Alumni Nepal. SONSIK succeeded in collecting around 75 % of the total funds needed for the project. GKS Alumni Nepal used the funds to purchase the bags and arrange transportation from Kathmandu to Jajarkot. A total of 145 bags were distributed.
The school’s principal, Mr. Dilli Bahadur Khadka played a crucial role by providing student information and organizing transportation. The bags were sent by bus from Kathmandu to Surkhet, where Mr. Khadka received them and took them to the school. The distribution event was held on the school premises, which had several cracks in the walls, forcing students to study in a temporary bamboo shed.
Mr. Khadka expressed profound gratitude for the support from GKS Alumni Nepal and SONSIK. The new school bags brought smiles to the students' faces and boosted their enthusiasm to attend school. This heartening initiative is a testament to the power of community and the unwavering commitment to education, even in the face of adversity.
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