For years, WWEP has provided financial support to smaller schools to allow the hiring of special subject teachers, such as those for art, music and dance. This has allowed schools with a strict academic curriculum to include culturally inclusive subjects that encourage creative thought for the students.
Recently, WWEP has begin to provide faculty members for a newly constructed pre-school facility located in the remote hill region of Sindhupalchowk. We have found that any students attending pre-school classes prior to primary school have a marked improvement in reading and comprehension skills than students without the advance learning opportunities.
In 2017, the Sano Sansar Kindergarten facility opened and WWEP provided two faculty members for the school. However, the pre-school services became so popular with the village residents that classes quickly reached maximum capacity. Immediately, it was apparent that more rooms and faculty were required to meet the rapidly growing need. More classrooms are currently under construction to meet the demand.
After the 2015 earthquakes, rural schools facilities were challenged in so many ways. Temporary buildings were constructed but the teaching staff often left to help back in their own villages far away. Photo: Raj Bhattarai
This pre-school was built by another NGO charity but WWEP was charged with providing the faculty for the new facility. The small school, located in a remote mountain village, was found to be necessary to prepare children for class 1. Photo: Subash Shrestha
Three classrooms and an office were deemed adequate for the small pre-school. However, an unprecedented peak in interest for kindergarten classes meant that the facility was at capacity within the first week of classes. Photo: Subash Shrestha
The pre-school classrooms were built simply to keep costs down. Carpeting and low tables were all that was needed to outfit the rooms and WWEP was able to complete the task prior to the school's opening. Photo: Raj Bhattarai
As the pre-school attendance grew, five teachers and two aides were needed to accommodate the needs of the many children attending the school. Photo: Raj Bhattarai
Ultimately, after the second wing of the school was built, five classes could be held simultaneously with a limit of 18 children per class. Photo: Raj Bhattarai
At other schools, dance classes are one of the most popular subjects for the female students. WWEP provides funding for specialty teachers to come into the schools or other facilities to help with dance classes after normal school hours. Photo: Nanda Kulu
Music classes are very popular for both boys and girls in the schools. Music is a very important part of Nepali culture, yet most schools only have very limited budgets for relatively expensive instruments. Arrangements are made with local music shops to get instruments easily and WWEP supplies the funding for the instructors to come in on the weekends. Photo: Nanda Kulu
With such a high demand for space in the pre-school facility, our partners realized that adding on a second story to the school was the only practical solution. Another NGO charity paid for the expansion and WWEP will cover the costs of the added faculty for the new students. Photo: Subash Shrestha