The Right to Education in Post-Earthquake Nepal

I am Roberto Berardi, a undergraduate student from the University of Nottingham. I will be undertaking a research internship on behalf of the Rosie May Foundation in Nepal this summer. Over there I am undertaking two major responsibilities; conducting a research report on the impact of the Rosie May Foundation school re-build since the 2015 earthquake, and creating case studies of local beneficiaries of the Rosie May Foundation.

Since the 2015 earthquake caused nationwide devastation, the Rosie May Foundation is working tirelessly alongside SAHAS Nepal to rebuild a school in Meselme, rural Nepal. It is hoped that the school rebuild, and activism by the charities in the local area will improve school attendance, address some of the barriers to education in Nepal, and provide more opportunities for people living in this area. Providing people with the opportunity to learn, empowers communities because it provides greater opportunities for the poor and socially marginalised, helping to build a more equal society in which all citizens have the chance to generate wealth. Indeed, small improvements in education in developing countries such as Nepal can do a lot to increase economic growth. Moreover, a more educated population will also be more aware of health and safety issues, as the importance of personal hygiene and modern medicine will be taught, helping to improve general well-being. In Nepal, education is also particularly important because it provides a safe environment which protects children from exploitation and abuse.

In undertaking the research report , I aim to provide recommendations for future school development, and thus improve education in Nepal. To complete my report, I will be spending 3 weeks in Nepal throughout July and August 2018, based mainly in Kathmandu province and surrounding rural areas. However, our school of focus will be located in Okhaldungha and therefore I will conduct much of our research there. In order to produce a more in depth analysis, I will compare a variety of schools throughout Nepal, visiting both public and private institutions.

In fact, partnering with a local NGO (The Group of Helping Hands SAHAS ) the Rosie May Foundation is currently proposing to;

 Rebuild a school in Meselme, a rural village

 Fund female friendly spaces as a women's empowerment project

 Develop a sustainable sanitation project for women and children

 Provide a concrete slab for the Okhaldungha community so parents can wash their children

Regarding the project itself, I am very glad to be involved Rosie May Re-build Nepal project with local NGO and helping locals in providing support for a better life. Also, rebuilding a school is a fantastic example which could be used to show the potentiality of small charities companies such as the “Rosie-May foundation”.

The “Rosie-May foundation” projects attract my attention due to their core motivations; Helping people in needs. Moreover, the “Re-build Nepal” project is located in an East-Asia country. In fact, I am sure that my year abroad in China will help me to familiarised quickly with the local environment. Finally, I will be happy to see the tangible results of charities activities in people’s lives.