Who we are and how it all started

Some years ago, we, the people of a rural community in the heart of Nepal, put our efforts together to build our own community school; a school which could provide better education to our children. Now, more than 5 years later, we can look back upon a very successful project. We have gone from a Nepali medium government school (with all the typical problems ) to an English medium school for some 200 children. A case in point are our preschool children: we have gone from a group of toddlers sitting in an abandoned hen-house to a real nursery class room filled with many toys and playthings staffed by a very dedicated team: a success for which we have been congratulated by the District Office of Education. We have also set up a library room with both Nepali and English language books for the children aged 7-14.

Furthermore, through the remarkable contribution of the Maya Foundation , we have been able to install both waterworks and electricity in the school building. All our teachers have been trained in English language, in creative teaching methods, in First Aid. Our school playgrounds have been enriched with swings, a slide and a TT-board. Our village has seen the launching of a small workshop in which we ourselves create the educational materials that our children need to have a full learning experience.

The focus on non-cognitive skills does not mean that our children are out of tune with other children attending conventional schools. Quite to the contrary, our children frequently win prizes in contests and quizzes during regional interschool events, even when private schools are competing.

At this point in time, many people in the community are very happy, and maybe even a little bit proud, with the result that has been attained, and rightfully so. They consider it mission accomplished and their attention is turning away from the school and towards their homes, their families and their private lives. However, out of this community came forth a small group of people with the desire to firmly anchor this achievement and to reproduce it elsewhere for other children to benefit. These nine people, under the guidance of Rene Voss, founded the REDC and today work hard to materialize a dream, a dream every child has a right to, a dream of a proper education where a child is stimulated to grow towards adulthood but at the same time allowed to be a child, a dream of love and peace.

Today, the time has come to tell our story to the world and to share our success with the teachers and parents but most of all with the children of the schools around us.

(from left to right and rear to front) Resham Adhikari, Lok Raj Adhikari, Bhumi Raj Adhikari. Geeta Adhikari, Jamuna Bhandari, Shoba Devi Adhikari. Dilmaya Adhikari, Saraswati Adhikari, Dilmaya Adhikari. Chairman: Lok Raj Adhikari Secretary: Dilmaya Adhikari Treasurer: Bhumi Raj Adhikari