June 14, 2016 Nepal

Caritas Czech Republic helps to reconstruct four elementary schools in Nepal

In September 2015, the international net of charities, headed by Caritas Switzerland, has pledged to reconstruct 31 primary and secondary schools which were destroyed by an earthquake in the Nepali region of Sindhupalchok. A proposed plan for the construction of schools that can withstand natural catastrophes and are suitable for children´s needs was approved by the Ministry of Education in January 2016.

The construction of five pilot schools began in March 2016 and will be tested before the other schools are built. These are planned for October 2016. As a result of the pilot schools, the workers of Caritas Czech Republic, as well as the builders, will be better prepared for the construction of the remaining 26 schools which should be finished in the year 2017/2018.

In order to choose 5 pilot schools, it was necessary to determine whether they were first or second levels of primary or secondary school, and the number of students and teaching staff involved. It was also important to take into account the difference in the soil for the construction of the schools, as well as the altitude, terrain, transport availability in various weather conditions, the possibility of obtaining local building material, etc. The plans include the building of one-storey and two-storey buildings, as well as the reconstruction of partly-preserved or temporarily built schools.

Thanks to the financial subsidy from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Caritas Czech Republic is participating in the construction of two classrooms in Palchok school and two classrooms in Kolechaur school. The original Kolechaur primary school for 41 students and 3 teachers was completely destroyed as a result of the earthquake. The construction of a permanent primary school was started in March 2016. Its architectural plan was drawn up by the Nepal company RNDC together with the company Skat. Construction should be finished this September.

Before the earthquake, the Palchok lower secondary school was attended by 152 students. A temporary classroom has been created here as well. The construction of the permanent building was started in March 2016 and will probably be completed in December of this year.

Caritas Czech Republic is contributing 9 250 000 CZK to the school reconstruction program in Nepal. This funding was obtained from from public collections and a subsidy from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.