Green Schools in Nepal: Developing Young Leaders for a Sustainable Future

Progress Report

(April - June 2015)

Submitted to

Welthungerhilfe (WHH)

Submitted by

Friends of Nature (FON) Nepal

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Summary

This report is the plain documentation of progress made between the periods of April -

June 2015. Green School Team carried out varied sort of activities within these three

months. Notables include; Study Tour, Catapult Collection, Clean up Campaigns, Teachers

Training on Environment Education and Integrated Teaching, Installation of Rain water

Harvesting model, Green Room Designing, Compost Bin installation, Celebration of World

Environment Day, School Teaching by Community Farmers and Experts etc. We have

nearly completed all sorts of planned activities in this 3 months period except Training on

use, recycle and reuse of 'local materials' and wastes due to the tragic circumstance created

by disastrous Earthquake in April and the subsequent losses we faced across the whole

country. We are deeply saddened by the loss of countless lives and massive damages of our

fellow citizens. May peace be upon the departed souls!

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STATUS REPORT

Result 1: Student learning is organized around environmental themes, concepts &

projects

Indicator Achievement

Conservation support activities

Study Tour (One unit) completed. Members of the Eco-

clubs/committees, green school teachers and staffs

took part in 5 days conservation oriented motivational

study tour.

Conservation support activities Catapult Collection (Two events) completed. Most of

the youths (aged group 8-18 yrs) have returned their

catapults and pledged to boycott their use in future.

Conservation support activities

Clean up campaigns (Two events) held at both green

schools, while placed rubbish bins plus brooms in each

class and students made aware to do regular clean ups.

Conservation support activities

Essay Competition (Four events) held at both green

schools where the students have demonstrated good

understanding and writing skills of issues related with

environment. Two events have been held in 2014.

Conservation support activities

Six events of nature painting competition were

completed altogether at both schools. Students made

paintings of landscapes, mountains, forest, ecosystem,

birds, butterflies, flowers etc.

Sport materials for the schools Handover of the sport materials (Two units) to both

schools. Sport materials include; Badminton set, Volley

ball set, Carom Board, TT Bat, Skipping Rope & so forth.

In-depth studies by senior

children supported and guided by

university students

Seven research reports from seven grantees. School

students were made familiar with environmental

research issues at Korak, methodology, equipments and

field works.

Nature field trips

Health and Sanitation Hiking (Two units) organized

with students of both green schools. Students visited

nearby water reserve tank, knew its status, toilet

availability at each household visited and other basics

of health and sanitation.

Nature field trips

Pollination Hiking (Two units) completed with students

of both schools. They learnt about what pollination is?

Importance, pollinators in the surrounding, threats and

our role.

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Teachers training on

environmental education and

integrated teaching

One training for teachers from both schools. Teachers

were educated on themes like understanding the

environment, ecological processes, human relationship

with nature, sustainable development, eco-clubs, wall

magazine preparation and so forth.

Activity 1.1 Study Tour: Green School Project carried out Study Tour with Eco-

club/committee members and teachers of Shree Rastriya Ma Vi, Swamitar and Shree

Rastriya Primary School, Chaughara, Charkilla, Korak VDC, Chitwan. The 5 days (April 11-

15, 2015) motivational tour for nature conservation followed the route from Birendranagar

- Marsyangdi Hydropower Station - Govardhan Sharma Organic Agriculture Resource

Center (GOARC) Damauli - Pokhara (Mahendra Cave, Bat Cave, Mountain museum etc.) -

IPM farmer school (Syangja) - Madan Pokhara Community Forest (Palpa) - Lumbini (Green

Youth Nepal) - Nawalparasi (Amaltari, Vulture Restaurant) to Birendranagar, Chitwan.

Interaction of the visitors with distinguished personalities in nature conservation was the

highlight of the tour along with sightseeing.

Group photograph at Madan Pokhara Community Forest

Activity 1.2 Catapult Collection: In latter half of May 2015, Green School Team initiated

catapult collection campaign at Swamitar, Kirantar and Charkilla in coordination with local

community and Green Youth of Korak VDC, Chitwan. Most of the youths (aged group 8-18

5

yrs) have returned their catapults and pledged to boycott their use in future. In return, we

provided them sport materials. In Nepal, over 25% students use catapults to kill the birds.

Catapults gathered at Kirantar, Korak-5

Activity 1.3 Clean up Campaigns: On June 5 2015, Green School Team carried out clean-up

campaign at Shree Rastriya Ma Vi, Swamitar, Korak – 9, Chitwan. About 400 students from

the school 12 teachers, and Green School staffs participated in the program. Started initially

with briefing on World Environment Day, the participants had a whale of a time in cleaning

the school premises then moved along from Gairigaun to Linechowk of Korak VDC.

Likewise, on the same day another cleanup program was held at Shree Rastriya Primary

School with 65 students, 4 teachers and others.

Clean up program at Swamitar, Korak-9

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Activity 1.4 Essay Competition: In May 2015, Green School Project had announced essay

competition at Shree Rastriya Ma Vi, Swamitar entitled ‘Earthquake’ among lower

secondary and secondary level students. While at Shree Rastriya Primary School, Charkilla,

Korak VDC students were given the topic “Experience of Earthquake". We received over 50

essays in response to the call. After evaluation, Namaraj Tamang, Rijan Chepang and

Basanti Praja came first, second and third from secondary level. In lower secondary

category, Urmila Tamang, Juni Praja and Bibek Praja were ranked first, second and third.

Finally from primary level, Buddha Bahadur Praja, Sarita Sunar and Abin Sunar came first,

second and third respectively. Back in Charkilla, Bishal Chepang, Milan Chepang and Manoj

Chepang came first, second and third respectively. The winners were awarded with prize

on June 15, 2015.

Prize hand over to essay competition winners

Activity 1.5 Nature Painting Competition: On June 11 and 12, Green School Team carried

out Nature Painting Competition at Shree Rastriya Primary School and Shree Rastriya Ma

Vi, Swamitar, Korak VDC, Chitwan. Since this was an open free style themed competition,

students made paintings of landscapes, mountains, forest, ecosystem, birds, butterflies,

flowers etc. The competition was categorized among primary, lower secondary and

secondary level. Winners were awarded with prize on June 15, 2015.

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A tenth grader doing her bits

Activity 1.6 Sport Materials Distribution: In June, Green School Project handed over sport

materials to Shree Rastriya Ma Vi, Swamitar and Shree Rastriya Primary School, Charkilla,

Korak VDC, Chitwan. Sport materials include; Badminton set, Volley ball set, Carrom Board,

TT Bat, Skipping Rope & so forth.

Handover of sport materials at Charkilla, Korak-5

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Activity 1.7 Green School Research Grant Update: All the seven research grantees have

submitted their research reports and other necessary documents. Their final (50%

payment) installment has been released.

Activity 1.8 Health and Sanitation Hiking: On June 9 & 10, 2015 Green School Team carried

out hiking under theme ‘Health and Sanitation’ to grade 7 students of Shree Rastriya Ma Vi,

Swamitar and grade 4, 5 students of Shree Rastriya Primary School, Charkilla, Korak VDC,

Chitwan. The hike was facilitated by Mr Roshan Chaudhary, Social Mobilizer, RRN Chitwan.

The Swamitar group hiked to Kali khola area of Korak VDC and visited 17 households for

group discussion about health and sanitation status. Students visited nearby water reserve

tank where the community is dependent on, found it to be safe and knew every house hold

owns a toilet. On the contrary, the Charkilla group visited around 36 households among

which eight lacked toilet and other basics of health and sanitation.

Mr Roshan Chaudhary briefing about the water reserve tank

Activity 1.9 Pollination Hiking: On June 11, 2015 Green School Team carried out hiking

under theme ‘Pollination’ to grade three students of Shree Rastriya Primary School,

Charkilla, Korak VDC, Chitwan. Started with a briefing session on what pollination is, who

are the pollinators? , their importance, threats and what we can do? , students had fun time

hiking to nearby open space and see pollinators in the surrounding area. Globally, bees are

the major pollinators along with other vertebrates: bats, monkeys, birds, rodents, squirrels

etc. Likewise, students from Grade Ten - Shree Rastriya Ma Vi, Swamitar were hiked under

‘Pollination’ theme on June 10.

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Posing for photograph during pollination hiking

Activity 1.10 Teachers training on environment education and integrated teaching: On the

latter half of June, Green School Project organized two days ‘Teachers Training on

Environment Education and Integrated Teaching’ to all the teachers of Shree Rastriya Ma

Vi, Swamitar and Shree Rastriya Primary School, Charkilla, Korak VDC, Chitwan. The

training dealt on varied themes from understanding the environment, ecological processes,

human relationship with nature, sustainable development, eco-clubs, wall magazine

preparation and so forth. Mr Bal Mukunda Pokhrel and Mr Sulav Adhikary facilitated the

training at Regional Training Centre, Birendranagar-2, Chitwan.

Group photograph at Regional Training Center, Birendranagar

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Result 2: The schools model sustainable practices in the areas of water and energy

conservation, waste management, nutrition and health and green habitat

Indicator Achievement

Workshops conducted for

designing schools and their

classrooms

Workshop (one unit) completed. Interaction with students and

teachers from the school. Views were gathered and designing

green room is on progress.

Classroom as 'Green Room' Designing of green room (one unit) is under progress at class

seven in Shree Rastriya Ma Vi, Swamitar, Korak-9, Chitwan.

Rainwater Harvesting Structure

One unit of rain water harvesting model installed at Shree

Rastriya Primary School, Charkilla, Korak-5, Chitwan. Rain water

collected from the gutter will be stored in a tank and will further

be used for school garden along side.

Rubbish pits/cemented bins

Two cemented rubbish bins installed at school. One compost bin

structured around cement rings with metal roofing was installed

at Shree Rastriya Primary School. All the bio-degradable waste

from school will now be stuffed inside the compost bin.

Design of school garden

The kitchen-cum-floral garden built few months ago was

supplemented with planting few flowers and vegetable

seedlings. Stones paved around were colored and plants were

supplied with essential vitamins, NPK and pheromone traps.

Community farmers and experts

are teaching the students about

food and farm awareness as

well as nutrients.

Two units completed at both schools. Students learnt about

agricultural practices in Korak VDC, vegetable garden, bee

keeping, bio-pesticides, organic farming, community forestry

and so forth.

Activity 2.1 Workshops conducted for designing schools and their classrooms: On May 31,

2015 Green School Team carried out workshop with class 7 students and teachers of Shree

Rastriya Ma Vi, Swamitar, Korak-9, Chitwan for developing class seven as ‘Green Room’. An

enquiry was made from the participants to design the green room and interesting

responses were collected like making the classroom less noisy from outside source,

coloring the walls and making pictures, installing ceiling fans, placing white board, one

water filter, few flower pots with plants etc.

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With Grade VII students, Mr Raju Acharya - Team Leader, Green School Project

Activity 2.2 Green room designing and renovation: The work for designing class seven as

‘Green Room’ at Shree Rastriya ma Vi, Swamitar, Korak-9 is under progress. Till now, all the

openings and crevices inside the classroom have been filled in order to reduce the external

noise. The walls of the classroom have been colored along with door and windows.

Activity 2.3 Designing and construction of rainwater harvesting structure: Back in June

2015, Green School Team installed Rain Water Harvesting model at Shree Rastriya Primary

School, Chaughara, Charkilla, Korak-5, Chitwan. Rain water collected from the gutter will be

stored in a tank and will further be used for school garden along side. In recent years, rain

water harvesting has been a boon to manage water crisis in many parts of Nepal.

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Rain water harvesting model at Charkilla school

Activity 2.4 Rubbish pits and compost bin installation: On May 2015, Green School Project

provided two cemented ring based rubbish pits at Shree Rastriya Primary School,

Charkillla, Korak-5, Chitwan. A metal sieve has been placed a feet above from the base of

each rubbish pit so as to easily incinerate waste from below. Also on June 5, we installed

our compost bin structured around cement rings with metal roofing. All the bio-degradable

waste from school will now be stuffed inside the compost bin.

Compost bin at Charkilla school

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Activity 2.5 Design of School Garden: On the month of June 2015, Green School Team along

with locals enriched the school garden built few months ago with planting few flowers and

vegetable seedlings. Stones paved around were colored and plants were supplied with

essential vitamins, NPK and pheromone traps. The unwanted weeds inside the garden were

uprooted. Now the school kids have undertaken the responsibility of weeding, watering

and overall garden.

School garden at present

Activity 2.6 School teaching by community farmers and experts: On June 26, 2015 Green

School Team hired Mr Sher Bahadur Tamang, local farmer of Korak VDC to teach school

students about food and farm awareness. Mr Tamang took class to grade seven students of

Shree Rastriya Ma Vi, Swamitar, Korak-9, Chitwan where he shared his experience and

knowledge about agricultural practices in Korak. He explained about vegetable garden, bee

keeping, bio-pesticides, organic farming, community forestry and so forth. Likewise, Mr

Sanam Singh Tamang, another local farmer took class to class four and five students at

Shree Rastriya Primary School, Charkilla on June 30, 2015.

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Mr Sher Bdr Tamang, local farmer shares his experience

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Result 3: The schools have developed effective and sustainable support structures to

leverage resources and funds

Indicator Achievement

Initiation to participate on

joint events of global interests

Celebration of World Environment Day (June 5) at Shree Rastriya

Primary School with Eco-club/committees holding various

programs; Training on bio-pesticide preparation, litter collection,

enrichment of kitchen-cum-floral garden, using compost manure

and installation of compost bin.

Volunteers from Nepal One volunteer from Nepal. Tenure (January 26 - July 25, 2015)

Radio program

Radio show called 'Green Voice'. Till now, ten episodes have been

aired.

Sharing workshop One sharing workshop about field related research have been

conducted at Regional Training Center, Birendranagar, Chitwan

Skype between Dusseldorf

kids and Charkilla students

Not Yet

Activity 3.1 World Environment Day Celebration: On June 5, Green School Team held

various activities to observe World Environment Day 2015 with Eco-club/committees and

others at Shree Rastriya Primary School, Charkilla, Korak-5, Chitwan. Eco-club/committee

members were trained on making bio-pesticide using local materials while other students

of the school, participated in collecting litters around the school and placing them in

rubbish pits. The kitchen-cum-floral garden built few months ago was supplemented with

planting few flowers and vegetable seedlings. Also, the compost manure (built three

months ago and ready to use now!) was excavated and placed around plants in the garden.

Finally, we installed our compost bin on that day.

Planting few marigolds in school garden

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Activity 3.2 Volunteer program: One local volunteer is involved at Green School Project

since tail end of January, 2015. The tenure is six months (January 26 - July 25, 2015).

Activity 3.3 Radio Program: Green Voice is a radio program on Green School Project. It

covers contemporary environmental issues, highlights views of local people from Korak

VDC, Chitwan and features activities of Green School Project. Green Voice is broadcasted by

Kalika FM 95.2 MHz on last Monday of every month (Nepali calendar) at 7:00-7:30 PM and

the program host is Ms Laxmi Paudel. Till now ten episodes have been aired.

Activity 3.4 Sharing Workshop: On May 29, Green School Project carried out sharing

workshop at the Regional Training Centre of Birendranagar, Chitwan. The theme of the

workshop was to disseminate findings of research grantees of the project who studied on

varied subjects like Disaster Risk Reduction, Drivers of Deforestation and Forest

Degradation, Local Food Culture, Herbal Medicine, Butterfly Inventory and Climate Change

& Local Adaptation. The workshop had been attended by representatives from FECOFUN,

Shanti Griha Nepal, RRN, Journalists, Teachers from two Green Schools, Eco-

club/committee members of Korak VDC and Green School staffs.

Sharing workshop at Regional Training Center, Birendranagar, Chitwan

Activity 3.4 Skype between Dusseldorf kids and Charkilla students: Email correspondence

between Mr Biraj Shrestha (Project Officer - Green School Project, Chitwan) and Ms Antje

Paulsen (WHH Germany) took place often and the Skype was scheduled before on the

month of May 2015 but it couldn’t happen due to the chaos and disturbance caused by

massive Earthquake in Nepal in the month of April and May 2015. At present, the internet

connection instability and breakdown of solar power and batter charging failures have

restricted our skyping.