Development Partner Visit, 2022

30th October- 4th November 2022

Namaste Nepal | Kathmandu

Welcoming Namaste Nepal S-GmbH team at Tribhuvan Int’l Airport

Every year, Namaste Nepal development partners come to Nepal to visit the project schools. But unfortunately due to covid-19 breakdown for two years our development partner couldn’t visit Nepal. This year on 16th Oct, 2022 Namaste Nepal S-GmbH, Freiberg team arrived in Nepal. Likewise, on 19th Oct 2022 and 20th Oct 2022, Bato Schulerfirma and Namaste Nepal S-AG Buchen team arrived in Nepal. For the first two days, there was a sightseeing and city tour program in Kathmandu to visit world heritage sites of Kathmandu such as Pashupatinath Temple, Boudha, and Swayambhunath. Then the entire team went to the Langtang trek.

Day 1: On 30th October 2022 our development partner headed to Sindhupalchok to visit and observe the ongoing projects of Namaste Nepal. On the first day at Sindhupalchok, the entire team hiked from Borderland Resort to Gati village. The Gati villagers warmly welcomed the development partners with traditional music and offered tika, flower garlands, and Khadas. Similarly, the Namaste Nepal S-AG Buchen team was also cordially welcomed at Dandakateri village. The whole village was very happy with the arrival of the development partners.

Welcoming the guest at Gati and Dandakateri village

Day 2 (31st Oct 2022)

Providing a letter of honor to the Project Coordinator of Namaste Nepal S-GmbH

A formal welcome program was organized at Shree Kalidevi Secondary School (SKSS) where Namaste Nepal S-GmbH, Namaste Nepal S-AG Buchen, and the Bato Schulerfirma team were invited as special guests. Similarly, the chief guest of the program was the project coordinator of Namaste Nepal S-GmbH, Freiberg Mr. Steffen, and the former Mayor of Barhabise Municipality Mr. Nimphunjo Sherpa. The entire guest was welcomed with Khadas and flowers. The students of Shree Kalidevi Basic School performed a beautiful welcome dance. In the program, a letter of honor was provided to Steffen, Dagmar, and Elisa (Student president). Mr. Steffen also gave a short speech in the program. In his speech, he expressed his happiness of being able to visit the project area this year and he hoped to meet everyone next year too. He also requested the local government to focus on and understand our project activities and goals and work together to provide quality education in the village. Then the grade 1-3 students performed a group dance and everyone loved it. Similarly, for the first time, students of Shree Kalidevi Secondary School came up with a group song performance and a drama with the aim to raise awareness of violence against women in Nepal.

Stage performances by development partners and students of SKSS

Meanwhile, the NNF team also kept a stall to sell Mo: Mo (dumplings) and sandwiches made by themselves in the program. Likewise, the SEE passed-out students were also given a token of love from Namaste Nepal and wished every student for a better future. As well as three students were provided scholarships to help them to study further. This scholarship is provided in remembrance of the Late Samir Shrestha scholarship who was one of the bright students of Shree Kalidevi Secondary School. Though this project began in 2016; Namaste Nepal included this project in the yearly project plan from the year 2020 to help the needy and deserving students. The first scholarship was given to the topper of the SEE batch 2022 named Anish Tamang, the general scholarship was provided to Amrit Bahadur Tamang, and the reserved scholarship was provided to Sangmu Tamang. Lastly, the ending speech was given by the SMC chairperson of Shree Kali Devi Basic School Mr. Bikram Shrestha. After the program ended the entire guests were presented with a science exhibition prepared by the students and teacher of the school. The entire work prepared by the students during the science exhibition was very impressive.

Day 3 (1st Nov 2022)

Welcome program at Shree Setidevi Basic School

On the third day of the development partner's arrival at Sindhupalchok, Shree Setidevi Basic School organized a formal welcome program. The chief guest was the Mayor of Barhabise municipality Mr. Bal Krishna Basnet. And the entire guest from Germany was the special guest in the program. The children performed the welcome dance on a song sung by themselves. Likewise, the NNF, NNB, and Bato Schulerfirma team also showed their dance performances in the welcome program. The honorable Mayor of Barhabise municipality Mr. Bal Krishna Basnet in his short speech thanked the German team for building schools in Sindhupalchok district and contributing to the quality education in the village. Mr.Jurgen from Namaste Nepal S-AG Buchen also expressed his gratitude for the homestay at Dandakateri village and he informed everyone that the Buchen group shall support the betterment of education at Shree Setidevi Basic School from the year 2023 onward. Meanwhile, the organizer team made the guest play hot potato games and the winner was given a gift. The game was enjoyable to the viewer as well as to the player.

Dance performance by Namaste Nepal S-AG Buchen team

Day 4 (2nd Nov 2022)

Namaste Nepal S-AG Buchen team at Shree Balhit Basic School, Sotang

On the fourth day of stay at Sindhupalchok, Namaste Nepal S-GmbH, Namaste Nepal S-AG Buchen, and Bato Schulerfirma went to visit the entire project schools of Namaste Nepal. Namaste Nepal S-AG Buchen team hiked from Dandakateri to Sotang to visit a project school named Shree Balhit Basic School. There the NNB team distributed T-shirts to the school students and handed over a few educational and playing materials to the headmaster of the school. And then the team spent time with the children of Shree Balhit Basic School by playing games, drawing pictures, and singing rhymes. Similarly, Namaste Nepal S-GmbH and Bato Schulerfirma went to Mandra Kindergarten, Shree Gorakhnath Basic School, and then lastly Shree Balhit Basic School for the project site visit. In every School, the School management committee, teachers, and students heartily welcomed all the guests during the site visit and observation in every school. In the evening after being on a project school visit, Namaste Nepal held a meeting with the Gati youth club where the youth members confirmed that they shall take responsibility of the coffee project at Gati. Later everyone enjoyed their night dancing along with the villagers.

A group picture was taken during a visit to Sotang and Mandra

Formal welcome program at Shree Gorakhnath Basic School

Day 5 (3rd Nov 2022)

On the fifth day, the Namaste Nepal S-AG Buchen team was given farewell from Dandakateri village. The team was thankful for the warm welcome and good hospitality during their stay at the village. With the promise to be back next year, the team went to Gati village for one night stay. On the way, the NNB team went to see the Fangfunge waterfall; one of the beautiful tourist destinations at Gati village. At Gati, Mr. Ramdash Shrestha, one of the villagers of Gati helped in arranging homestay for the Namaste Nepal S-AG Buchen team.

A group picture with the teachers of Shree Setidevi Basic School

In the evening Mr Raj Gyawali(NN General Secretary) conducted a reflection session with NNF, NNB, and Bato Schulerfirma. During the reflection session, some of the students shared their views and experiences while spending time at School and Kindergarten. They felt the kids in Nepal and Germany are different in view that the Nepali kids are self-dependent from a very early age for example: Going to Montessori and returning back home alone. The German students were touched by the handmade gift they received at the homestay. Likewise, Dagmar also added, she is very happy to see the Gati youth club members young and understand the English language pretty well. The Gati youth club also gifted T-shirts with the picture of the flag of Nepal and Germany as friendship symbols to the entire guest from Germany. Since it was the last day at Gati village for the entire guest, after dinner everyone danced together with the villagers till late night.

Briefing and Reflection Session by Mr. Raj Gyawali

Group picture with Gati Youth Club

Day 6 (4th Nov 2022)

Farewell Program at Gati village

Early morning after breakfast, everyone packed up their bags and got ready for a farewell from the village. During the farewell, the older member of the village put on a tika and gave a blessing to all the guests from Germany. The president of Namaste Nepal Kathmandu, Mr.Mohan Lal Shrestha presented a farewell song for the group at the time of farewell. Everyone enjoyed his singing. The entire guests were happy to take along good memories with themselves of the time they have spent with the villagers, teachers, and students of the project area.

Welcome program in project school at Kasheri and Singarche

After farewell from the Gati village, NNF, NNB, Bato Schulerfirma, and NNK team together walked to Boderland resort. Then a group was divided to visit the remaining project schools. Few went to visit Shree Khada Devi Basic School, Shree Singarche Basic School, and Shree Deepjyoti Basic School. Every school welcomed the guests with flower garlands and Khadas. On the same day, a few students from Namaste Nepal S-GmbH, Namaste Nepal S-AG Buchen, and the Bato Schulerfirma team went for Canyoning which was supported by Gati youth club members. It was an adventurous moment for everyone who participated in canyoning.

Canyoning at Mandani Waterfall

On 5th Nov, 2022 NNF, NNB and Bato Schulerfirma were back to Kathmandu. On our way back to Kathmandu the mayor of Barahbise municipality thanked everyone for their effort in providing funds for the development of education in Sindhupalchok district. And at last, he wished everyone a safe flight and promised to work together for the betterment of education in the project area. The next day in the evening, the NNB group flew back to Germany. And Bato Schulerfirma and NNF flew back to their country on 7th Nov 2022.