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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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.