Grass Roots Education Nepal

Join Us for A Nepali Affair -- October 1, 2011

2011-08-25T00:57:00.006-04:00

As we initiate October's month of fund raising for Grassroots Education Nepal,

we cordially invite you to join us for:

A Nepali Affair:
An evening of music, dancing,
dinner, arts and recognition
in support of the Mikey Medium English School

Saturday October 1st
6-10 PM
in the Holy Family Social Hall
Holy Family Catholic Church
826 West Central Ave.
Davidsonville, MD 21035

featuring:
A sampling of South Asian Cuisine
adult beverages available
Live and Silent Auction items
(art, catering, B&B's etc.)
Nepali Arts, Jewelry and Crafts

Pictures of the Mikey Medium English School Students

Recognition of outstanding volunteers and organizations

Tickets:
Adults: $35.00
Students: $20.00

(100% tax deductible -- Small donation accepted for dinner)
Reservations available at
grassrootseducationnepal.com
or from a GEN Board Member
or by calling 410-721-5944

You can also use your credit card or PayPal account for your donation. Simply click on the button, below:
Include in your PayPal donation your name, email address, and mailing address, and include in Payment Notes that you are contributing for tickets for "A Nepali Affair, October 1, 2011".

To contact us at any time, please email: grass.roots.education.nepal@gmail.com

Grassroots Education Nepal (GEN) is a registered 501 (C-3) charity. EIN 35-2383201 100% of your gift is tax deductible.

DOWNLOAD our "A Nepali Affair" flyer, print copies, and ask local businesses to post. Just click on:
http://annapolis-web.com/nepal/2011-Oct-1-Flyer.pdf

Recent Trip to Mikey Medium English School

2011-02-28T14:49:00.014-05:00

In February 2011, Barbara and John Church returned from a month of working at the Mikey Medium English School in Bauniyan, Far Western Nepal. Although the weather was unseasonably cold, the hospitality and enthusiastic greetings were heartwarming.

We were able to visit with Lexi Suberi, our South River High School 2010 graduate, who has been teaching at the Mikey Medium English School since October. She is thriving and the children love her. Lexi will return to Maryland in June and continue her education at the University of Maryland in the fall.

The biggest news is that the school has grown to 82 students. We have hired three new teachers and now have a teaching assistant for the youngest students. We are still serving the underprivileged and underclass within the Bauniyan Community. There are now four classrooms filled with students who are eager to learn. At this time we are not expecting to grow larger because we want to maintain small class sizes. This creates a unique learning environment within the community. To assist with this effort, we will have the preschoolers begin half day sessions during the next school year. Additionally, we expect to order high quality reading, math, social studies and science textbooks in English which should increase student engagement and learning. We have initiated a focus on additional teacher planning and training for our staff as part of our effort to not only provide for basic education but to assure a level of quality.

During our visit, Barbara was able to do several art projects with the students. They preformed in English an original play: "The Roti Man" - which is a take off of the Gingerbread Man story. The older children painted and decorated masks of animals native to Nepal. The Roti Man was chased through the jungle by the "little old woman", "little old man", a lion, a cheeta, a giraffe, an elephant, a zebra and eventually by the tiger - who ultimately gobbled him up. It was a great experience for the actors and spectators alike.
A Crofton Girl Scout Troop made sock puppets (that only speak in English) which were delivered to the children. The younger students particularly enjoyed using the puppets and acting out the local farm animals when we sang "Old Mac Donald." For children that have no toys or books, these items are a really big treat.

We will be meeting with our Board of Directors on March 22, 2011 to share information, finalize our budget, consider fund raising initiatives and refine the School Improvement Plan. We expect to have our approval of Non Profit Status by that meeting. (It was submitted in August 2010.)

Do not hesitate to contact us with ideas for supporting the Mikey Medium English School in the future. We can use your help!

NEPALI FRIENDRAISER

2010-08-23T05:33:00.009-04:00

NEPALI FRIENDRAISER
September 12, 2010, 2-5 PM
Davidsonville Elementary School
962 W Central Ave (Maryland Route 214)
Davidsonville, MD 21035

Join us for a Celebration of Nepali Culture
Learn about Mike Church's bike travel adventures and the establishment of the Mikey Medium English School in Far Western Nepal.
Wish Lexi Suberi farewell as she departs for a yearlong teaching experience at the school.
Support this school by purchasing Authentic Nepali Cuisine, Crafts and Raffle Items.
Hear Nepali music and watch traditional dancing.
Make teaching materials for the school.
AND MUCH MUCH MORE

COST: Adults $15.00 Children $10.00
100% donation- Please make checks payable to Grassroots Education Nepal

Tickets Available:

at Enchanted Art & Sole Comfort at the Annapolis Harbour Center
by calling 410-721-5944 for reservations
at the door

RESOURCES and IDEAS, by Mikey

2010-05-25T01:47:00.006-04:00

Here is a lesson plan from the PBS program Frontline. Check it out:
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/educators/se_nepal.html

-- Mikey Church

What We Learned and Where We Are Going

2010-05-24T07:59:00.004-04:00

We felt very positive and optimistic about the time we spent in Bauniyan and at our school. We went to learn what was happening and what was needed and we returned home with a real sense of direction and mission. We worked really hard with Ujjwal to produce the documents needed to register the school and also to apply for grants with NGO's both here and in Nepal. Our 10 day trip to Kathmandu was a mixture of great sight seeing and “cold calling” a number of international agencies. We were determined to tell them about the school and find out what is available to help us. Everyone that we spoke to admitted that Kailali District is one of the poorest in the country with minimal services to families. As a result of our efforts we hope to get support from Room to Read, The Woman's Foundation of Nepal, Save the Children, USAID and Nepal Children's Education Fund.

MEDIA CENTER PROPOSAL
The Rotary Club of Kathmandu (at the Radisson Hotel) warmly welcomed us and asked us to develop a proposal for a Media Center, since there is an incredible lack of learning materials in the Bauniyan. We had discussed this idea with the Parent Advisory Committee of our school before we left. Our families wanted to be able to share any media materials with members of the Bauniyan community. Since there are no libraries for any of the area schools, this endeavor could have far reaching effects. The good news is that we have an appropriate space in the lower level of Ujjwal's house to establish our Media Center. There is electricity and security. In addition to acquiring English and Nepali texts and resource materials, we would like to obtain computers.

FORMING A 501 3C
Any of these activities necessitates us forming a 501 3C – and obtaining non-profit status. On May 4, 2010, our Grassroots Education Nepal Board met and authorized John to work with Mary and Pat Morris on the documents needed to file with the IRS. Pat, who is a retired lawyer, had graciously offered his assistance in this endeavor.

SUPPORT CONTINUES FROM SCHOOLS
Barbara has continued to speaks to school groups about our trip and our school efforts. Sharing the wonderful pictures of our Nepali students using the materials provided by local school donations has been exciting and heart warming. Davidsonville Elementary, Central Middle, South River High and the Independence School (Wilmington, Delaware) have all held fund raisers to support the Mikey Medium English School. Without their help we would not be able to keep the school in operation.

SUPPORT FROM THE ANNE ARUNDEL COMMUNITY GROWS
Organizations throughout Anne Arundel County continue to show interest and support for our school. John has shared photos and tales of Nepali life with the Rotary Clubs of Parole and Towsontowne Center. The Bike Doctorand the Annapolis Bicycle Racing Team continue their support. It is pretty amazing how our local community is so willing to share their resources with a tiny village in Far Western Nepal.

(Barbara and John Church and Matt Hill visited the Mikey Medium English School in Far Western Nepal for 5 weeks in Feb. and March.)

Nepal Log #3

2010-05-23T18:57:00.001-04:00

March 20, 2010

Dear Friends and Family,

Wow. It is hard to believe that we are back in India. We are taking a much needed rest day before we head off for a 9 day exploration of the Rajasthan area, north west of Delhi. this should include a 2 + day trek in the desert on camels. Wheeeee.

We just endured a 17+ hour overnight Indian bus trip (24 hours of travel) from Bauniyan - our Nepali town- to Delhi. It was grueling and hopefully fills the "adventure before dementia" category for this week.

It is hard to reflect on our experience in Nepal. I think I need a little space, but I am almost brought to tears when I think of the many kindnesses shown to us by the people in the village. During our last week, I taught a class for about 20 teachers from the schools in the area. "5 No Cost Strategies for Increasing Student Engagement". It had to be no cost because they have nothing to teach with. I had brought some large chart paper and I had hoarded 5 pieces so that I could do the workshop. NO HANDOUTS. Several of the teachers taught English - and I was the first native speaker that they had ever met/heard.

The next afternoon< i bought some notebooks and taught several teachers - including our own - how to plan lessons for a week. Very simple format. It was a new concept.

The last afternoon, we had a "Committee" meeting with parents of the school. Many adults showed up. They were so gracious in offering their thanks and blessings. Many of the parents are VERY poor and uneducated but realize that the opportunity that their children have at our school is really special. They of course want to know when we are returning and they would b more than willing to host Americans. I told them that we would see what we could do - but did not make any promises.

On Saturday afternoon - which is sort of the holiday of the week (there is school and work on Sunday) I decided to take a walk through the market area all by myself. I wore my straw hat and my big "Paris Hilton" sun glasses _ which was nothing new. I wandered down one side of the barely paved main road and started up the next side - with many stares following me. This was nothing new. I encountered three cute 15 year old girls who spoke to me in English. I had visited every classroom in the public school a couple of weeks ago and they remembered me. We chatted a few minutes and then they invited me to sit down on a bench in front of one of their father's shop. They were shy = like all Nepali's -but managed to talk with me. I used a few of my Nepali phrases, which made them giggle. Much to my surprise we were soon surrounded - in our close personal space- by probably 30 adults of all ages staring at me. They were fascinated. I met some of the girl's relatives and friends. Then the girls asked me if I would like to visit their homes. I said "sure " and we paraded off through the back streets of the village - among the mud huts, thatched roofs, cows and dogs and goats. We gathered children like mad. Two little boys that were students at our school arrived and I took their hands and continued on with our adventure. The first courtyard was behind a shop belonged to one of the girls families. Her house, which the girls told me was "very nice" ,was probably 18-20 feet long and 15 feet wide with a well swept dirt floor. The mud cooking stove and water pump were under a thatched roof in the court yard not far from the family cow and goats. After peeking inside, our entourage - which was growing with children headed out across the rice paddies. Now that takes some balancing - especially because the two little boys did not want to let go of my hand. We moved on to a very rural compound of mud huts and the next girl's home. The family was all waiting to greet me. I stayed only a few minutes because at least 50 children had now accompanied me into the courtyard. No one but me seemed to mind. At this point it was beginning to get dark and the electricity was not working in the village, so I told the girls that I needed to get home. The whole group escorted me home, much to the amazement of Ujjwal, our host. Some of the boys even wanted to come in our house. I said no - to no avail. But luckily one of the neighbors rescued me and shooed off my remaining boy companions. It was quite a day.

Our last evening we rode on the back of motor cycles to the thatched and mud sided home of one of the teachers in our school. We were going to be guests at his mother's home ( a sort of compound) for dinner. They had killed the local chicken to feed us. The family is part of the lower caste and live a very simple existence on land that has been part of their family village for many generations. We sat on the mud floor and drank the local rice brew - which was surprisingly good. We had our chicken, a heap of family grown rice, dahl (like green pea soup) and some very spicy pickles. The family was so curious - but also gracious and generous. They were honored that we had come - but we were really the people that were honored.

There are many more stories of simple pleasures and delights to come. Thanks for your patience and prayers as we opened ourselves to a new and different life for the last 7 weeks. Take care and see you soon. Love and hugs, Barbara

Nepal Log #2

2010-05-23T18:37:00.002-04:00

Dear Friends and Family,

We are now in Kathmandu and enjoying the luxury of hot water showers and the opportunity to eat a salad - once in a while. We will be here until Wed. or Thursday (March 2) trying to find sources of support for the school. It is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The Minister of Education was just kicked out of office for accepting bribes and general incompetence. So there is no use trying to get help there. We are trying to contact Save the Children, Room to Read, UNICEF, World Vision etc. So far the Rotary here has been very helpful and will work with us. We wrote a proposal for a Media Center. We will see what happens next.

Lessons about life here and life in general keep coming - so I'll share a few insights with you.

New Lesson 1.
We can thank our lucky stars that school is mandatory in the ol USA. This came to light when John and I were visiting the public secondary school in our town last week. First we addressed the whole student body of about 1500 - Grades 5-10. I stood on top of a stool outside in a field and used my best cafeteria voice. Hardly a student moved while I spoke. Then we visited each class to answer questions. Class size ranged from about 50-100 kids packed in rooms with primitive benches and tables. Again, though shy, the questions were good and the students entranced. Many wanted to know about my white skin - thinking all Americans looked like us. They were curious about my short hair. They wanted to know the difference between American schools and Nepali schools. It was hard to know where to diplomatically begin. One thing that the children and teachers (and the principal) found interesting was that school was mandatory for boys and GIRLS. Here no one does anything without their parents sanctioning it. Many children do not attend school or have frequent absences because parents have the children work at home or in the fields instead of attending school. (Matt photographed kids harvesting marijuana instead of attending school.) It is a sad but true situation. Some of the older children at the Mikey School (ages 10-11) are no longer attending because they are working. One child is the local barber. John got a shave from him on our second day in town.

New Lesson 2.
The "empty nest" is not a parent's dream in Nepal--at least rural Nepal. I have been pitied several times because my sons do not live at home with their wives. I have tried to explain that in America, a mark of success is when your children finish school, they move out and get a job - preferably with health insurance. This doesn't compute here where families are very close knit and the new wives become part of the work force of their husband's family. Children do not leave home without their parent's blessings. Interesting perspective.

New Lesson 3.
As I have mentioned before, clean drinking water, basic sanitation and 24/7 electricity are not the norm - especially in Kathmandu. We have photos of women and children waiting patiently in line to fill jugs with water - not necessarily potable water. Today we saw the jugs lined up - no one around and no water from the spicket. Guess your jug holds your space.
Electricity in the capital is off for 10-16 hours a day. Hence getting to read and write long emails is a treat. ( I wrote a long one to you from an Internet cafe earlier and lost it when the power surged -eeekkkk) In our small town of Bauniyan the electricity is off for 3-4 hours each evening - just as the women are preparing dinner or we are trying to eat. It is unpredictable. Our head lamps have been a blessing and we are buying them for our hostesses, who end up cooking by flash light on the floor of their kitchens using small campfires.

New Lesson 4
There are advantages of not being able to speak the language. It is amazing how unstressful I have found it not to eavesdrop, be part of disagreements, or carry on a banter. Ujjwal has been wonderful at keeping us in the loop on important stuff - and otherwise I feel quite safe and content. This has allowed me to relax and to be very observant. A real treat.

New Lesson 5
If you are out in the jungle searching for a rhino or wild boar, it is best to be riding an elephant. We boarded our very own elephant last week in Chitawan National Park at 6:45 AM and headed into the jungle. We sat on top in a wooden "playpen" thing with our legs dangling over the sides of the elephant. When an elephant senses a big critter nearby HE sorta of quivers. This is very noticeable from the top vantage point. Sure enough, shortly we encountered our first rhino. The rhino is scared of the elephant - thank goodness - so it stands very still and looks at us (silly people on top). Great for photos. We did this several times on our morning ride. Meanwhile the jungle was beautiful in the morning light - when you were not dodging monkeys or vines.

New Lesson 6
Human beings, and particularly Nepalese, are remarkably resilient. Despite the hardships of life here, they are a consistently upbeat and patient people. They are predictably friendly, helpful and curious. It is easy to want to help them help themselves. The many NGO volunteers that we have met confirm these observations. They also confirm that improvements in life here needs to come from the Nepali grassroots level - in order to be sustaining. This is why we are proud of the efforts of Ujjwal and his brother Bal who had a vision and worked, personally, to make it happen. The support of our many friends in the Annapolis area is making a difference and we are very proud to represent you to the people of Nepal.

Please continue to check out the blog. We met the Mikey Medium English School Steering Committee (which I am proud to say included a woman and a father of 4 girls at our school) and formulated a Mission Statement, Code of Conduct and proposal for a Media Center which will be posted on the blog. So stay tuned. I'll try to send some more pictures of the kids etc soon.

Thanks for your many kind and supportive thoughts - and your prayers. Hugs and love to you all, Barbara

Mikey Medium English School: Mission Statement, Code of Student Conduct

2010-03-04T03:00:00.004-05:00

Mikey Medium English School
Grass Roots Education Nepal

Mission Statement

We believe that all children should have the chance to learn and we will work together to make this possible.

We believe that learning English is one key to future student success.

We believe that parents, teachers and students can create a safe and respectful learning environment for all.

Code of Student Conduct

Students will Be Safe By:
- Keeping school and play area neat and tidy.
- Keeping hands and feet to self.
- Using the toilet.

Students will Be Respectful By:
- Using kind words and actions.
- Being on time.
- Being in uniform.
- Being clean and tidy.
- Following directions the first time.
- Doing homework.
- Doing their best everyday.

Parents of students in the Mikey Medium English School will help their children be ready to learn by:
- Having their children attend school daily.
- Having their children at school on time.
- Helping their children to be in their uniform.
- Helping their children to be clean and tidy.
- Being sure their children do their homework.
- Attending Parent Meetings.

Teachers at the Mikey Medium English School will be good role models by:
- Using positive language and actions.
- Participating in ongoing teacher training opportunities.
- Being at school before school begins.
- Having lesson plans prepared.
- Helping keep the school neat and tidy.

Nepal-Log: Notes from our visit #1

2010-02-18T10:12:00.008-05:00

February 16, 2010: Nepal-Log: Notes from our visit #1
... plus: FIRST PHOTOS

We have been here in Bauniyan at the Mikey Medium English School for 1 week now and have been royally welcomed. On our first day we met the "Steering Committee" and received Hindu blessings as well as garlands of marigolds.

The students have been very excited and anxious to do well. They have had some difficulty getting used to our accent -- compared to their Nepali English teachers, but everyone is trying very hard. These children are eager learners and very well disciplined. They show up early and hang around after school. They see us in the town and want to speak English and show off to their parents. Occasionally we have been welcomed into their homes. We have a number of very poor children who are so appreciative of their chance to learn.

The supplies we brought (three 50-pound suitcases) have been a great addition to the school. Today I literally taught the children how to use crayons. There are no extra books in Nepali or English besides the ones that we brought. Everyone does have very basic English paperback texts, and textbooks in Math, Nepalese and Social Studies. We had a great celebration for Valentine's Day and our heart shaped lollipops were a real hit.

We will be working with Ujjwal and his steering committee to develop a Code of Conduct, a Mission Statement, and a School Improvement Plan, which is required as part of the government registration packet for the school. We will use some of the donated money to pay this cost when we get to Katmandu in about a week.

Thanks for all your good wishes and prayers. Barbara

Thanks for all your generous support!

2010-01-30T00:24:00.010-05:00

ABOVE: Michael Church accepts check from class sponsor Elaine Bothly on behalf of South River High School's AP English Language and Composition Class who raised $2,091 for the benefit of the children of the Mikey Medium School of English in SW Nepal

Many thanks to the many Anne Arundel "grassroots" supporters for their gift to the Mikey Medium School of English in SW Nepal. Students from Nantucket, Davidsonville, Central Middle School and South River High School have made donations of time, talent and money. We will take these gifts to the school in February. The photo above shows the generous contribution from the students and staff at South River High School as part of their Global Literacy Project designed to support our students.

We wish to also acknowledge the generous gift from the Annapolis Bike Racing Team for a contribution of $1000 annually. This will have a tremendous impact on the welfare of more than 42 students and their families, all because one of their friends rode into their village in 2005.

Many thanks to all the groups and individuals who have made selfless contributions. "It takes so little to change the life of a child."

NOTE: At this time, gifts or donations are not tax deductible. This may change in the near future, and we will keep you informed of developments on this topic.

For more information on gifts to support this project, click here to see our blog entry on gifts.

Gifts Now Accepted

2010-01-05T18:52:00.014-05:00

We appreciate your support. All gifts are applied directly to support grass roots education in rural Nepal, without reduction for overhead expenses.

Grassroots Education Nepal (GEN) Corporation is registered in the State of Maryland as a non-profit charitable organization, and also is registered with the US Internal Revenue Service as a 301(C)(3) not-for-profit charity. EIN 35-2383201.

100% of your gift is tax-deductible. Mikey Medium English School (MMES) has authority to use contributions made to Grass Roots Education Nepal (GEN) Corporation only as specified by and subject to the oversight of the GEN Board of Directors in support of the Mission, School Improvement Plan and school-related Goals and Objectives approved by the Board.

Make checks payable to Grassroots Education Nepal (GEN) Corporation and mail to:
Grassroots Education Nepal (GEN) Corporation
PO Box 131
Davidsonville, MD 21035

Please enclose a note with your name, mailing address, and email address.

IMPORTANT: In addition to your mailed gift, could you kindly send an email to us at grass.roots.education.nepal@gmail.com and let us know that you've sent a gift, and include in the email: your name, mailing address, email address, and date, and amount of your gift. THANK YOU!!

You can also use your credit card or PayPal account for your donation. Simply click on the button, below:
Include in your PayPal donation your name, email address, and mailing address.

To contact us at any time, please email: grass.roots.education.nepal@gmail.com

Grassroots Efforts Support Dreams

2009-12-27T14:26:00.001-05:00

Mike Church and three of his friends at St. Mary's College of Maryland dreamed of a year long biking adventure traveling off the beaten tracks of Europe and Asia. They wanted to experience the people and cultures of the world from four feet off the ground.

Ujjwall Bhat dreamed of starting a school for the children in his rural village in Southwestern Nepal. His family had sacrificed so that he and his brother could be educated and learn English. Now he wanted to return this gift to others.

By accident these two young men met in January 2005.

Mike and his friends planned to scuba dive in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of India when the Tsunami hit. They reconfigured their plans and headed north, deciding to explore Nepal and hike the Annapurna Trek. The King of Nepal and the Maoist Rebels were in open conflict the day the boys road their bikes into Nepal. As luck would have it, Mike and his friends met Ujjwal and his brother riding their bikes along the road. They quickly engaged in discussions in English and agreed to go to Ujjwal's village to spend a couple of days in "a subtropical Eden" and in safety. Late into the night they discussed classic English literature which both sets of young men had read. They discussed the hopes for the future of Nepal and Ujjwal shared his dream of a school for his village - then offered free room and board if Mike and his friends would stay to teach English to the children.

The Americans could not stay but Mike and Ujjwal did not forget their encounter - nor their dreams.

Ujjwal continued to stay in contact. He did the preliminary planning and provided Mike with proposals for his school.

In May 2008, Mike married Ali Sharp and they decided to ask their wedding guests to help build a school in Nepal, in place of sending gifts. From this small donation of $2,500, Ujjwal was able to begin the "Mikey Medium English School" with 20 boys and 20 GIRLS. It is the only school for poor students in their village.

On a bare bones budget, Ujjwal built a two room school, obtained furniture, secured uniforms and hired two teachers. The school is open and running. Ujjwal takes no salary.

Elaine Boothby, Mike's English teacher from South River High School in Edgewater, MD has followed Mike's adventures. In 2009 she contacted Mike to find out how her students could support Mike's school as part of their Global Literacy Project. Since then South River students, other Anne Arundel County Public Schools and the Rotary Clubs in the area have joined in to support the school in Nepal. Because caring citizens wanted to know how to help, Grassroots Education Nepal began.

Mike' parents, Barbara and John Church of Davidsonville, MD continued to personally provide essential funds to the school during 2009. In February 2010 they are venturing to Bauniyan, Kailali Nepal to teach and determine ongoing needs for funding.

Through efforts from many parts of our community - collectively and individually - we are changing the lives of children in rural Nepal -
BECAUSE TWO YOUNG MEN DARED TO DREAM.

How Our School Began - Mike Church's Story

2009-12-19T18:25:00.001-05:00

This letter was written by Mike to friends and family in April 2007

In January 2005 Greg Grimm, Cam Moore and I entered Nepal on the day the King dissolved the government and declared martial law. In response, the Maoist Rebels declared a strike across the country. This forbade businesses to open or vehicles to travel on the open roads. An interesting backdrop to begin a journey.

We cycled from the border, eastward across the Mahendra Highway, through the Terai, a belt of grassland, marsh and forests at the base of the Himalaya range. We found the gladed forests and quaint villages enchanting.

Riding along we overtook a pair of brothers rambling along in their single speed bicycles. Very soon we were all gliding down well beaten trails through the forest toward their village. This is how I met Ujjwal and his brother.

Cam, Greg and I spent a few leisurely days with their family. The brothers were enthusiastic to discuss Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea, which they had read in English. We talked late into the night about their country's future. They often talked about education.

Before we left the brothers put a proposition to us. Why must we go? Why not stay in the village and in exchange for teaching English to the local children, the family would provide food and lodging. After all, what deadline required us to keep moving.

This possibility has been lodged in my mind ever since. Why did I not spend a few months in a subtropical Eden helping out those disadvantaged children who could so desperately use my help?

Over the intervening years I have stayed in contact with Ujjwal. He likes to call my parents in the middle of the night. Following the Hindu reverence for age, he first inquires about "mother" and "father's" well being. He then inquires about my whereabouts. Recently I have managed to get Ujjwal to begin using email, which has improved our communication dramatically.

Now Ujjwal is taking steps to fulfill his dream of opening a school in his village. To this end he has asked me for financial help.

I am a firm believer in the parable, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." The benefits of basic education need not be reiterated here. They are plentiful and convincing. Never the less, here is a refresher. Girls who are educated are better able to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS, marry later in life, have healthier children and have work opportunities beyond the home. Boys who are educated may be able to break a family cycle of hard labor and typically earn more than their non-educated counterparts.

I believe that Ujjwal's project to establish a school has a high likelihood of success. Unintentionally, this project is reminiscent of Greg Mortenson's Central Asia Institute in that it is a locally initiated project, unlike many non-profit projects that impose foreign ideas to local situations. Because local people are the impetus for change, the community has a vested interest in the outcome. Community participation is a key to long-term success. Additionally, there is no overhead in this project. Every penny donated will be directly transferred to the project.

If you agree with the philosophy of this project, please be generous and contribute.

Thanks on behalf of Ujjwal and the kids who will benefit.

Mikey

(NOTE The Rest of the Story: Ali Sharp and Mike Church were married on May 3, 2008. They asked guests to make donations to several non-profit organizations including Ujjwal's school as an alternative to giving wedding gifts. Mike and Ali were able to send about $2500 and the Mikey Medium English School in Bauniyan, Kailali was able to open it's doors to 40 students - 20 of which were girls.)

Mike Church's Presentations - Barbara and John Church's Teaching Trip to Nepal

2009-12-19T16:52:00.001-05:00

Mike Church will be in Maryland from January 14 - Feb. 3 to share his experience bicycling through the back roads of Asia and how he peddled into a rural town in Nepal and eventually began a school.

Jan. 15 2010 Nantucket Elementary School 9-11AM
Jan. 18, 2010 Bike Doctor in Annapolis 7:00PM
Jan 19, 2010 Parole Rotary Club 7:00AM
Jan 20, 2010 Our Lady of Sorrows Choir and Knights of Columbus 7:30 PM
Jan 24, 2010 Friends and Family - Piedmont Trekers at South River Condominium
Heritage Harbor 3-5 PM
Jan. 25, 2010 Boy Scout Troop 249 7:00PM
Jan 27, 2010 Towsontowne Rotary Club 7:00 Hunt Valley Rotary Club. 12:00 Noon
Jan 28,2010 South River High School - All Day - Student Organizational Meeting After School
Jan. 31, 2010 Friends and Family at South River Condominium - Heritage Harbor 3-5PM

John and Barbara Church, along with their nephew, Matt Hill, will leave for Northern India and Nepal on February 3, 2010. They will spend approximately one month teaching English at the Mikey Medium English School in Bauniya, Nepal. They will also travel around Nepal and plan to make contact with several NGO's (non-governmental organizations) in Kathmandu that support schools within Nepal.
Barbara and John will return to the United States on April 1, 2010. They will then be happy to share their stories about the school with organizations and individuals.

Thanks to Volunteers and Supporting Organizations

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Many thanks to those who have offered to help establish our fledging foundation, Grassroots Education Nepal.

Our preliminary goals are:
1. to raise funds to provide immediate support for needs at the Mikey Medium English School in Nepal
2. to determine ways to provide ongoing financial support to the school in the future.
3. to develop a long term plan for the school with the community members in Bauniya, Nepal

Preliminary Board Members:
Ujjwal Bhat and Mike Church
Barbara and John Church
Duane and Donna Arbogast
Roger Thusius
Elaine Boothby
Audrey Hill
Technological Assistance: Don Dillin and Chrissy Howard

Supporting Organizations
Annapolis Bicycle Racing Team
South River High School English Department
Nantucket Elementary School
Crofton Woods Elementary School
Meade Heights Elementary School
Parole Rotary Club
Hunt Valley Rotary Club
Towsontowne Rotary Club

How Our School Began - Ujjwal's Story

2009-12-19T15:35:00.001-05:00

Excerpts from Ujjwal Bhat's letter's to Mike Church in the Winter of 2007

Letter 1

Dear Mikey,

I got your mail asking me about information. My parent's are uneducated. They did not get the chance to study because of their poor economic condition and lack of school. I am deeply affected about this incident. So I have decided to provide education to those children who are deprived from education. That's why I have shared my plan about schooling education with you.

1. The school would be in Bauniya Bazar... (South Western Nepal) where we have been living
since 2003.
2. In Bauniya there is electric power. It is on the Manhendra Highway. We have ground water
for drinking water. We have good communication like land line phone mobile
3. The children would be from different communities: orphan, poor, conflicted, ethnic
community, fee paying (about half)
4. The age of students would be from 4-12. We will have a maximum of 40 students in the
school. We will provide education based on Montessori education

I look forward to information from your side. Thank you Mikey. I am very much interested to work with you. There are no boundaries to happiness in my life because; on one hand, we have our future in our hands; on the other hand you are going to celebrate your conjugal life.

Be in touch. Your friend, Ujjwal

Letter 2

Dear Friend Mikey

Today I am very happy by knowing your great interest to support to establish my new school. At first I want to ensure you that the support which you are going to provide will be given those children who are really in difficulties. I promise you that I will not spend that donation for my individual profit.

Now I am going to mention my idea about the school and it's expenses. So the things and its costs are below.

The name of my school is "MIKEY ENGLISH MEDIUM BOARDING SCHOOL" Are you agree with this name?

Cost proposal:
Cost of building $3000 - including electricity, toilet, shower house, rent, hand water pump.
Salary - Five teachers at $150. per month x 12 months = $9000
3 computers - $1200
Furniture - $800
Room and Board for 16 poverty children for $300.
Uniform and supplies for 16 poverty children - $1000
Total cost $18,600
Dear Friend, the above expendures may be costly. So I am looking some ways from my side and I want you to know how much you can support and you can send the support monthly, half yearly, or annualy.

At last you can visit my place and my school. All my family members are very happy to open a school and we all convey our best regards to your family, friends and other relatives. Say my "Namaste" to your dad and mum. I want to meet them and get their blessing.

Your friend, Ujjwal

Educational Challenges in Nepal

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"The challenges to the Nepalese educational systems are many and complex. The very mountains that give Nepal it's grandeur provide a physical and economic challenge to building a sustainable infrastructure." Most of the population lives in rural areas, like Bauniyan - the location for the The Mikey Medium English School. These areas typically have limited phones, roads, clean water and schools. "A child growing up in Nepal faces some of the worst living conditions in the world. Roughly 50% of Nepalese live in poverty-on less than 1 dollar a day."

"While the the countries educational system has made a great deal of progress in a very short time, there is still much to be done." Many government schools are in bad physical shaped while those that exist are extremely underfunded, especially in the countryside. Many schools in remote areas are very basic. Often these schools have no blackboards, teaching materials, texts for children or furniture.

Without creative colorful teaching materials and books, children do not learn to love reading or explore the world. "Most Nepalese children have never seen a computer, yet adequate computer knowledge and skills are major factors in determining potential future employment opportunities."

"Individual family situations and cultural bias further complicate the effort to educate students. Typically young children walk several miles everyday just to attend school. Some students are unable to make the trip regularly because of the monsoon rains or because they are needed at home. Girls often have less access to education than boys... While 35% of the males are illiterate, 57% of the females cannot read or write. Nepalese culture considers females as tradable assets. Parents have difficulty rationalizing their personal development... While girls suffer the most, all of the children of Nepal suffer from many obstacles to their learning."

(Information for this article was obtained from the ROOM TO READ website. This organization works around the world and in Nepal to provide libraries and schools to children. They have a particular focus on girls education.)

Sending Gift Donations

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Mikey Medium English School
Bauniyan, Kalkahi NEPAL

A gift in your name can create the opportunity for some 82 children not only to attend this school but also to make a profound difference in this small village in SW Nepal.

Ways to Make Gift Donations

Provide a scholarship for one of the 82 students. It costs $150. per year to educate each student. Certificates come in $30. increments. We will send you a signed certificate.
Make a one time gift for use to support the needs of the school, overseen by the Grassroots Education Nepal board of directors.

Grassroots Education Nepal (GEN) Corporation is registered in the State of Maryland as a non-profit charitable organization, and also is registered with the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit charity. EIN 35-2383201.

100% of your gift is tax-deductible. Mikey Medium English School (MMES) has authority to use contributions made to Grass Roots Education Nepal (GEN) Corporation only as specified by and subject to the oversight of the GEN Board of Directors in support of the Mission, School Improvement Plan and school-related Goals and Objectives approved by the Board.

Make checks payable to Grassroots Education Nepal (GEN) Corporation
and mail to:
Grassroots Education Nepal (GEN) Corporation
PO Box 131
Davidsonville, MD 21035
OR
Click on the "Donate" button, below, to make your donation by credit card or using a PayPal account (you do NOT have to have a PayPal account to make a payment by credit card)

Whether mailing your donation or using PayPal or credit card, please include your name, mailing address and email address so that we may acknowledge your donation. THANK YOU!

It takes so little to change the life of a child.