REACH for Nepal Foundation (RFN) provides aid in Gandaki Province of Western Nepal – delivering both infrastructure developments and humanitarian aid projects. In 2023, RFN started building Earthquake Resilient Classrooms (ERC’s) in Nepal. The ERC design won a category in the recent Good Design Awards in Australia. These classrooms are not only safer for the children but also are built to last for generations.

My Experience
This November I set out to complete the Everest Base Camp Trek, which was a massive challenge for me both physically and mentally. It was a challenge that forced me to push far beyond my limits. I was able to draw strength from seeing how tough and resilient the people of Nepal can be and what they must face in their day to day lives. 

Natural disasters are one of these adversaties that the people of Nepal face time and time again. After the recent floods, I’ve seen firsthand that these disasters can be absolutely devastating to local communities and can often leave these communities to tend to repairs with limited to no aid. When there is limited infrastructure to deal with these disasters, it often means the Country is always trying to restore itself, preventing it from making meaningful progress.

Education is extremely important in any society and something that I think is often taken for granted. Education seeps into every part of life and plays a huge role in how a group of people can operate and their capacity to grow both individually as well as, as a community. It was eye opening to be surrounded by communities with limited to no formal education and the effects that this can have on not only themselves but the people around them and the planet that we all share.

Having somewhere safe and functional for children to be able to learn is one simple step in the right direction and something that should be available to everyone if they choose.

Shree Indreni Basic School, Dhital

Shree Indreni Basic School, established around 35 years ago, serves as the only primary educational institution for the region. The school has students from Nursery to Year 5. Farming & tourism is the primary occupation in the area.

The school currently enrols 41 students, with 60% being girls. Despite its strategic importance, Shree Indreni Basic School faces significant infrastructure challenges. The lack of adequate facilities often forces the school to conduct two classes in a single room, severely hampering the quality of education. The current classroom layout makes it difficult for students to focus and learn effectively.

By supporting this project, we aim to:

• Provide safe and comfortable classrooms for all students.
• Promote a positive message about the community's dedication to education.
• Enhance the overall educational infrastructure in the region.
• Empower future generations with better learning conditions.

Typically, we build infrastructure where the buildings are old and damaged with some classrooms requiring urgent renovation. The earthquake in 2015 highlighted the critical need for reinvestment in safe and resilient school infrastructure.

By providing improved learning environments, the foundation aims to empower future generations and foster a sense of hope and progress among the villagers. We believe that education is the key to a brighter future, and this project aligns perfectly with our objectives, which is to Rebuild, Educate, Assist, Children/Communities (giving) Hope (REACH) for Nepal.  

All donations to the RFN Foundation fund projects in Nepal with the organisation here in Australia run entirely by volunteers. You can help this vulnerable community rebuild their classrooms with all donations above $2 being tax deductible.