Let’s Build Schools, a campaign initiated by Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa, has built 215 temporary schools in 17 districts over seven months since the devastating April 25 earthquake.

The campaign, which was started in May, has constructed 21 pre-fab buildings while the rest are Temporary Learning Centres.

Thapa said the campaign was initiated on the premise that children and education should be prioritised not only in normal situations but also at any difficult times. Over 3,000 volunteers from over 30 organisations lent their support for the cause, he added.  

According to the Ministry of Education, 8,000 schools and over 40,000 classrooms were destroyed by the April 25 quake. The fourth phase of the campaign was launched on Monday at the quake ravaged Central  Higher Secondary School for the Deaf in Naxal. Speaking at the programme held to felicitate volunteers, former President Ram Baran Yadav thanked the participants in the rebuilding of the quake ravaged schools. “Students had been out of school for long because of the earthquake. Now, their education is badly affected due to political crises,” said Yadav.   

Thapa said they had initially planned 100 schools, “but with the help of local community, passionate social workers and volunteers we are able to built double the number of schools”.

Aid flows in for quake survivors

Save the Children has started distributing urgent winter supports in cash and kind to around 15,000 households in Sindhupalchok, Dhading, Gorkha and Dolakha districts. In a statement on Monday, the organisation said the households will be provided with warm clothes and cash voucher worth Rs 13,000.  

“To the earthquake survivors battling the cold and living in freezing temperatures, secure and warm shelter is the topmost priority,” said Jagat Bahadur Khadka, Save the Children Nepal Acting Country Director. As temperatures continue to dip, children are left most susceptible to illnesses resulting from the cold.  (PR)