A newly built girls’ dormitory at Melamchi Ghyang Secondary School in ward 1 of Helambu Rural Municipality has been formally handed over to the school community.

The handover marks a step towards improving residential support for girl students who travel from remote mountain settlements to attend classes.

The project was financed by the International Foundation for Education and Entrepreneurship in Switzerland. TurnKey Development Group Nepal provided technical quality assurance, while New Tech Engineering carried out the construction work. 

The statement by TurnKey Development Group Nepal said the hostel is designed to offer safe and dignified accommodation for 136 students and addresses long-standing challenges faced by girls who previously struggled with limited and insecure housing options.

TurnKey said Rs42.2 million facility was completed in 18 months. It is built with earthquake-resilient features, rat-trap brick walls and double-glazed windows to ensure heat insulation in the high-altitude village. The building includes 10 toilet cabins, three hot-water shower cabins and a dedicated incinerator connection to manage sanitary waste safely and hygienically.

The statement noted that IFEE Switzerland has also been supporting the school in broader areas related to sanitation, hygiene and mental health. Its programmes cover psychosocial wellbeing and teaching support for Grades 11 and 12, aligning with efforts to create a more holistic learning environment.

Each of the 136 resident students has been provided with a personal set of furniture, including a bed, study table, chair and cupboard. Mattresses and curtains have also been supplied to improve comfort and support effective study conditions, the statement said.