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Voice
of YESS: |
| Message
from Eva Schwab, Austria |
Namaste and
Hello to all the YESS-members I met during my
stay last year.
It was my first
return to Nepal after 14 years and I was both
exited and curious about it. So much had happened
to your country during the previous decade.
What had changed, and what had remained the
same? What would I still be able to recognize
from my earlier trip?
In the early
nineties I came from Vienna/Austria to Helambu
to conduct some anthropological field research.
My studies also lead me to Sermathang and there
I got to know the English-medium school in the
village. At that time the school was housed
in today’s trekking check-post building.
But the ambitious new school project of the
Yangrima Boarding School (YBS) was already under
way and construction work had started. Since
my research about the Yolmo- people dealt partly
with education as an important factor of rural
development, I spent some weeks in Sermathang
as well. During that period I was asked to help
out with teaching, which provided me with an
interesting insight into the running of a village
school. The commitment of the teachers, the
eagerness of the students and the enthusiasm
of the entire community about the new school
buildings high up on the hill above the village,
was really impressive.
After returning
home I couldn’t forget the school and,
with the help of the school newsletter (published
periodically over the years), followed the move
to the newly-constructed boarding school campus,
the manifold activities and undertakings of
the ever-growing “Yangrima-family”.
The content of the newsletter related the unparalleled
success story of this grass-roots school project
by and for a rural population in a remote area.
At the advent of the internet era, YBS quickly
embraced the new technology and started a homepage
of its own. But suddenly there was no more news.
At the same time the general news about the
political situation in Nepal grew more and more
alarming and I became worried about the welfare
of my friends in Helambu, and hoped that they
would get through the hardship of the political
turmoil and insecurity unharmed. At the same
time, I was afraid that the YBS (due to its
organizational structure) had the potential
to become a victim of Maoist attacks. For years
I had no information about YBS.
Finally, I
was able to arrange a visit to Nepal again and
tried to find out about Yangrima via the internet.
I stumbled upon the YESS-homepage and found
my worst fears confirmed - I was shocked but
nor surprised. Later I grew sad and angry that
YBS no longer existed. An international community,
of locals, supporters and volunteers from abroad,
had worked together to keep this unique project
alive for so many years, and hundreds of local
students had had the chance to receive a comprehensive,
high quality education – a fact still
not taken for granted in Nepal. Finally the
entire region benefited in many ways from the
school project in Sermathang. At one blow –
within seconds - everything was destroyed and
the future prospects of students and teachers
alike were called into question.
But I also
learned that YESS planned to reopen the YBS.
How far had these plans been realized? I wanted
to know more, so I got in touch with YESS and
after my arrival in Kathmandu I headed for Helambu.
Nima, the only student I knew from the times
of my research, was now grown up and he, and
his friend Nono, accompanied me to the village.
The Nara-festival was approaching and I was
looking forward to join in the festive occasion.
With a bunch
of village youths and former students I climbed
up the hill through the jungle to the former
campus. When we forced our way through the overgrown
area, peering into empty classrooms, the students
told me about the glorious days when the playgrounds
echoed with laughter or noisy experiments in
the science lab, when students were busy maintaining
flowerbeds, or planting trees and gathering
wood for outdoor bonfire lessons during wintertime.
Whilst we strolled around the mossy classrooms
now devoid of window frames and door panels,
inspecting former hostel buildings and the large
assembly hall, slowly a picture emerged in my
mind about how it all had been in those happier
times.
Back in the
village, members of the newly-formed school
management committee led me around the ground
floor of an old Gompa, which now stored newly-made
furniture: tables and benches, shelves, as well
as door panels and window frames meant to furnish
and restore the devastated school-buildings.
This encouraging sight convinced me that the
planned re-opening of YBS was definitely underway.
I talked to
several villagers and ex-students in Sermathang
about how they experienced the destruction of
the school and the time thereafter. Back in
Boudha I had the pleasure to interview more
ex-students – among them celebrities of
the YESS-community (the marathon athlete and
the Students Award Winner 2006) – two
ex-teachers and trustee-members. Most striking
in all of my conversations was the expressed
emotional attachment of all my interview partners
to YBS, thus proving that the time spent at
this school was a sustaining and very special
period of their lives. YBS had opened up a unique
opportunity for them to base their future lives
on a solid foundation. That seems to be the
reason behind their strongly felt commitment
to contribute their share to the reopening of
the YBS; to enable future generations to receive
a high quality school education in a remote
area.
My own small
contribution to this end will be to write an
article for a magazine, to make this unique
and interesting project known to a wider audience
in my own country in Europe. If my report can
help to initiate additional support for your
project, I will have achieved more than I was
hoping for.
Finally, a big thank you to all those people
who answered my questions so patiently and who
introduced me so warmly to the YESS-community:
especially Nima, Dhindup and Neema, (whose company
I enjoyed so much at lunchtimes).
Fond wishes,
Eva Schwab – Vienna, Austria
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My
Experience in Brenderup Folk High School
It has been more than two years I have been in
Denmark now, started with Brenderup hojskole and
then in koge business school studying as a multimedia
designer, which is compeleting very soon too.
Student life in abroad is not very easy where
you will have to manage everything by self , plan
for school, plan for work , manage financial situtaion
by yourself and so on. But it has been definately
a great part of learning experience.
Well talking about My experiences in brenderup,
it was of course one of the most memorable time
i ever had in my life. Stay here in brenderup
for 5 month has increased my skills-like for presentation
skills, fluent englsih,communication skills and
many more- such progress can neither measured
or graded. Course in Brenderup has given me time
to wonder about life, and world around me and
possible oppertunitits around. It has been good
intercultural exchange as there were students
from many different countries to learn about global
citizenship. Different students from different
countries with differetn ideas was great part
of the learning experience. It has been therefore
has beeen deepen the understanding of myself.
Knowing cultures of many differnt countries was
certainly very interesting.
Most interesting part or course in brenderup was
workshop courses that help to explore new interests,
to find renewed inspiration and to improve our
skills. There were different workshops but the
one i had choosen was felt making, papaer recycling
and sewing classses.Most interesting one was Felt
workshop that was a place of countless possibilities.
In few weeks, after learning basic technique,
i have already been able to make bags, purses,
hats, mittens, clothes, shawal etc....When i had
some leisure time or when i feel bored, i spent
my time with felt making workshop. Reclye paper
was another interesting workshop.
There are more things i have learned while in
brenderup, in overall i would say i had time to
think about myself and understand the world around.I
have come to know that life is full of options.
I am extremely very happy and excited to hear
that Our school Yangrima is open very soon, it
was much awaited project for YESS. It was terrible
pain and feeling for us in the begining years
to live with the fact that yangrima school was
not in operation. Finally with the continuous
effort and commitment of YESS, hundred of our
brothers and sisters who have not been able to
continue their furthur education due to finance
have chance to go to school ágain and make
their future. I congratulate all the yess memebers
for your hardwork , commitment and making this
project Sucess.
Mendo
Brenderup Student
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Reopening
of Yangrima School: A dream come true for its ex-students
Yangrima
School, established in 1986, situated at an altitude
of 2700m on a beautiful ridge of Helambu hills was
given a new life on the 14th of April, 2009. A number
of enthusiastic villagers, current and former students,
well-wishers and supporters all celebrated with
great gusto marking its 20th anniversary. This was
thanks to the creative vision and untiring work
put forth by ex-students for its reopening fuelled
by encouragements and the blessings of former teachers,
supporters and the villagers.
The
school was shut down forcibly by an insurgent group
taking advantage of the political unrest in the
country in 2001. This deprived nearly a generation
across the whole of the Helambu region of their
right to a good, local education. In the intervening
years, the neighboring villages experienced a sense
of emptiness as young people left the region which
offered nothing for them. Yangrima’s original
vision of providing a quality modern education in
tandem with preserving local cultures and skills
in an excellent local environment at a cost of next
to nothing was endangered from the day of the school’s
closure. And in the aftermath of Yangrima’s
closure the villagers, with very limited resources,
were left unable to provide an alternative option
for schooling their children. The dedicated teachers
and staff left and the
children had to either leave their homes and families
to get education elsewhere, or stay without any
further schooling. For all these matters, the reopening
of Yangrima provided the antidote to heal the wounds.
The new school seems like helping to re-invigorate
the villagers who are joining Yangrima’s renewed
effort to build a stronger and better future for
all in the area.
Under
the canopy of a sunny reopening day, Yangrima was
smiling broadly again. The brush had been cleared,
there was a renewed hustle and bustle of activity
and, most importantly, many of the children are
back. A stream of villagers flocking into the school
in their nicest attire carrying a traditional bottle
of local spirit (a symbol of purity and blessings)
who also came with their purest wishes, in the fullest
smile and not hesitating to occasionally reduce
to tears for their hearts stirred to extreme
happiness were a general milieu of the reopening
ceremony of Yangrima. Huge banners to welcome Yangrima’s
reopening were hanging at the gates, on the monastery
walls, and down from the trees. This exuberance
caught the attention of several trekkers passing
who stopped to watch. From all who came and we welcomed,
we heard praise: “oh, it is really good and
such a gift for the region, thank you.” At
the ceremony Yangrima’s former students and
friends sang loudly and proudly wishing for no more
ills and thanking the school for what it had given
to them. This was followed by motivational speeches
from a line of guests among whom were several ex-students
who recounted their childhood and post-Yangrima
journey. As well as being an important celebration
for those who had previously benefitted from a local
education, it was equally important for the villagers
as the school will protect their culture, identity
and community.
The
villagers spent the entire day in the rectangular
compound of the main school area -some weeping in
the middle of speeches, exstudents showcasing their
childhood skills like climbing trees and reliving
memories of when they were youngsters at Yangrima.
Especially welcomed were those who had become administrators
and teachers themselves. All of Yangrima’s
favorite songs were sung until late into the night.
Those childhood mates, meeting again where they
may have met first, did get a bit merry!
If you can’t stop reading more about Yangrima
or want to be a part of its family, please check
into www.yangrima.org Long live Yangrima! We all
love Yangrima!
Jimmy
Lama
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YESS
YESS,
by name is a place to learn uncountable things.
It is a place for gathering and sharing our ideas
and Knowledge among ex-students of Yangrima. It
has now become strong platform not only for the
Yangrima students but students from the whole
Helambu region. YESS
has become really a great place for me to learn
and I am very glad that I was a student of Yangrima
.As a student there, were the most beautiful days
of my life. I can say with proudly that whatever
I am today is just because I was product of Yangrima.
If my friends are today extolling of my discipline,
dedication, devotion and punctuality, then it
is because I learnt Yangrima School.
It gives me a great pleasure to drop down some
opinion and experience that I have gained from
“YESS”. I feel glad at heart me being
a member of it and having an opportunity to share
some of my views. What “YESS” to me
is something which is always pleases the horizon
of my imagination to describe? It established
for an objective to help Yangrima Students and
Helambu region children to gain a better and accessible
education.
Well, when talking about “YESS” I
count the days and the remarkable moments that
I spent in “YESS” since 4 years. I
still remember the moment where I had to present
a speech and my face was reddening and my voice
shambling . The moments have always been imprinted
since then within my spirit. It has been a place
for me to build confidence within me so as to
pace forward and look into the world with my own
vision.
What I have been in the “YESS” has
vital role today in my life and has uplifted my
confidence to communicate and face the different
people and situation. It also has taught me the
moral lesson to help each other and strengthen
my spirit. I represented as the vice president
at the beginning and then secretary and now the
treasurer. I discovered lot from these different
positions. It has helped me to adopt myself in
different fields besides my academic studies.The
“YWSA” scholarship has greatly extended
my knowledge and it has helped many others too.
It has enabled us to build towards our varied
career. It has helped not only the students of
Yangrima, but has also directly helped many Helambu
region students to further their studies and it
brings a hope and encouragement
YESS has helped a lot in the making Yangrima exist
even today.
At last, thank you very much to the Yangrima School
and the respective teachers for providing us a
quality education and making a strong background
without which our achievements would have not
been possible. Thank you very much!!!!
By
Mendo Lama
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My
Experience Work at YESS:
I am Diki Lama, working as secretary in the Yangrima
Ex-Students Society. I am also one of the ex-students
of YESS. I studied in Yangrima Boarding School
from nursery to class seven but after that I left
Yangrima, due to the Maoist problem. After that
I was very sad that I had to leave Yangrima and
my wonderful friends from there. But I had to
continue my further studies, so I did my class
eight with Shree Jyoti Lower Secondary School.
After that I did my class nine, ten and wrote
my School Leaving Certificate from Shree Saraswati
Higher Secondary School, situated at Gyalthum.
I came to Kathmandu after taking my SLC. I really
missed my friends from Yangrima Boarding School,
but after I came to Kathmandu I met my friends
from Yangrima and was very happy to talk to them.
My friends told me about YESS and YESS IT, organized
by ex-students of Yangrima Boarding School. My
friends told me the activities of YESS and I became
interested in the YESS activities. So I joined
the YESS and took a 3 month basic computer course.
During my computer course at YESS I was really
happy to hear I had passed my SLC.
After that, I started to go to college in the
morning shift and took classes in the Management
Faculty. During the daytime I used to pass my
time uselessly but later on, Jimmy (President
of YESS) told me about the value of time and encouraged
me to work at YESS as an office secretary. I was
happy but a bit nervous on the first day, but
a few days later I coped and by working there,
everything satisfied me. I learned many things
in YESS like how to talk to people during any
occasion and many more. I never thought I would
meet so many ex-students and teachers of Yangrima
in one place and also I made many new friends
at YESS. It has been six months that I have been
working at YESS and I would like to continue this
further. I wish to continue it for a long time
but who knows where time takes us, as time changes
on and we have to move according to time.
I
really feel lucky working at YESS as the people
are very co-operative with me, sharing, helping
and everything done in YESS satisfies me.
Lastly, I would like to encourage other people
who may be misusing their time to join YESS and
use your valuable time wisely. I would really
like to thank our president of YESS (Jimmy) for
encouraging me and making me comfortable at YESS.
I wish this organization great success in the
future and that the ambition of the YESS is reached.
Diki lama
YESS office secretary
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YWSA
for me:
First of all, I would like to convey my sincere
appreciation to YWSA for the financial assistance
that I was given for the last two years. YWSA
has encouraged and supported many students like
me to pursue their higher studies. For us recipient,
the YWSA project has acted as our guardian that
at the beginning of every month we submit our
invoice to clear the tuition fee. I feel so proud
that I was one of the privileged persons to be
a beneficiary of this program and now it has in
some kind habituated the sense of independence
inside me. I think I would feel not that comfortable
harping for a tiny amount of money to my parents.
With such type of your financial assistance I
have been able to join a good college like Campion
Katmandu College helping me to successfully achieve
a kind of quality education. I passed my first
year with very good result and hope to better
in second year result which is very closely impending.
Perhaps I cannot show how I have changed in my
personality in terms of education with the words,
but all I can say is because of the YWSA amount
I have found myself a different person. YWSA has
also inspired me to work hard and it ives me a
pleasure to share that I topped my class in grade
11 with which I was also awarded a discounted
fee for grade 12.
At last, I would like to express thank you very
much for all your support and help. My thankfulness
also goes to YESS organization for playing an
active role in this project and inspiring me to
be a support member.
Dechen Lama
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