1. What is the actual local situation you are addressing?

The demand for better education in Nepal is essential, since the current method is loud and fear-based with mostly drilling and the teaching attitude includes the hitting of students. This leads to a society where violence easily becomes part of daily experience.

In the cities such as Pokhara and Kathmandu however, the standard is slowly improving due to the Montessori method of teaching which stimulates creativity, play and respect. Teaching children to learn in a playful manner, without pressure, allows them to be more creative. This system is slowly being established in the cities and to our big surprise, even in some far-out areas. Yet, there is much work to be done.

2. What has led you (or the organisation) to start the project?

In the past years, three daycare centers have already been built with the support of the local communities in Aabukhaireni, Yanchock and the Bandipur Village of the Tanahun district in Nepal. All three daycare centers, each taking care of 25 children, are now running well and successful. In each of these three centers, we have introduced the Montessori teaching method which proves very effective, bringing better creative development to the children versus the typical drilling methods.

We gradually came to understand the insight that people, and specifically young children and their mothers, will have a better future with a good solid basic education.

3. What do you want to achieve?

Right now, the children stay for two years at the day care center where they follow the Montessori system, which is already a great benefit for these children. Ideally these children will continue with the Montessori education at the nursery classes and primary schools in Satrasaya.

There is a wonderful example of a girl named Binita (see photograph): After one year at the day care center in Satrasaya, she was able to go to boarding school through the help of one of our donors. For her the transition was very easy, because fortunately she had not experienced the Nepalese way of teaching which means sitting at the desks the whole day, and being punished with a stick when not listening.

Our aim is to try and integrate the Montessori system into both the primary and nursery classes in Satrasaya on the condition that there will be no more punishment (hitting). The teachers have agreed to this and we shall be kept informed by both the children and their parents.

Thus with the adaption to Montessori training as mentioned above, the children will receive four years of Montessori teaching and therefore, a stable basis will be provided with better and more peaceful perspectives for the future.

4. How are you going to achieve it?

To achieve this we need to finance the Montessori trainings for the teachers, supply the school with materials that will be used in class and also supply the cupboards in which all the materials will be kept. We do partially create our own materials with bamboo and stones to play different games.

We support strong local involvement for all projects and resources, and listen carefully to all advice and guidance. The local people do manage the daily operations themselves which encourages their empowerment and responsibility.

5. What is your long term vision for the project?

It is our goal to have all day care centers operate in a completely self supporting way. We plan to achieve this within five years through the purchase of land and the production of medical herbs. This process requires the harvest and drying of the plants, production of the medicinal herbs and selling it to in the local and Indian herbal merchants. There is a big demand for these herbs, which are being used for medicinal purposes, for cosmetics and for the production of incense.

And due to our positive results, we hope to stimulate the implementation of the Montessori teaching system in more primary schools, thereby allowing for more creative and peaceful education.

6. How is your idea/project going to benefit the community or the situation?

After several years of experience with the Montessori education system, we have seen with our own eyes that children grow up in a more natural, peaceful and creative way as the applied holistic approach sees every child as a whole. This classroom approach enhances more self confidence, the development of each individual’s potential, respect for others & oneself, the value of play and hygiene.

The children receive balanced nutrition, do better in school and are overall happier and more confident in their attitudes, which naturally effects the surrounding families and communities.

7. Which results do you expect?

The implementation of this project will mean that:

1. 4 classes of 25 children each, totaling 100 children in primary and nursery classes will be educated according to the Montessori approach in Satrasaya, allowing for a more balanced start in life.
2. All 4 teachers will receive the 3 months Montessori teachers’ training course which will transform and enrich their professional life and those of the children they teach.
3. These 4 teachers will pass the trainings on to other teachers in the region

8. How can you measure those results (quantifying)?

Naturally it will be easy to count the 100 children and 4 teachers; yet more important will be the improvement of each child’s psychological and physical wellbeing by developing individual potential in a creative, peaceful and playful way.

This will have not only an effect on the child’s future life, but also on his family and community which can be measured in the area’s future development.

9. Communication, visits and feedback

How often will you be able to inform about progress and developments?

Each quarter, via a newsletter.

Who is the person responsible for communication?

Rineke Gronert

When is the best time in the day/week for participants to contact you?

In fact, always

What is the best way to communicate (email, skype or other)?

Preferably via email

Do you accept participants visiting the project?

Yes, visiting the project is possible, yet in a limited manner in view of the local way of living and traditions.

Which it is the best time?

We prefer the months March – May since we will be there too.

Any requirements for visitors?

No.

10. What do you expect from the Uniting People community?

A little bit of help for some additional (resources?) and new friends.

Rineke Gronert

Team Leader

Project Team

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Project Participants

The following are UP members who have donated or supported this project.

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