International Literacy Day observed

Hetauda, 8 September 2008 .On the occasion of International Literacy Day and National Education Day NEST organised a street library exhibition at Traffic Chok, Hetauda. Various libraries related activities such as drawing,story writing, poem writing and essay writing competitions were organised. The Chief guest of the programme was the District Education Officer Mr. Cholendra Kumar Pandit. Executive Director of NEST Mr. Ganesh Kumar Shrestha, Special guest from Room to Read, Mr.Sushil Adhikari, NEST Volunteer from France, Ms Karien Parpime, and all NEST members were present in the programme. 46 students from 12 partner schools where NEST in collaboration with Room to Read has established school libraries,took part in the competitions.

This is the second year that NEST has organised street library exhibition in Hetauda to observe international literacy day.
Mr. Ganesh Kumar Shrestha, the Executive Director told that the main purpose of the programme was to raise awareness about the importance of libraries, encourage children to read and develop their reading habits.
Mr. Pandit, the DEO of Makwanpur district appreciated NEST's contribution to the development of quality education in community schools of Makawanpur district. Shambhu Bartaula, a teacher from Rastriya Lower Secondary School said " Such Exhibition and activities really motivate students, teachers and other public to read books and use library".

At the end of the programme, winners of Story writing, Peom writing, Essay writing and drawing competition received prizes.

NEST Child Club Management Training Held

NEST organised a two day Child club management workshop for child club memebers from six partner schools at Prajwal Shiksha Sadan English Lower Secondary School in Chaughada on 19-20 August 2008. 28 NEST child club members participated in the workshop. NEST has been running child clubs in six schools with financial support from ICFON, the Netherlands for last five years. The main purposes of child clubs are to develop democratic values in schools, raise child right awareness, reduce discrimination based on castes and involve children in community development process by organising different workshops. NEST organises children camps every year.

raining schedule
1st Day
1. What are Child Club / Why Child Club? 11.00-12.30
Kapil
2. Time line (What activities were performed by Child Clubs last year ?)12.30-1.30
Babita / Kapil
3. Energizer 1.30-2.00
Kapil
4. What are the areas of Child Clubs? How can they improve their impacts ? 2.00-3.00 Basu
5. Tea + Khaja 3.00-3.30
6. Closing of the day (Review of day) 3.30-4.00 Babita / Basu / Kapil
2nd Day
1. Managing a Child Club 11.00-12.00, BabitaBabita
Administration
Membership
Meeting minute
Reporting
Recording
Finance Management
Roles and Responsibilities of NEST Child club members
2. Activities that NEST Child clubs can lead to response CLIMATE CHANGE ,12.00-12.30Achyut
Cleaning campaign
Gardening
Plantation
3.Energizer,12.30-1.00,Basu
4.Development journalism,1.00-3.00,Munisha Freelance Journalist, Canada
5. Tea + Khaja ,3.00-3.30
6. Fund Raising Activities,3.30-4.30Achyut / Suman
Cultural program
Day Celebration
7. Contribution by School and NEST,4.30-5.00,Basu
(40%Schools & NEST)

Cycling Campaign becomes popular
Purna Kumar Shrestha , Founder of NEST started a cycling campaign on 5th June , on World Environment day by designing a t-shirt with a slogan " No Petrol ? No Problem ! Cycling keeps U fit. " When I travelled in Europe , I was amazed by people of the Netherlands in particular, how much they love cycling. Relatively, Dutch people are richer than the Nepalese people, but they prefer cycling, there is a different cycle track for cyclists. " says Purna. While the price of petrol is rising every day and people have to queue up for petrol at the petrol pumps for hours, people must think an alternative which is economic as well as healthy. There is great potential of cycling in Kathmandu. Sweesa, who is currently studying in the Netherlands, adds " If we want to reduce the air polution of Kathmandu, the government of Nepal must encourage people to use cycles, discourage people to buy private cars, in stead improve public transportation system as in Europe. Those who want to have private cars, must be charged high tax, and subsidise the cost of bicycles and electrical vechiles. Parking charge must be increased during the weekdays to discourage people to use private vechicles inside the town , which will also discourage people to us private vechicles. We have two choices - ACT now ! or REGRET."
Within two months of Cycling campaign, 30 people have bought tshirts and supported the campaign. The main purpose of the campaign is to encourage people to use bicycle as much as they can in their daily life and lobby for a cycle track in the valley.
On the occasion of international youth day, youth organisations are organising a cycling ralley around the ring road of Kathmandu and Purna will be taking part and will do campaign for cycling. No Petrol ? No Problem ! Cycling keeps you fit.

Welcome to Melanie

Melanie a friend of francois Clark an international representative of NEST for CANADA is visiting Prajwal school run by NEST under public educational trust (a Non profit making school) on 23rd April 2008 from Japan.We would like to express our warm welcome to Melanie to NEST and Prajwal school family.

Congratulation Punam

Miss Punam Ghimire,class 8 student of Prajwal Shiksha Sadan Lower Secondary English School , a non profit making school run under public educational trust has been secured highest position with distinction 97.2% in the district level final examination of class eight among the schools affiliated with Private and Boarding School Association( PABSON) Makawanpur. we want to Congratulate miss Punam for this acheivement and wish every success of life in the future.

NEST & ROOM TO READ SIGNED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING(MOU) FOR SCHOOL LIBRARY PROGRAMME

Nepal Educational Support Trust (NEST) and ROOM TO READ has signed on memorandum of understanding for support of 40 more school library programme in Makawanpur district for 2008. This is 4th year of support by RTR with NEST.Total number of schools getting support are 140. Room To Read has been providing necessary furniture ,Books and Training for Library setup.

Students of Janapriya Technical School, Hatiya with Ram, teacher in green house.

Purna Kumar Shrestha, Founder of NEST visited the Janapriya Technical School, Hatiya with Marco, a NEST representative from Italy last month. They interacted with students and teachers.

Congrautulations, Mahesh ! ( Purna Kumar Shrestha, Founder of NEST and Prajwal School offering red tika to Mahesh)

Mahesh Pathak, a student of Grade 7 of Prajwal School, a non profit making school managed by NEST with financial support from Everest of Apples, Japan, won NRs 10000 in national story writing competition. More than one thousand students from different parts of the country had participated in this competition.
Mahesh who loves reading books and writing stories. He walks down and up hill for one hour through the wood to school every day.

The story competition was jointly organised by Tempus International Canada and Read Nepal.

Read More about NEST Summer Camp