Education Today Education Today Magazine
This month, ACS International School Egham celebrates the tenth anniversary of its award-winning humanitarian initiative, Project Nepal.
Over the last 10 years, more than 200 students and staff from ACS Egham have travelled to Nepal to work on construction projects in Nepali schools. The project has raised funds to support local communities by supplying much needed educational resources – including more than 1,000 books – as well as supporting the construction of school buildings, classrooms, and hygiene facilities. It has also seen the Surrey school donate £12,000 to the Red Cross fund after the devastating consequences of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.
Carmel Kelly, Director of Project Nepal, said: “It is amazing to reflect on what has been an incredible 10 years of supporting local communities in Nepal. The initiative has developed our students’ commitment to service, social justice, and community involvement by enabling them to work productively with diverse communities. It is thanks to the support of our wider school community, and the strong partnerships forged with the Nepali community, that Project Nepal has made a positive impact during the last ten years of the initiative.”
As part of the initiative, ACS Egham launched the Project Nepal Legacy Scholarship Programme in 2017. The programme supports higher education for low-income students from the rural region of Panchkal, who would otherwise be unable to afford to attend college or university. Thanks to the school’s fundraising efforts, nearly 30 Nepalese students have been given the opportunity to complete higher education study to support their career ambitions.
One of the Nepali scholars, Pradip Kunwar, said: “I am currently studying a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering at Cosmos College of Information and Technology. I would like to thank ACS Project Nepal for helping me to complete my studies and also for funding my accommodation in Kathmandu which allows me to completely focus on my education.”
To mark the special anniversary, ACS Egham held a garden party which invited former student participants as well as guests from Nepal, and saw attendees enjoy traditional Nepali food and activities.
One ACS student commented of their involvement in Project Nepal: “I loved working with the Nepali children because it really made me realise how lucky I am to have my education. I also loved their enthusiasm to learn.”
