Wouter de Groot - November 2017

"For a purpose"

 After more than a month of research we can proudly announce that we found a location to build up our project. The site is located in Jhulneta, Rukum district. This year we will not build a school but a community center and integrated resource center (IRC). The reason for this is that the government already started with distributing funds to the schools that were affected by the earthquake. On our research we saw a lot of schools already restorating their buildings.

Jhulneta is located in the west of Nepal and lays on a central point where 3 districts meet; Rukum, Rolpa and Salyan. The area is affected by the civil war between the Maoists and the government 10 years ago. Because of this war a full generation could not go to school with the consequences of a less developed region in social and economical way, compared to the rest of the country.

The IRC will be build in collaboration with the Nepali NGO United Mission to Develop Nepal (UMD) and with the local people. The goal of the community center is to provide a space where the population of the 3 districts can work together to develop their future and make it better. The conference hall will make it possible to do collective research about the most suitable animal species and crops and how to take care of them in the best way, how to cultivate them and sustain them. We will also build a library, music and art center, a playground and a big sports field where competitions can be hold between the 3 districts.

In this way we want to give an alternative to fill in the youth's free time. Boredom, the lack of recreation and basic education is a big problem. With alcoholism, drug use and gambling as a result.
There will be weekly activities for the youth like football. In collaboration with UMD we will sustain more events and activities. On a long term UMD and the local population will take care of this. The playground will be completely build with recycled material .

At this point we are in Kathmandu completing all preparations necessary for the project. This will take around two to three weeks. We keep you up to date !
Small fact: since 2 weeks ago, electricity came in their village