Pokhara. Karmaflights Foundation Nepal, a renowned educational charity based in Pokhara, has accomplished the distribution of ” Kinship (Afantajan) Scholarship” for the academic year 2078 BS to 55 students of Gorkha.
The Karmaflights kinship Scholarship Project is in operation aiming to help 100 students of Barpak, Laprak, Gumda, Saurapani villages of North West Gorkha. Barpak village was the epicenter of 2015 earthquake and other villages were hard hit by disaster. The Kinship Scholarship is targeted for those students who lost their both parents or one of the parents and relatives in the devastating earthquake.
The 10-year long “Afantajan Scholarship” project started in 2015 AD in financial support of The Cloudase Foundation based in Seattle, USA. This has benefited 100 such orphans from around Barpak Sulikot, Ajirkot and Dharche Rural Municipality in northwest Gorkha for the last 7 years. Project covers Ward No. 2, 3 and 4 of Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality, Ward no 4 and 5 of Ajirkot Rural Municipality and Dharche Rural Municipality.
According to the Program coordinator, Prem Bahadur Kunwar, neediest students were identified coordinating the then district education office Gorkha and following the recommendations from the schools amidst the tragic situation while those kids lost their homes and schools and even parents/relatives and their future was in greater uncertainty.
In the last seven years, 45 students have completed their studies up to secondary level, while this year 57 students continue receiving educational materials and cash at the rate of Rs 10 thousands. “In spite of the risk of Covid- 19 and the floods and landslides, the organization has distributed scholarships from two locations including Saurapani and Baluwa”, said school teacher Dinesh Tamang from Shree Himalaya Secondary School, Saurapani, to our reporter. 25 students from Barpak Mandre, Ajirkot at Shree Jeeeva Jyoti Secodary School Baluwa distribution centre.
Scholarships were distributed by Chief guest, Januka Paneru, Executive Member of Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality. Educational materials worth five thousand rupees. (Educational materials includes School Bags, 24 note books containing 100 pages, 2 bar of soaps, 1 set of geometry box, 1 dozen pencils and 5 ballpoint pens) and cash of Rs. 2,500/- were provided. The remaining Rs. 2,500/- will be provided after receiving the results of the mid-year examination of the school. Chief guest Paneru said that she understood that such a long-term scholarship program provided by the organization is very effective. Positive results of scholarship program are noticing, Kamala Dhakal, a student from Shree Himalaya Secondary School completed secondary level and studying in a very prestigious college in Chitwan.
Scholarships for the students of Shree Manikamdevi Secondary school of Dharche Rural Municipality and Shree Suryodaya Secondary school, Gumda has been handed over at Gorkha Bazaar. According to the Karma flights foundation field coordinator Raju Pariyar, the road leading to Gumda was blocked due to rains and landslides.
Meanwhile, Food relief items worth Rs.14,070/- have been provided to 24 orphans sheltering in Shree Bal Mandir Secondary school of Gorkha Municipality .”As there is no reliable source to provide assistance to the needy and orphaned children in this school, this type of relief has been of great help to the school” Headmaster Shiva Bahadur Thapa told to Mardi News reporter. Representative of various school, teachers, school management committee members and Headmaster of Shree Manikamdevi Secondary School, Dhan Bahadur Gurung were present there.
KarmaFlights has been working in the region investing in long term projects such as one School one Library in 30 schools, One Home One tap WASH Project, Winter Jacket distribution, ICT computer labs in 5 schools, 2 school buildings and various small programs to empower the quality education.
