This year, the association “CHANCEN – Bildung in Nepal e.V.” (Opportunities: Education in Nepal) celebrates its 10th anniversary. The association is committed to enabling children from poor families to go to school. We are delighted to be part of this wonderful project, which was founded 10 years ago by Peter Hess and other dedicated companions. What began as a study trip to Nepal has developed into an impressive aid project that is changing the lives of many children for the long term.
At the start, there were just under 30 members and two “sponsored children” whose schooling was financed by the association. The first step in 2015 was to set up a small learning café in Bhaktapur, where the growing number of children in the program were supported with their homework every day from 4 to 6 pm. By now, more than 70 sponsored children have been able, and are able, to successfully complete their schooling thanks to the association and the sponsors it has found.
2015: Earthquake in Nepal & expansion of the association's activities
In the very first year of the association's activities, a drastic event occurred: on April 25, 2015, an earthquake struck Nepal, destroying buildings, some lives and, above all, much of the people's hope. The members of the association rose to this challenge and immediately collected donations, which could then be used both for emergency relief (distributing medicines and food and financing some simple shelters such as tin huts) and for later reconstruction. Many members of the large “Peter Hess sound family” answered the call for donations at the time and made great help on the ground possible. This gave rise to further pillars of the association's activities: charitable special projects and support for state schools.
“In recent years, we have been able to make a significant contribution to the construction or reconstruction of five state schools. In addition, by financing teaching materials, laboratories and many renovation projects, we have been able to significantly improve the quality of education at a total of eight state schools. We have decided to continue this work at state schools, as it allows us to support even more children and young people in their schooling.”
Jürgen Bossert
Chairman of CHANCEN – Bildung in Nepal e.V.
2019: Setting up a program to support school lunches
In 2019, a school asked the association whether it could help set up a sustainable lunch program. This created another pillar of activities: social and health projects. In Duwakot, hot lunches are now being financed for the fifth year for students, some of whom previously had nothing to eat all day. Today, CHANCEN – Bildung in Nepal e.V. is the long-term sponsor of a meal program at six state schools. The association has also ensured hygienic conditions there in newly built or newly equipped large kitchens.
“As another health project, we have started our women's and girls' project in recent years,” reports Jürgen Bossert. “We provide the female students and teachers at several schools with reusable menstrual pads and inform them about them together with a social worker in the schools.”
2021: Coronavirus aid for Nepal
In 2021, at the request of the German and Nepalese ambassadors, the association took part in the “Coronavirus aid for Nepal” with a charitable special project: two hospitals were supported with medical equipment (an X-ray machine, patient monitors, oxygen devices and protective clothing). Families in particular need, including most of the association's sponsored children, were provided with the staple foods rice, lentils, flour and oil. A small village that had been hit particularly hard was provided with a hot lunch for all residents for half a month.
Support from Hess Sound
We at Hess Sound took the association's 10th anniversary as an opportunity to support a current project: the renovation and new equipment of the kitchen at Shree Janajyoti Secondary School in Banepa. At this year's SommerKlangEvent, our summer sound event, we collected 300 euros in donations and topped them up with another 500 euros to help finance the kitchen equipment. The new kitchen allows students to prepare meals in a healthier and safer way, as cooking previously took place over an open fire in a room without adequate ventilation.
Current: severe weather disaster, a call for donations to our community
A severe weather disaster in Nepal has recently cast a shadow over the association's many achievements. 15 families whose children attend our school have lost everything. The disaster also claimed a young life: a former student who had just been attending 11th grade lost his life. Every bit of help counts to give the people there hope and prospects again. You can find out more about the work on the ground and how you can help here: https://www.chancen-nepal.de/
