This year, the association "CHANCEN - Bildung in Nepal e.V." is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The association is committed to providing children from poor families with a school education. We are delighted to be part of this wonderful project, which was founded 10 years ago by Peter Hess and other committed supporters. What began as a study trip to Nepal has developed into an impressive aid project that is making a lasting difference to the lives of many children.
At the start, there were almost 30 members and two "sponsored children" whose school education 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 sponsored children were helped with their homework every day from 4 to 6 pm. There are now more than 70 sponsored children who have been able to successfully complete their school education thanks to the association and the sponsors they have found.
2015: Earthquake in Nepal & expansion of the association's activities
A drastic event occurred in the very first year of the association's activities: on April 25, 2015, the earth shook in Nepal, destroying buildings, some lives and, above all, a lot of people's hope. The members of the association rose to the challenge and immediately collected donations, which could then be used both for initial aid (with the distribution of medicines, food and the financing of some simple shelters such as tin huts) and for subsequent reconstruction. Many members of the large "Peter Hess Klang family" responded to the appeal for donations and made it possible to provide a great deal of help on the ground. 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 significantly support the construction or reconstruction of five state schools. In addition, we have been able to significantly improve the quality of education at a total of eight state schools by financing teaching materials, laboratories and many renovation projects. We have decided to continue this work at state schools, as this will enable us to support even more children and young people in their education."
Jürgen Bossert
1st chairman of CHANCEN - Education in Nepal e.V.
2019: Development of a program to promote lunch in schools
In 2019, the association was asked by a school whether it could help set up a sustainable lunch program. This gave rise to another pillar of activity: Social projects/health projects. In Duwakot, the hot lunch for the pupils, some of whom previously had nothing to eat all day, is now being financed for the fifth year. In the meantime CHANCEN - Education in Nepal e.V. is now the long-term sponsor of a meal program at six state schools. The association has also ensured hygienic conditions in newly built or newly equipped canteen kitchens.
"Another health project we have launched in recent years is our women's/girls' project," reports Jürgen Bossert. "We provide schoolgirls and teachers at some schools with reusable menstrual pads and work with a social worker in the schools to provide information about them."
2021: Corona aid for Nepal
In 2021, at the request of the German and Nepalese ambassadors, the association took part in a special charitable project for "Corona aid for Nepal": two hospitals were supported with medical equipment (X-ray machine, patient monitors, oxygen equipment and protective clothing). Families in particular need - including most of the association's sponsored children - were provided with basic foodstuffs such as rice, lentils, flour and oil. A small village that was particularly hard hit was provided with hot lunches for all residents for half a month.
Support from Hess Sound
We at Hess Sound took the 10th anniversary of the association as an opportunity to support a current project. This involved renovating and refitting the kitchen at the Shree Janajyoti Secondary School in Banepa. At this year's SommerKlangEvent, we collected 300 euros in donations and then added a further 500 euros to help finance the kitchen equipment. The new kitchen enables the pupils to prepare meals in a healthier and safer way, as they were previously cooking over an open fire in a room without sufficient ventilation.
Current: Storm disaster - appeal for donations from our community
Recently, a storm disaster in Nepal cast a shadow over the many achievements of the association. 15 families whose children attend our school lost everything. The disaster also claimed the life of a young man - a former pupil who had just completed year 11 lost his life. Every bit of help counts to give hope and prospects back to the local people. You can find out more about the work on the ground and how you can help here: https://www.chancen-nepal.de/
