A massive earthquake of 7.8 magnitudes hit central Nepal on April 25, 2015, killing about 9000
people and destroying about 600,000 structures. The epicenter was in Gorkha, about 77 km
northwest of Kathmandu, the capital city of the country. There were several aftershocks for
many days, the biggest being the 7.3 magnitudes on May 12. As we can expect, many school
buildings were also destroyed, making them unable to resume their activities. Small schools in

rural and remote areas were worst affected, not only because they were heavily destroyed but
because no attention could be given to them for immediate reconstruction.
Realizing the difficulties the earthquake hit people were facing, many national and international
people, organizations, and governments began to send their support in many different forms.
Mobilizing its network, CESON also tried to collect some information focusing on rural areas to
assess if it could do anything as its support to resume the classes, at least in a few schools. It
also requested its national and international contacts if they could mobilize some support.
Fortunately, CESON received the support of 170,000 Thai Baht (equivalent to USD 5014) from
Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand. An MOU was signed on 29 May 2015 between the
CESON and Kasetsart University for supporting at least two schools in Sindhupalchok and
Dolakha districts, mainly to create an appropriate child-friendly learning environment in those
schools. Located northwest of Kathmandu, the two districts were among the worst-hit districts.
CESON representatives then visited a few locations in two districts and discussed with local
people, school stakeholders, and district education officials. It was then decided that the support
would go to two schools in Dolakha district and four schools in Sindhupalchowk district. In
Dolakha, Charnawati Lower Secondary School and Kalika Higher Secondary School of
Ghyangthokar were supported, and in Sindhupalchok, Setidevi Secondary School, Chamuna
Devi Lower Secondary School, Diwashishu Syahar Primary School, and Mahendradaya Higher
Secondary School were supported. Support such as corrugated zinc sheet was provided to build
the temporary learning centers in each school. School bags were provided to the students. The
support from the Youth Thinkers Society of Nepal was also very meaningful in the support to
schools. Upon receiving the materials and support, the schools mobilized resources from the
local parents, mainly in the form of labor and some construction materials, used some materials
from the destroyed school buildings, and erected temporary shades. These supports were not
adequate for their needs. Nevertheless, with this small support, they could resume their schools
somehow.