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With the sudden and rapid spike in the Covid-19 cases in people living in core city areas, the Government has imposed a week long curfew in Kathmandu valley starting from August 20th till August 26th 2020. Since the lockdown eased there has been an active public mobility and movement owing to rise in the Covid-19 cases in Kathmandu valley. So, for a while there will be certain restrictions to abide by the public to help curb the spread of the Coronavirus. The year 2020 has definitely been a testing time for everyone across the globe but we choose not to defeat and keep fighting till we completely overcome this adverse situation and get back to living a normal life.

Interesting Nepal Festival Facts

Janai Purnima is a Hindu festival that falls on the Shrawan month (August month) in the Nepali calendar and is celebrated by almost every Nepalese community. This festival is significantly considered to be a pure and sacred festival whereas Janai means holy thread and purnima is the full moon. On this occasion, men belonging to Brahmin and Chettris caste change their Janai (Holy Thread) after taking a bath in a river. This day Nepalese especially Hindu people receive Raksha Bandhan , a thread around their wrist from priests and rakhi (another term) that is to celebrate the bond between brothers and sisters. This day sisters tie a rakhi (colourful thread or band) around the wrist of their brothers praying for their well-being and long and healthy life.

Teej or Haritalika Teejis another widely celebrated festival in Nepal especially by women that comes on the month of Bhadra (August Month) in Nepali calendar. This festival is primarily celebrated by married women for their husband’s long life, well-being and prosperous future.  The first day of this festival is called a “Dar khane din” in Nepali language that means a day where they enjoy a sumptuous feast with their family before midnight. And on the second day they observe a rigid fasting the whole day without even drinking a drop of water. The main day they are finely dressed up and wear new attire with jewellery. On this day they dance, sing and enjoy the whole day with their friends. 

YouMe School, Khotang Reports

Public Speaking Training for our teachers

Communication skill is always a crucial part in teaching profession as creating the connection to what you say to your students is what forms a valid relationship between a teacher and a student. Hence, with the ongoing situation of the Coronavirus pandemic we had 10 days virtual public speaking training organized for the teachers of YouMe School, Khotang. Six teachers from our school participated in this training. The main purpose of the training was to improve and learn more the process where our teachers could work on to better their communication and public speaking ability. Meanwhile, this course will facilitate our teachers to learn to give an effective speech and presentation with professional and structured techniques. Likewise, our teachers are excited to have this opportunity utilized in future where they could help our students to develop public speaking and communication skills and boost confidence they will need in life.

Third floor building upgrades completion

 The Third Floor upgrade in YouMe School finally completed last week. Though the school is closed at the moment due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we can’t wait for our students to see their renewed and improved school. Also, we can’t take away the fact that having a good infrastructure in school can directly impact the performances of students and their overall development. So, we strive to serve the best we could to help our students achieve the expected academic results and their comprehensive psychological well-being too.

 Teacher’s Corner

Our school has always welcomed people hailing from different societies and celebrated diverse cultures and people from different walks of life whose common goal is only to provide a quality education with equal opportunities in the community. Today we have our student’s favorite teacher as they would like to say, Kedar Thapa sharing some of his experiences and his educational journey with us.

Namaste, I am Kedar Thapa. Currently, I am engaged as an educator at YouMe School, Khotang.

1. How did you come to know about this place and our school?

Well, it was a bright summer day at Kathmandu during early April of the Year 2019. My friend Drishya Dhakal informed me about a primary level’s teacher vacancy for maths & science here at YouMe School, Khotang, and referred me to its Office at Baneshwor. Drishya, my friend then already had served at YouMe’s project at Limchugbung public school as coordinator. The next day without any delay I went to their office. After a few hours of interview & discussion, we agreed on terms and after a couple of days, I made my way here by the 7/8 hours of journey via meandering hills, mountains & rivers.

 2. Being a resident of Kathmandu, what made you take the decision of coming to this place and become a teacher at our school?

Being a resident of Kathmandu, why I chose to work at a faraway remote village away from family & friends, well, one way it seems like missing all those opportunities you can grab being around Kathmandu but what about all those new, awesome, unique opportunities that could be faced & experienced only by taking such a leap of faith. In nutshell, the job perfectly fitted my interests & inclinations and struck me as a good chance to learn & grow further & give back something valuable to humanity. Besides, I come to love & admire the hills, greenery, weather, people, beauty & pristine nature of this place. 

3. Please tell us about your impression of being a teacher at our school and share some of your experiences with us.

Previously I had two years of teaching experience in a private school at Kathmandu. Comparatively, I found this school well-facilitated and constantly upgrading itself. The scholarship is granted for economically deprived, orphans, laborious & deserving pupils. Also, the monthly fee is quite low & feasible compared to other private schools. But there are also several downsides of being located at a remote place. It’s difficult to hire skilled, stable human resources. Also, some children have to walk 2/3 hours to come to school. Many parents here are uneducated or mildly educated which makes it difficult to create a sound environment for learning at home. Alcoholism is another big cultural & social issue. But with gradual urbanization, access to the internet & mass awareness the prospects of this place and the school itself is really bright.

Well, my experience as a teacher at this school is just a small part of all those wonderful moments I am grateful to experience & enjoy. It’s not that everything was always great every time but why to spoil those beautiful memories with regrets & complaints! Besides, weakness should be worked on not talked about. Lastly, all the students, teachers & people around, their simplicity, grace & love will be forever carved in my heart. I am a lot grateful for YouMe, Sharad Sir and life itself to bless me with such a unique experience.  

Teachers Teej celebration

The celebration spirit of our teachers from Khotang was quite fun to see as they donned their finest sarees and beautiful ornaments on this occasion. However, given the current situation the full celebration with dancing and singing in a group couldn’t take place. But they still managed to celebrate with their closed ones company in a safe way. 

YouMe School, Biratnagar Reports

Amid the Covid-19 cases escalation, Biratnagar decided to go under lockdown from July 27th 2020 until the further notice which was re-imposed again after a surge in the Covid-19 cases in the city. The local governments are taking serious restrictions regarding lockdown to help contain the spread of the Coronavirus. All the educational institutions are still  shut considering the current circumstances. We are still following the phone call course to keep in touch with our children and parents. Although, Grade VIII and Grade IX students online classes are ongoing. And amid the crisis we are happy to share that all our kids are safe and protected. 

Teej Special from our teachers from YMS, Morang

Besides, the religious significance festival of Teej is all about women, on this day they dress up in beautiful red sarees, ornaments; eat varieties and extravagant foods with friends and family. We can actually see women dancing and singing the whole day tirelessly enjoying themselves on an empty stomach with no complaints. 

Thank you for reading.

See you next time!!!