Salisbury schoolgirls help re-build school in Nepal

Published on isbi School News dated Wednesday 12th of April 2017

15 girls from the Sixth Form of Godolphin have recently returned from the trip of a life-time to Nepal. Having heard about the devastating effects of the major earthquake in 2015, the whole school decided that they wanted to do something to help. The immediate response was a generous donation sent to the relief agencies. Some however wanted to do more and so began 18 months of fundraising and planning for a two week trip to the stricken country. The primary aim of the trip was to help paint and reconstruct a sanitation block at a local school in Kathmandu. Although the main school building demolished by the earthquake has been rebuilt, the sanitation block was very basic with staff, girls and boys having to share the same facilities. The Godolphin girls immediately got stuck in by clearing rubble, repainting the walls inside and out, sifting cement, stacking bricks and, once part of the new block was complete, knocking down the old walls in order to make space for a new teachers’ block. They even managed to move a 2000 litre water tank to a new position, which took considerable grit and determination. As well as their work on the sanitation block, the girls also improved the outside environment of the school by plastering walls and then painting a mural to bring some colour to the area where children play. The expedition leader from Global Action, Tim Willis, was extremely impressed by the girls. In conversations afterwards, he said that they were one of the best groups that he has ever led in terms of organisation, discipline and engagement. The experience had a profound effect on the girls involved. Speaking afterwards, they said, ‘It was really good to know that we have been part of something that will have a real and lasting impact, helping to make the lives of other children more healthy. We never thought we would be so good at knocking down walls!’