Page 15 - ROTO Magazine Winter 2022.pub

Rotary Magazine for District 1210

Rotarians work together to fund a school water and

sanitation project in Nepal

A Gurkha Meal to raise funds for a project in
Nepal was held on Sunday 26th June at
Stafford Grammar school and proved very
successful.
The event was attended by 200 Rotarians
and friends, including the Mayor and
Mayoress of Stafford Rotarian/Councillor
Philip Leason and Mrs Edith Leason,
together with District Governor Robyn
Davies and Past District Governor Trevor
Davies. The food was prepared and served
by the catering department of 248 Squadron
Gurkha Signals Squadron and those present
were entertained by a Gurkha piper, and the
famous Gurkha Kuri Dance.
The water and sanitation project is at Shree
Jayanti Secondary School in the village of
Kharigaira, Dailekh District in the east of
Nepal. The school provides education for
447 students who are taught by 23 teachers.
The condition of the toilet rooms is poor and there is no regular or consistent supply of water. In
addition, the school staff are sharing the toilet facilities with the students. The school only has one
source of water for drinking purposes; however water is only provided two times a day, early in the
morning and again late at night.

Funds for this project have been raised jointly by four Rotary Clubs (Eccleshall, Stafford, Stafford
Castle and Stafford Knot) with assistance from the Stafford based 248 Gurkha Signal Squadron and is
the third such project jointly funded in the last six years. The project has also been supported by a
substantial grant from the Rotary Foundation. The total cost of the project is just over £7,000.
The Gurkha Welfare Trust who are commissioning the work will construct a new toilet block close to
the main school building. This will consist of an additional four rooms which will provide gender-
separate and disabled access toilets.
Menstrual Hygiene Management
(MHM) toilet blocks are also to be
constructed.
The Gurkha Welfare Trust also
propose to install two new water
tanks which will provide a more
reliable water supply. New pipework
will improve the availability of
drinkable water and handwashing
facilities in the new toilet block.

A hygiene awareness programme
will also be delivered in the school
to advocate for handwashing and
proper use of the toilets. Following
completion of the project, the school
will be monitored to ensure the
school is being properly maintained.

WINTER 2022 ROTO 15