SCHOOLS - Gurkha Charity · PDF file• Schools Programme: ... from help of any kind ... , providing shelter from the elements and an environment conducive to learning

RegisteredCharityNo.1103669

www.gwt.org.uk

SCHOOLS


www.gwt.org.uk

TheGurkhaWelfareTrusthasbeenworkinginNepalsince1969to“relievepovertyanddistressamongGurkhaveterans,theirdependantsandtheircommunities”.AstheleadcharityforGurkhawelfare,theGWTprovidesfinancial,medicalandcommunityaid,primarilyinNepal.TheTrust’smainpriorityistheprovisionofamonthlypensionof10,500NepaleseRupees(roughly£81.00)to5,233retiredGurkhasoldiersortheirwidows,whooftenhavenootherformofincome.Inadditiontothis,theTrustalsooffers

• Financialaid:AWinterFuelAllowanceispaidtoallpensioners,andHardshipGrantsandDisabilityGrantsarealsopaidtothosewithadditionalneeds.

• RuralWaterandSanitationProgramme:Eachyearatleast80waterandsanitationprojectsareinstalled,providingcleanwaterandteachingcommunitiesaboutpersonalandcommunityhygiene.

• SchoolsProgramme:TheTrustbuilds,extendsandrepairsschoolsinremotehillsidevillages,sofarbenefitingover600,000children.

• MedicalCare:TheTrustoffersmedicalcaretopensionersandthewidercommunity.ThisisdoneatourAreaWelfareCentres,inthepensioners’homes,andatourregularmobilemedicalcamps.

• ResidentialHomes:OurtwoResidentialHomesprovide24-hourcarefor52vulnerablepensioners.• CommunityCentres:TheTrustisbuildingfourCommunityCentresayeartoserveashealthposts,and

abaseintimesofemergency,aswellasaplacetomeetandcelebrateasacommunityineverydaylife.Wehave21AreaWelfareCentresinNepal,eachresponsibleforensuringcommunityprojectsarerunsmoothlyandthatlocalveteranshaveaccesstowelfareandmedicalsupport24hoursaday,365daysayear.Aworkforceof400staffismanagedfromaHQinPokharawhichis,inturn,managedfromanofficeintheUK.On25thApril2015,thefirstofaseriesofearthquakesandaftershockshitNepal.Atamagnitudeof7.8,itwasthecountry’slargestnaturaldisasterinover80years.On12thMay,therewasanaftershockmeasuring7.3,amagnitudesohighthatitwasconsideredasecondearthquake.Sincethen,Nepalhassufferedover500aftershocksmeasuringamagnitudeof4+.Over8,600peoplewerekilledandaround23,000injured.Kathmanduandthesurroundingareassufferedextensivedamagetobuildingsandinthemoreruralareas,farfromhelpofanykind,entirevillageswerecompletelylevelled.Morethanhalfamillionhousesweredestroyed,leavingaround3millionpeoplehomeless.Asanimmediateresponse,theTrustsentoutteamsofwelfareandmedicalstafftoassessthedamages,offeremergencyaidandtocheckonthewellbeingofourpensioners,manyofwhomliveinthemostremotevillagesinthehills.Ittookourstaffjustoveramonthtovisitthemall;sadly,13ofthemwerekilledandmanymorelostlovedones.Thedamagecausedwascatastrophic:

• 2,129pensioners’homeswereeitherdamagedordestroyed.• 161schools,78watersystems,and14ofour21AreaWelfareCentresweredamaged.

Ourlong-termsupporttorebuildGurkhacommunitiesincludesrebuildingschoolsandwatersystems,providingcommunitysupport,andexpandingourmedicalprogramme.Andthankstothegenerosityofoursupporters,over1,000pensionerhomesdestroyedintheearthquakeshavenowbeenrebuilt.

THE GURKHA WELFARE TRUST (GWT )

THE EARTHQUAKES


www.gwt.org.uk


www.gwt.org.uk

Theneed

Nepalisthefourthmostclimate-vulnerablecountryintheworld,andthesecondpoorestcountryinAsia.Thelackofinfrastructuremeansthatitiscommonforchildrentowalkforuptotwohourseachwaytotheirnearestschoolandthejourneycanbearduous,evendangerous.Theseriesofdevastatingearthquakesandaftershockswhichtookplacein2015destroyedanestimated25,000classrooms.Thelossofruralschoolsmakesattendanceincreasinglydifficultforchildrenwhoareunabletoattendanotherschoolandarenowforcedtolearnintemporaryshelters.Thesecorrugatedironsheltersarehotinthesummer,theyletinthemonsoonrains,andtheyfailtokeepoutthecoldinthewinter.ThelossofresourceshascompoundedthealreadymomentouschallengeofprovidinganadequateeducationforyoungpeopleacrossNepal.Ourschools

OurSchoolsProgrammeispartofourwiderprogrammeofsupportingthedevelopmentofinfrastructureinNepal.OurschoolsarebuiltinthetraditionalGurkharecruitmentregions,includingareasinthehillswhicharehometomanyvillageswithpoorornoroadaccess.TheschoolswebuildtypicallyhaveahighpercentageofchildrenfromServicefamilies,familieslivinginpoverty,andmarginalisedcastes.Bybuildinginruralcommunities,ourschoolsreachthedemographicthathasbeenshowntobeworstaffectedbyilliteracy,whereasignificantpositiveimpactcanbemade.AllschoolprojectsundertakenbytheTrusthavebeenrequestedbythelocalcommunityviaourAreaWelfareCentres.OurstafftrektoeachvillagetoassesstheneedbeforesubmittingaprojectproposalandrecommendationtoourHQinPokhara.Projectsareprioritisedintermsofneed,ourexistingworkprogramme,andabilitytomeetcosts.TheTrustfunds,plansandsupervisesallworkundertakenundertheSchoolsProgramme,withthelocalcommunitycontributingtothetotalprojectcostsandconstruction.Eachsecondaryschoolweconstructisbuilttoearthquake-resistantstandardsandbenefitsfromaminimumofsixclassrooms,toilets,washbasins,wastedisposalunits,furnitureandalibrary.Wealsoensurethateachschoolhasawatersupply.Whenfundingpermits,wealsoprovideplaygrounds,sciencelabs,andperimeterfencing.TheTrustbenefitsfromextensiveexperience,havingcompletednearly2,000schoolprojectsinthelast28years.Weutiliselocallabourandresources,andourstructuresdemonstratesoundengineeringandconstructionprinciples.During2016/17,wecompletedalmost240schoolprojects,including14majorschoolconstructions,36majorrefurbishments,and25schoolextensions.

OUR SCHOOLS PROGRAMME


www.gwt.org.uk

SCHOOLS TO B E R EBUI LT OVER 2017/ 18

DandaKharkaSchool,Nuwakot ShreeShreeSecondarySchool,Ramechhap

ShreeHimalayaHigherSecondarySchool,Gorkha

ShreePanchakanyaSchool,Diktel ShreeJanajagritiSchool,Dolakha


www.gwt.org.uk

SCHOOLS TO B E R EBUI LT OVER 2017/ 18

BhojpurMultipleCampus,Bhojpur ShreeSineshwari,Num

ShreeSaraswotiSecondarySchool,Ramechhap

ShikhaHigherSecondarySchool,Parbat VidhyaMandirHigherSecondarySchool,Baglung


www.gwt.org.uk

Our Schools Programme is putting childrenwho are learning in temporary shelters back into purpose-builtclassrooms,providingshelterfromtheelementsandanenvironmentconducivetolearning.Inadditiontoworkinearthquake-affectedareas,werebuildtwoschoolseachyearinothercommunitiesthatrequestourhelpduetotheirschool’sdilapidatedcondition.AcrossourSchoolsProgramme,wearefindingthefollowing:Improvedhealth

Ourclassroomsarecleanandwehaveseenareductioninrespiratoryproblemsduetothecleanerairchildrenbreathe.OpendefecationiscommoninNepalanditisknowntocauseseriousdiseases.Allourschoolscomewithtoiletfacilities, and subsequently children are taught to use toilets from an early age. The health and hygieneeducationthatchildrenreceiveatschoolisinturnpassedontoothers,includingthechildren’sparents.Villagesthathaveanunderstandingofhygieneandaccesstocleanwaterareseeinga95%reduction inwaterbornediseases.Increasedattendance

Ourschoolsprovideasafeandcleanenvironmentforchildren. Theknowledgethatourschoolsarebuilttoearthquake-resilientstandardsencouragesparentstosendtheirchildrentoschool.Attendance of girls has increased due to the gender-separate toilet blocks provided as part of our schoolspackage.Asgirlsgetolder,theirneedforprivacyincreases.Theabsenceofschooltoiletsiscauseformanysecondaryageschoolgirlstodropoutofeducation.Improvedhealthmeansthatbothchildrenandteacherstakelesstimeoffwithillness,improvingeducationforchildrenaswellastheirfutureprospects.Safety

NepaldoesnothaveahealthandsafetycultureasweknowitintheUK,butbyprovidingfencing,footpathsandsmoothsteps,weimprovethesafetyofourschools.Opportunitiesforsport

Bylandscapingandprovidingplaygrounds,childrenhavemoreopportunitiestoparticipateinsport.Improvedqualityofeducation

Ourcleanandstructurallysoundbuildingspromoteapositiveworkingenvironmentandtheexcellentreputationof our schools attracts better quality, qualified teachers. Consequently, many schools are reporting animprovementinstudentexampassrates.Communityinvolvement

Weencouragethelocalcommunitytocontributetothebuildingofourschoolsthroughthedonationoflabour,giftsinkind,orcash.Thisensuresthatthecommunityareinvestedintheschoolandpromotesadesiretoworkcontinuouslytowardstheimprovementoftheircommunity.Ourprojectsempowerpeopletoworktogetherasacommunitytoshapethefutureoftheirvillage.

IMPACT


www.gwt.org.uk


www.gwt.org.uk

SituatedinthehillsoftheGorkharegionisThalajung,aremotevillageaccessibleviaaseasonaldirtroad.Thelocalschool,AhalBhanyanj,providesaneducationto198childrenrangingfromnurserytoyear10.Pre-Earthquake

AhalBhanyanjwasestablishedasaprimarylevelschoolin1953,withsupportfromtheIndianSoldierBoard.In1968,itwasexpandedtoalowersecondaryschoolandhasofferedplacestosecondaryschoolchildrensince1980.PriortotheearthquakesinApril2015,theschoolwasinneedofrenovationandhadrequestedsupportfromtheGWT.TheEarthquake

Duringtheearthquakesof25April2015,mostoftheinfrastructure,includingclassroomsandtoilets,collapsedorwerebadlydamaged.Thebuildingsleftstandingwerealltoodangeroustoenter.Theschoolsetupsheltersmadeoutofcorrugatediron,whichwereusefulasatemporarymeasure,butwhichletinthecoldandrainandfailedtoprovidethehygienic,warmandwell-equippedsettingcriticaltoaconducivelearningenvironment.Therewasadesperateneedforamodern,structurallysafeschoolwiththefacilitiestodeliveragoodstandardofeducation.TheRebuild

Constructiononthenewschool,anineroom,double-storeybuilding,startedinDecember2015andwascompletedinJune2016.ThebuildingwasdesignedincompliancewiththeNationalBuildingCodeofNepal,andlocallabourandresourceswereusedwhereverappropriatetomaketheprojectcost-effective.Likeallofourschools,AhalBhanyanjisbuilttoahigh,earthquake-resilientstandardanddemonstratessoundengineeringandconstructionprinciples.Theschoolhasbeenfittedwithelectricalwiringandplugsocketsandafalseceilinghasbeeninstalledtoreduceheat.Boththeinsideandoutsideoftheschoolhavebeenpainted,andthewastedisposalincineratorandtoiletfacilitieshavebeenrenovated.TheImpact

Theschoolisonceagainabletoofferasuitablelearningenvironmentandthefullrangeofcurricularsubjects,whicharevitaltopreparingchildrenforlifeafterschool.Thankstotheelectricwiring,theschoolcanonceagainofferICTasacompulsorysubjectfromyear6.Theheadmaster,BishnuPrasadBhatta,toldus,“TheTLCs[temporaryclassrooms]hadvariousproblemsfrombeinghotandhumidtoleakingwhenitrained.Fortunately,shortlyafter,TheGurkhaWelfareTrustcametobuildusan8-classroombuildinginourtimeofcrisis.I,astheHeadmasteroftheschool,wouldliketosayahugethankyoutoTheGurkhaWelfareTrustforbuildingusanewearthquake-resistantschoolblock”.

CASE STUDY : AHAL BHANYAN J S CHOOL

Damagetotheschoolbuilding

Construction

Thecompletedschoolbuilding


www.gwt.org.uk

TheCostOverthecomingyear2017/18,wewillbebuilding14schoolscostingbetween£27,000and£157,000each.

Wewillspendover£1milliononourSchoolsProgrammethisyear.Weprovideallfundersofourschoolprojectswithupdatesonourprogress,andacompletionreport.Forlargergifts,wealsoprovideaplaqueontheschoolinacknowledgementofsupportwehavereceived.Abreakdownofthetypicalcostofourvariousschoolbuildsisbelow.

Item 4Classrooms 6Classrooms 8Classrooms10Classrooms

Schoolbuilding(Stone&CGIRoof) £24,327 £52,872 £66,885 £77,851Toiletblock(3roomrebuild/repair) £3,077 £4,615 £4,615 £6,153Combofurniture(50pairs) £1,154 £1,923 £1,923 £2,306Incinerator £191 £191 £191 £191Librarybooksandwoodenracks £1,154 £1,537 £1,537 £1,537ScienceLab £- £1,769 £1,769 £1,923Playgroundlevelling £1,154 £1,154 £1,154 £1,154Compoundfencing-stone/barbed/chainlink £2,306 £3,461 £4,615 £5,769

Staffcost-(6to12months) £4,618 £6,303 £7,146 £9,237SUBTOTAL £37,986 £73,829 £89,840 £106,126Contingency+10% £3,798 £7,382 £8,984 £10,612TOTAL £41,784 £81,212 £98,824 £116,739Alltotalsareanestimateandbeforevillagecontributionhasbeendeducted.AllfiguresarebasedonaconversionrateofNPR130/£.

CO ST AND D ES IGN OF MA JOR REBU I LD PRO J ECT S


www.gwt.org.uk

In 2016/17 GWT had an income of£19,711,000 and expenditure of£21,059,000, with our main source ofincome being charitable donations,legaciesandgovernmentgrants.The Trust has a long-term ConstructiveObligation, as defined by SORP 2015, inrespect of its Welfare Pensions. Thisconsiders the levelofbenefitagreed forWelfarePensionsfortheyear,takingintoaccountthe inflationrate,anestimationof5,325pensionerswithanaverageageof79.28,andthatonthedeathofanex-Gurkhathepensionwillbetransferredtoasurvivingwidow.TherearealsoGurkhasfromtheBritishandIndianArmiesnotinreceipt of a Service Pension who mayapplyforaWelfarePensioninthefuture.After taking the Constructive Obligationinto account, the Trust’s free reserves,which exclude tangible fixed assets,amount to £10,557,000. This represents70%ofthedesiredlevelofreserves.Nepal is a volatile and unpredictablecountry in which to operate. Over thepast 10 years the country has beenaffected by a Maoist revolution, majorearthquakes,blockades,andan inflationranging from 2.3% to 13.8%. In thisenvironment, the trustees have decidedthey should hold around one year’sregularexpenditure,£15m,asreservestoenable us to meet most of theunexpected risks. In these publishedaccounts, we are £4.4m short of ourobjective.

2016/17

IncomingResources

DonationsandGifts £7,830,000

Legacies £4,200,000

Grants £4,575,000

InvestmentIncome £2,538,000

OtherIncome £568,000

Total £19,711,000

OutgoingResources

DirectCharitableExpenditure £18,907,000

Fundraising/Publicity £1,827,000

OtherOutgoingResources £325,000

Total £21,059,000

OperatingSurplus/(Deficit) (£1,348,000)

Gains/(Losses)onInvestments

Realised £606,000

Unrealised £5,898,000

MovementinConstructiveObligation (£975,000)

NetMovementinFunds £4,181,000

FundsBroughtForward £20,486,000

TotalNetAssets £24,667,000

RestrictedFunds £133,000

DesignatedFunds £12,151,000

GeneralUnrestrictedFunds £12,383,000

OUR F INANCES


www.gwt.org.uk

TheGWTmonitorsitsprojectstoensurethateachoneisdoneefficiently,effectively,andwillhaveasustainableimpactonsociety.TheTrustisveryexperiencedinthislineofwork,havingcompletedmanyprojectsinthepast,andhasagoodunderstandingofNepal.Weproduceprogressandcompletionreportsandafterabuildhasfinished,weconductregularvisitstomonitorthestateofthebuildingsandassessthequalityandlevelofmaintenance.TheTrusthassignificantconnectionsandrelationshipswithcentralandlocalgovernmentandcivilsociety.Atanationallevel,allourprojectsaresanctionedbytheBrigadeofGurkhas’WelfareCoordinationCommittee(BGWCC)atanannualmeetingchairedbyNepal’sDefenseSecretaryandattendedbytheSecretariatsofvariousNepalGovernmentMinistries.OurcommunityprojectsarecertifiedandendorsedbytheVillageDevelopmentCommittees(VDC)andDistrictDevelopmentCommittees(DDC)priortocommencement.SchoolprojectsarealsoagreedwiththeSchoolManagementCommittees(SMC).AllprojectsarethenincludedintheDistrictDevelopmentPlan(DDP).OurstaffattendmeetingsoftheDDC.Onceaprojectiscompleted,itishandedovertotheVDCatanofficialceremonyattendedbyrepresentativesofthevariouscommittees.WealsoworkinpartnershipwithotherNGOs,mostnotablytheKadoorieAgriculturalAidAssociation.

MONITOR ING AND EVALUAT ION

SCHOOLS - Gurkha Charity · PDF file• Schools Programme: ... from help of any kind ... , providing shelter from the elements and an environment conducive to learning

Documents