Man Kumari Tamang is an outstanding leader who is continuously working to give her students a better education. She is the principal of Milan Primary School, which is an anomaly in Nepal where school principals are almost always male. Not only does she shatter gender norms, but she also drives her community with a strong vision and commitment to educating the future of Nepal.
Man had just finished the Milan Primary School when the devastating earthquake struck Nepal on April 25.
Her classrooms collapsed. Stones, metal and boulders crushed the classrooms as the walls fell apart. It was impossible to continue having classes. Fortunately the earthquake occurred on a Saturday, so the children were not in class when the ceilings fell.
Children and Youth First was taken by Man’s steadfast determination to her students and her enthusiasm for education. We selected Milan Primary School to be one of the four schools with whom we partnered in our earthquake relief work. We have helped them build temporary shelters and classrooms, and we brought school supplies and toys to the children.
A CYF volunteer delivering whiteboards to the school. Man has been able to continue teaching classes using school supplies and temporary classrooms funded by CYF donors.
Man’s school originally taught up to third grade, but she wants to expand through fifth grade, making it a complete primary school. Milan Primary School is located in Chyasingkharka in the Kavrepalanchowk district. Kavre is one of the poorest districts in Nepal, and it suffered incredible losses in the earthquake -- including significant damage to many of its schools. According to Kathmandu Today, 255 schools in Kavre district have been damaged due to the devastating earthquake. Primary school in Nepal is supposed to be free and compulsory through fifth grade, but the Ministry of Education has not been working to rebuild thousands of schools ruined in the earthquake.
Starting in November, CYF will help Man rebuild her school building to create a safe, permanent space for her community’s children to learn.
An engineer at work, planning how to rebuild the lost sections of Man’s school.
Kamala, the head stitcher at CYF’s
Man is an inspirational community leader who is visibly changing Nepal’s future; thanks to our donors, CYF is able to support her incredible leadership and changemaking. You can directly support Man’s school rebuilding fund here in our donors’ store!
