At ACS International Schools, we are committed to shaping a brighter future for all generations through our charitable status. Simply put, this means that we believe in giving back, supporting our local and international communities, and inspiring children to overcome the challenges of tomorrow’s world.
One example of us making a profound difference is our flagship humanitarian initiative, Project Nepal. Since its launch in 2014, the Project has supported students from low-income families in rural regions in Nepal. Each year, we travel to the country with our students to help contribute towards sustainable and long-term change, and over the last 10 years, it is safe to say that we have achieved that and more…
Building communities brick by brick
We started Project Nepal, firstly, because we wanted to develop our students’ commitment to service, social justice, and community involvement. Secondly, as an international school with students from more than 50 different nationalities, it is vital that we enable our students to work productively with diverse communities. Now, more than 200 students and staff from ACS Egham have travelled to Nepal to take part in the project and support the development of Nepali schools.
In 2023, the 10th anniversary of Project Nepal, our students helped construct Bhuwaneswari School: they shifted 10,000 bricks and multiple kilos of sand and stones – all by hand – to make cement for the upper floor. Our students then assisted in building the exterior and interior walls on the upper floor, where four new classrooms were being constructed for the Nepali students.
Similarly, back in 2016, our students completed the construction of two classrooms and shower and toilet blocks at Jana Bhawana School. They also rendered and painted the main school building and levelled land so that a community football pitch could be built. Furthermore, to ensure the building was robust and well-equipped, we funded lighting at the site, with an additional donation from the Rotary of London, Ontario, going towards the fitting of a new water tank.
Away from the construction work, but just as important as the bricks and mortar impact, our students spent time with the Nepali students: playing games, teaching them English words and phrases, and forging new friendships.
Photo: ACS International School Egham
In total, Project Nepal has seen our students help build over 10 classrooms, raise £12,000 for the Red Cross fund after the devastating consequences of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, provide over 1,000 much-needed books and educational resources, and donate countless shoes, clothing, backpacks and refurbished laptops to Nepali students.
Alongside the numbers, a highlight for me across the years has been the feedback we have received from our students, one of whom said: “I have definitely become more culturally aware. Being able to see how different cultures and countries live has really stuck with me. I have noticed that I have been more grateful for all the little things I didn’t notice I had before.”
Expansion: the scholarship programme
As part of the initiative, we also launched the Project Nepal Legacy Scholarship Programme in 2017. This supports higher education for low-income students from the rural region of Panchkal, who would otherwise be unable to afford college or university. Our Scholarship Programme thus provides additional opportunities that will benefit local Nepali students for the rest of their lives.
At ACS International Schools, we are committed to ensuring the longevity of the initiative. To kickstart the programme, we sponsored our first two students through a three-year bachelor’s degree at a local college in Panchkal, and fast forward to today, we have given nearly 30 Nepali students the opportunity to complete higher education in support of their career ambitions.
It brings me so much joy to say that 10 of these students have now graduated, with one student planning on working at a law firm. This student commented: “After I graduate, I am planning to work at a law firm to advocate against any forms of injustice. Likewise, I would like to provide pro bono services to those in need. I recently gave an awareness session to young girls and boys of Sindupalchock regarding sexual and gender-based violence.”
“Outreach projects offer an opportunity to teach young people how to operate in an increasingly interconnected world and build skills such as collaboration, problem-solving and decision-making.”
Adopting a whole school approach
Project Nepal doesn’t solely support students in Nepal: it also benefits our own students and the entire ACS Egham community. Teachers throughout our school use Project Nepal within the curriculum to raise awareness of social justice, and to promote cultural understanding and tolerance outside of their usual classroom setting. We also appeal to our network for support: this practice was best highlighted in 2018 when we distributed a call for donations that we could take to Jana Bhawana School. Incredibly, ahead of leaving for Nepal that year, we received over 1,500kg of teaching supplies, games, toys, and clothing collected from across our three UK schools in Egham, Cobham and Hillingdon. As another example, our kindergarten class recently ran a café and donated all money raised to Project Nepal.
Because of these far-reaching, long-lasting benefits, I believe that humanitarian outreach initiatives should be compulsory in all schools. Outreach projects offer an opportunity to teach young people how to operate in an increasingly interconnected world and build skills such as collaboration, problem-solving and decision-making. They also celebrate different cultures and teach us how to bring international communities together.
Practical tips for school leaders
- Work with an external provider to arrange humanitarian initiatives at your school. For Project Nepal, we partnered with a company that provides overseas expeditions for schools. Working with a provider enabled us to tailor the itinerary to suit our objective, which is to provide a well-rounded experience that includes project work, trekking and cultural exposure.
- Turn the project into a whole school initiative. Students of all ages, as well as the wider community, should be able to take part in meaningful activities that contribute to the main objective.
- Focus on longevity and legacy to ensure sustained impact. Our Project Nepal Legacy Scholarship Programme is a key example.
- Implement project-specific governance structures. Good governance is essential to the success of a long running humanitarian project. This ensures that decisions are not solely made by one person but includes the school’s leadership and other stakeholders.
Reflections
We are hugely proud to have recently celebrated Project Nepal’s 10th anniversary with a Garden Party, inviting former student participants as well as guests from Nepal. It served as the perfect moment to reflect on the real, tangible impact our humanitarian project has had.
If you or your school is considering implementing a humanitarian project, I strongly recommend that you do. For a decade, we have impacted the lives of many young people around the world and brought them together to create meaningful change.
Carmel Kelly is the Director of Project Nepal at ACS International School Egham.
