School Rehabilitation

The devastating earthquake of April 25, 2015, not only destroyed homes but severely impacted the educational infrastructure of Nepal. Thousands of schools collapsed or were rendered unsafe, leaving students without classrooms and disrupting the academic year.

Recognizing that the continuity of education is vital for the recovery of a community, Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) Nepal transitioned its relief efforts from immediate food and medical aid to long-term rehabilitation. The organization identified the urgent need to provide safe, durable learning spaces for children in the worst-hit districts.

Earthquake-Resistant Design

To address this need, RSSB Nepal deployed a specialized construction initiative. The buildings utilized an earthquake-resistant design developed by RSSB engineers. This specific prototype had been successfully tested and utilized in previous disaster zones, including Gujarat, Kashmir, and Ladakh.

These structures served a dual purpose: acting as schools during the day to ensure students could return to their studies, and serving as community night shelters for families whose homes were destroyed.

Construction of Jalupadevi Secondary School

A representative example of this initiative was the reconstruction of the Jalupadevi Secondary School in Tokha, Kathmandu. The earthquake had caused significant damage to the school's existing infrastructure, halting teaching and learning activities.

Mobilizing quickly, a team of 40 volunteers (sevadars) from RSSB Nepal worked tirelessly to complete the construction of a new 10-room building in just one month. The project was executed entirely with voluntary labor and resources.

On July 17, the completed facility was handed over to the community. In a simple ceremony, RSSB Nepal’s then Chairperson Mr. Siddha Bahadur Baniya presented the keys to the School Management Committee Chairperson, Mr. Subaju Baniya. According to the school's Principal, Mr. Phanindra Khattri, this compassionate effort directly benefited 300 students, allowing them to resume their education in a safe environment.

The Jalupadevi School was part of a wider effort to restore community infrastructure. In the aftermath of the earthquake, RSSB Nepal constructed and handed over a total of 25 structures in the severely affected districts:

15 School Buildings
10 Community Buildings

By providing these earthquake-resistant structures along with necessary sanitation (toilet) facilities, RSSB Nepal endeavored to bring a semblance of normalcy back to the lives of students and teachers, ensuring that the pursuit of knowledge could continue even in the face of adversity.

Earthquake-Resistant Design

Construction of Jalupadevi Secondary School

Further Reading