Building Toilets (Story of Transformation 3)

If you were given opportunity to redecorate or spruce up any place, you think is the most important part of your every day life, where would you do that? Kitchen- of course, it may come if you are a foodie or if you are a book lover, study room may be your choice or your bed room, or living room or any other room but for Bishisht Bhatta, it's the 'TOILET', the place which is rarely discussed; but where everyone either you are a foodie or a sleepy head, book worm or something other that interests you, everyone is obliged to go.

Bishisht, 24, an undergraduate student of computer engineering is also a freelance full stack web app developer was previously the volunteer of Nepal Wireless.  He also shares experience of helping Mahabir Pun, Magsaysay award winner, in extending a server in 2011. He had no any previous idea about how the school education system has been functioning here in Nepal and was shocked to notice the gloomy picture when he happened to reach Achham district. Now, he has been working as a volunteer teacher of Shodasha Devi Higher Secondary School, Achham.

Shodasha Devi Higher Secondary School, Achham.

He has a very interesting story of how he started to work in Shodasha School. He was in Kathmandu, when he got a call from his dad who has been working in a Vet office in Achham to do some website development for his office. He accepted his dad's request thinking that he could travel a new place and know about it as travelling is one of his hobbies. Without any delay, he took a bus to Mahendranagar then to Achham. While he was just roaming around the place, he overheard two teachers complaining about the students of government school and got to know that the teachers were some kind of tension because of the upcoming S.L.C examination. Then he went towards them and asked them what their problem was. He found out that there was lack of teachers in the school. Abruptly he thought about volunteering there and asked them whether he can teach there or not? But they overlooked his interest saying that the school was far and he may not be able to work. So he went to the District Education Office, there and met the staffs and talked to them about his qualification and his interest in working as a teacher in the school. This amazed the whole office. But they were convinced with him and offered him to teach Science, which he happily accepted. Since then, he is teaching science to grade ten students in Achham. 

School's toilet

He wasn't moved with the fact that he would not be given any payment for his work, but he was really very uncomfortable to see the condition of toilet in his school. Most important part of the whole thing is that after working as a teacher he knew that there are various problems due to which the quality of education is diminishing. But more than that he was startled to find out that toilet as the main reason of school drop out there.
That's why now he has started a fund raising campaign to build a toilet in his school since 15th November and has a target to collect $2000. By now he has raised $496. Along with building toilet he has a wish to manage sanitary pads for girls of Achham, who find a big issue during their menstruation period.  While talking to him I really found him very optimistic on this regard though he knows that there are going to be some hurdles in his work. He is ready to face the downs as well. He,taking the help of Sam Cookie's song says 'A change is gonna come'.

Here by, let us help Bishisht in his mission of building the toilet for his students at his school at Achham. Our small support can help him and his students a lot as we know that building adequate WASH facilities in schools is key to ensure that girls stay in school and complete their education.


P.S. Please visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-to-build-toilets-in-remote-area-of-Nepal/1002722196420454
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/building-toilets-in-a-goverment-school-in-nepal#home