Teaching in Thamel

by RISHI AMATYA

FROM ISSUE # 133 (January 2007) | IN THIS ISSUE
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In the middle Thamel's chaos, The Learning Centre on the busy side street of Bhagwan Bahal is an unexpected oasis of calm. It's a Godavari Alumni Association (GAA's) initiative that strives to provide quality education for working children, adults, and youth. Since it opened in June 2006, TLC has been run by an enthusiastic group of young teachers, most of them volunteers.

 "My experience in education taught me about the dismal quality of government schools," says TLC's director Raphael Pradhan. That's why the centre runs three simultaneous projects: Partnership in Education (PIE) classes provides tuition for grades 8 to 10 government school students, Continual and Remedial Education (CARE) has remedial education for displaced and working children, and Adult Literacy Clases (ALC) for working women. Each features basic level English, Math, and Nepali classes for a nominal fee. There are already 200 students, with other communities requesting similar programs.

"It's the personal satisfaction at the end of the day that brings me here," says Aashis Joshi, 20, volunteer teacher (CARE) and administrative staff. Kelsang Lama, 24, says it's her love for teaching that motivates her, and Phadindra Khattri, 28, agrees; "The feeling that you've shown someone the way to the literate world is so rewarding. Plus, my work also serves the community, which motivates me to continue teaching."