Educating the Less Fortunate

For more than a decade Fort Collins Rotary After Work has supported schools and schoolchildren in many less fortunate locations around the world. Presently our two major projects in this program are in Nepal and the Philippines. 

NEPAL

Sandwiched between India and Chinese Tibet, much of Nepal lies in the Himalayas. Everest is in the far East of the country on the border with Tibet and much of the land is high mountains and deep valleys. 

The 23rd poorest country in the world, it is also unlucky. In 2015 earthquakes destroyed or damaged 7,923 schools in Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world. The image above is of a dangerously damaged school that risks the lives of the students. Fewer than 3,000 of the schools damaged or destroyed have been rebuilt. Fort Collins Rotary After Work (RAW) has rebuilt 9 of those schools. Above is a picture of a quake-damaged school and below is the new replacement building. 

Each school costs about $9,000 to rebuild using modern materials and quake-proof techniques. The villagers provide all the labor and RAW provides the materials through our representatives in Kathmandu. 

Less than 5,000 schools left to rebuild!

RAW has "adopted" each of the villages where we have rebuilt quake-damaged schools. We pay for school supplies and uniforms and other assistance including medical supplies to regional clinics. RAW also tests the eyesight of students and their parents and provides prescription glasses to everyone who needs them.

2024 Floods

On September 27 and 28 this region was inundated by nearly a foot of rain. This caused flooding and massive landslides in the steep mountain valleys where RAW's villages nestle. 

The floods damaged the foundation of one school and swept away construction materials already collected to rebuild it. They also damaged other RAW village schools. Two students were lost in the floods and the only road to Kathmandu was washed away.

Our intrepid agent in Kathmandu, Sudip, rode his motorcycle eight hours to review the damage to RAW's schools.

PHILIPINNES

The Republic of the Philippines encompasses more than 7,600 islands and has a population of over 114 million. Its GDP/capita is approximately one-eight that of the United States. 

Cadalian Elementary School is our newest international project supporting education for the less fortunate. Located in a poor, multi-lingual, semi-rural suburb of Davao City on the island of Mindanao, it has student from several ethnic groups. However, all education is in English. 

Partnering with the Rotary Club of Davao 2000, RAW has constructed the school's first indoor toilet.