All hands on deck as Kirrie Rotary drive Nepal project

Kirriemuir Rotarians continue to put a determined effort into their ambitious project to support communities and colleagues in Nepal.

And this at a time when many Rotary Clubs across the country are quiet with the traditional handover of the president’s chain and change in conveners.

Working with the Rotary Club of the Himalayan Gurkhas, Kirriemuir Rotarians have already delivered major support to rebuild a school, build toilet blocks and reinstate water supplies to remote villages affected by the devastating earthquake in April 2015.

The club has embarked on a six-figure project to ensure that all eight schools in the Syangja District with more than 200 pupils have a toilet block with water and sanitation.

“Such facilities are important to the health and wellbeing of pupils, particularly girls as they reach puberty,” said a Rotary spokesman.

“Without these facilities these girls are most likely to stay at home and so are deprived of education at a critical time.

“We are also aware that many of the teachers are poorly trained or have no training at all and where learning does take place it is by rote.

“Often children are left in classrooms on their own.

“We plan to work with our Gurkha partners and the charity First Step Himalaya to introduce an early years education support programme to the schools in the Syangia district.”

Fundraising activities include an auction on July 21 in Kirrie Town Hall, followed by a speakers’ dinner on September 27. “Support has been tremendous and we are well on our way to reaching our target,” the club said.