Bamboo Schools, Nepal

The cost of building one bamboo school for 1000 students is only $45,000 US.

Uttam Sanjel

Nepal’s extreme poverty and the lack of a government infrastructure deprive many Nepalese children of an education. These children, especially girls who are rarely allowed to attend school, have no hope for a better future.

Karuna-Shechen has partnered with Uttam Sanjel, a visionary young Nepali, to construct schools quickly and efficiently using bamboo. Bamboo is inexpensive, strong, earthquake proof, and easy to find. Using it as the main construction material with corrugated iron roofs, lowers the budget for construction 60%.

The first Bamboo School opened in Baudha in 2001 and now has 4,000 pupils and 100 teachers. It was soon followed by four more schools providing a total of 15,000 children (over half are girls) an education. Uttam’s aim is to create a Bamboo School in each of Nepal’s 75 districts.

To invest money in the Bamboo Schools is to work directly for the future of Nepal. Please contact us if you would like to help build a school or support the operating expenses of an existing one.