situated 8-12 hours by bus depending on the road conditions – 4 hours on foot
Elevation 1850 mtrs
Village population: 2000 approx.
Students: 110
attending 90
non attending students 20 (aged between 5-6 years old).
Reason for not attending school: Parents do not believe it is necessary to send them to school at such an early age
Uniforms are compulsory but if a parent cannot afford to buy a uniform the village will help these parents.
There are no school fees
Parents have to buy copy books and pens.
Poor students are assisted by village committee
There 4 school terms
The children are taught basic english
We first visited Maguwa village on our way to the Manaslu trek. Our guide at the time Thag Bahadur invited our group to stay at his village Buddithum which is the neighbouring village and the home of one of our Sherpa staff. As we were kindly invited we decided to take some much need equipment to both Buddithum and Maguwa (Sarawathi) school's as a donation of gratitude. This equipment included 300 copy books, 300 pens and pencils, all of which were purchased in Kathmandu for the small sum of Aust$60. As well as books and pens we took much needed warm clothing for both adults and children.
After visiting the school I realised that some of the class rooms and the principal room was in need of repair, the roof leaked and the mud wall's were beginning to collapse. The children were in desperate need of toilet amenities and piping to pump water to the school.
Each classroom accomodates 30 children in a very small area. Some rooms were equipped with desks and chairs but they were in need of repair or replaced. Each room had one small window which let in very little light.
On my return home I approached Lindfield East Public School to assist me with finances to help build new classrooms and repairs old ones. Thanks to the children and parents of LEPS the children at Sarawasi School now have 2 new classrooms a teachers room, toilet and water connected to the school. All of this work was achieved by 4 volunteers including myself and the assistance of the village committee parents and children.
The children from both schools are now corresponding, and I will be returning to the school this November when we hope to accomplish plastering all the class room walls ready for winter.
