The cracks running through the school building at Mikwakhola date back to the 2015 earthquake. A decade on, the building remains unsafe and at high risk of collapse, and putting that right is now the focus of the year ahead for The Pearl Lotus Fund.
When Mingma Sherpa, our Deputy Chair and Nepal Liaison, travelled to the area in June 2024, he met the Village Development Committee and local villagers, and the damaged school was flagged as a critical priority. Rather than rush, the VDC has taken a careful, responsible path: it engaged engineers to carry out a structural assessment, recommend solutions and provide accurate costings, and it has prepared quotations to rebuild.
The rebuild, known as the School Buildings Works Project, is projected at AU$100,000. Our Treasurer puts the likely range at $73,000 to $100,000, depending on how much recycled material can be used. To make a start, this year’s closing balance of $12,696.17 is being directed straight to the project.
That money goes a long way, because the majority of The Pearl Lotus Fund’s funds go directly to village projects rather than administration. The committee and members work voluntarily, donating their time so that donations reach the schools that need them.
If you would like to help us rebuild a safe school for the children of Mikwakhola, we would be very grateful. Now that The Pearl Lotus Fund holds DGR status, donations are tax-deductible.
