Activities of Sunsari Access Fourth Cohort

Graduation Ceremony of Sunsari Access Students

The two years’ Access program in Sunsari and Morang Access centers ended in 2016. The graduation ceremony of Morang and Sunsari Access was held on July 14, 2016 at Itahari Sunsari. The program was attended by 80 Access students and their parents. In the program, Morang Access student, Anjana Niroula and Sunsari Access student, Antim Rai shared their experience of Access program and expressed their commitment in further enhancing their skills and excel in life. The program was graced by the presence of RELO Russell Barczyk, RELO specialist Bishwa Raj Gautam, Access Focal person Hemanta Raj Dahal, Assistant District Education Officer of Sunsari. In the program, the ninth volume of Access Newsletter was also released.

RELO Russell Barczyk, RELO Specialist Bishwa Raj Gautam, Access focal person Hemanta Raj Dahal and Assistant DEO of Sunsari during the graduation program

Morang Access instructor Khem Acharya receiving a ‘Letter of Appreciation’ from his own Access student

Access Sunsari Organizes ‘Earth Day cum Community Service

Sunsari Access center celebrated ‘Earth Day’ with community service in local village area (Peepal Tole) in the presence of local villagers on April 22, 2016. Access students performed and conducted various activities jointly in their locality such as cleaning the area, donating cemented-dustbins and raising public awareness etc. The Access students made and displayed some play cards with slogans of the Earth Day to raise public awareness on conserving earth’s resources. They also cleaned the area around Peepal Tole and helped to set several concrete dustbins in that area to control and manage the solid waste. All the Access students actively participated in the program embracing the spirit of volunteerism.

Sunsari Access ready to serve their community

Access Sunsari Builds Bamboo Benches as Part of Community Service

On December 19, 2015 Sunsari Access Center students built bamboo benches at Pipal Chowk, Itahari as a community service program in the presence of NELTA members and local people. Consent from the local people and authority were obtained beforehand. The chairperson of Pipal chowk (Tole Bikash) donated some bamboo sticks whereas other required materials were provided by the local people. Some Access students and instructors dug the hole and cut bamboo to make foundation of the platform while others were cleaning and collecting the filth and waste materials thrown around its premises. They completed the building of both benches in about 3 hours. All the students seemed to be responsible for their respective work and the local people were inspired with the activity of Access students.

Sunsari Access students helping to make bamboo benches in public place

Access Sunsari Marked International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women

Sunsari Access Center organized a program on “Elimination of Violence against Women” at Sangit Chowk, Itahari on November 28, 2015. Access students performed two street dramas on raising awareness against women violence. In addition to it, they also performed dance and recited poems. A large crowd was gathered at Sangit Tole in Itahari to watch the performance of students and they appreciated their performance with applause. NELTA Sunsari Secretary, Mr. Chet Nath Niraula and Sangit Tole Bikash Committee Secretary, Mr. Bharat Khatiwada addressed the program wishing and giving compliment for its success. Each Access Instructors, Mr. Sajan Chaudhary, Ms. Bandana Dahal, Ms. Sachita Pokhrel spoke about raising awareness about eliminating violence against women and Ms. Sumitra Rai concluded the program. Access students of both groups eagerly participated in different activities whereas instructors encouraged them with required feedbacks. Access student Antim Rai moderated the program confidently from the beginning to the end. The program was concluded with a huge success.

Access students performing a street drama on Violence Against Women

Happy Tihar

On November 11, 2015 Sunsari Access Center celebrated Tihar festival organizing ‘Street Drama’ and Deusi Vailo program at Simarbana Chowk in Itahari, Sunsari in the presence of NELTA chair Mr. Keshav Bhattarai and focal person Mrs. Bindu Prasain. For the Program, Access instructors and students made collaboration with local Youth Club’s Chairperson, Mr. Sagar Regmi, who managed the proper spot and other required support for program. The program was initiated with the short talk of NELTA chair and Access focal person. Both groups; ‘A’ and ‘B’ presented their street drama on ‘Domestic Violence’. The main theme of the drama was ‘Save Girl Child or ‘Stop Abortion’. Some of the students presented their dance, songs and beat box during the program.

Access students performing dance on Bhailini song

Happy Halloween

On October 31, 2015, Sunsari Access Center celebrated Halloween Day engaging children in sanitation program and Art or drawing competition at Itahari chowk and at Access center respectively. The sanitation program was conducted by KIC (Keep Itahari Clean) members in the presence of Access students, NELTA members along with instructors. The program was initiated by KIC leading members (Sandip Poudel, Sanjay Chaudhary and Suman Khadka) and assisted by Access members and Neltians. At first, all the students were divided into four different groups along with one Access teacher and KIC members. They were instructed well before involving them in sanitation program reminding the importance of clean environment. During the program, all of the students participated enthusiastically. After one hour sanitation program, they returned to Access center and took part in Halloween celebration program with different activities such as carving, art or drawing competitions. For this, Access students of both groups were divided into five groups and they were given instructions about the competition. They completed their task within the given time and presented in group among the NELTA members, instructors and their mates.

Sunsari Access students with their works of art related to Halloween

National Children’s Day Celebration

On September 15, 2015 Sunsari Access Center celebrated National Children’s Day and Teej performing ‘Street Drama’ at Apgachhi Chowk in Itahari, Sunsari in the presence of focal person Mrs. Bindu Prasain and other NELTA members. Proper spot for performing the street drama was managed by a local youth club. Both groups performed their street dramas on two different topics – ‘Save Children’ and ‘Stop Child Labor’. Besides street drama, students also prepared slogans, posters, poems, songs and dance routines. Local people observed the street drama and other performances very keenly, some observers were so moved by the performance of the children that they came forward to bless them and also gave them gifts.

Sunsari Access students performing Street drama based on the theme ‘Stop Child Labor’

Sunsari Reader’s Club Organized Book Reviews

On June 21, 2015 Sunsari Access Readers’ Club ‘B’ organized seventh book review and discussion Program among the students and instructors; they reviewed the book “Time Machine” by H.G. Wells. The moderator of the club Tirtha Raj Tamang conducted the program in which the guests Bishal Thakuri, speakers, presenters, and critics had their views on the book.

On August 1, 2015, Sunsari Access Reader’s Club ‘A’ reviewed the story book entitled ‘Aesop’s Fable’; the program was solely conducted by the Access students. The guest of the program was the instructor of Sunsari, Mr. Sajan Chaudhary. Access student, Begam Chaudhary, was chosen as the chairperson for the program and Ritu Rai conducted the program as the moderator of the program. The presenters and critiques were asked to share their views and ideas on the topic they had prepared. The students did the job of presenter and critique turn by turn. The program was interactive. At the end, Mr. Sajan Chaudhary, guest of the program, reviewed the program; he appreciated the student’s performance, he also gave some valuable suggestions on how to present opinions in a convincing way. At the end, the chairperson, Begam Chaudhary summarized the moral lesson of the story and formally announced the end of the program.

Sunsari Access Reader’s Club is all set for a Book Review

On August 4, 2015, Sunsari Access Readers’ Club ‘B’ organized 8th ‘‘Book Review and Discussion Program” among the students and instructors; they had their discussion and review on a book “The Secret of Spiggy Holes” by Enid Blyton that they read for the month of July. The moderator of the club Mr. Manoj Tamang conducted the program in which the guest Miss Sabina Rai, speakers, presenters, and critics performed their role with great effort and pleasure. The ending of the program was interesting and pleasing as all the Access students asked questions to the guest, Miss Sabina Rai related to the book and story which turned into a very lively discussion. These kind of Reader’s club activities has helped to set a reading culture among the Access students.

On October 15, 2015, Sunsari Access Readers’ Club ‘A’ organized ‘‘Book Review and Discussion Program” among the students and instructors. They had the discussion and review on a story book “Hansel and Gretel” written by Brothers Grimm which they read for the month of October. They searched information about the book on the internet. The moderator of the club Bikash Gurung conducted the program very well; the guests, speakers, presenters, and critics all played their role meticulously.

Access student putting forth his view on the book ‘Hansel and Gretel’

Sunsari Access Students Helping to Build Gabion Wall

With a prior consent from the concerned authority and local people, on June 23, 2015, Sunsari Access Students worked along with local people in constructing a gabion wall embankment along the Budhi Ganga stream as part of their community service. All the Access family was present on the site making a human chain to help pass stones and boulders; with the joint effort of community and Access family, the gabion wall was completed in two hours. The local people of Shiva Narayan Tole, Itahari were very pleased to have such helping hands in construction of the embankment that will help prevent the flood water entering into their settlement area with the onset of the monsoon season.

Up for some heavy work with a light heart

Sunsari Access Center Paints a Zebra-Cross as a Community Service

On November 8, 2014, Sunsari Access Center students painted a zebra cross at Halgada Chowk, Itahari as a community service program. A consent from the local traffic police authority was obtained beforehand. Some Access students and instructors signaled the traffics to move from one lane when others were sweeping and painting the other lane. They completed the painting of both the lane in about 2 hours. They also got some traffic information as discussed by their instructors.

At the end of the day, all students felt they had really contributed something for the cause of the community. Their faces beamed when commuters applauded their work.

Sunsari Access students painting zebra cross to ease traffic on the road

A Two-day Teacher Training in Sunsari

A two-day Teacher training for newly selected Access instructors of Morang and Sunsari Access centers has successfully been concluded with the theme :”Strengthening Pedagogical Skills: Enhancing Professionalism” at Sunsari Access Center, Nepal on 25th and 26th June, 2014. The training was facilitated by Mr. Hemanta Raj Dahal and Ms. Motikala Subba Dewan.