Jhamsikhel
MARY WARD SCHOOL JHAMSIKHEL, LALITPUR
Mary Ward School Jhamsikhel was established in 1986 in a rented apartment in Jawalakhel with 75 children from poor slum colonies. It later shifted to Jhamsikhel and has since been dedicated to educating the less privileged girls of Kathmandu, Nepal.
Beginnings
The school was keen on starting a school for street children, and a three-room building close to St. Mary’s was rented for Rs. 3000/- a month. It was named Mary Ward School, and Sr. Frances, who had been relieved from the Kitchen by Sr. Rosina, agreed to oversee the running of the school. A lot of cleaning and setting up had to be done before the opening of the school on 19th February with 54 children present on the first day. Asha Thapa, an ex-student, helped out from 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. every day and after that, she attended college. Rekha Shrestha and Neera Sharma, who had just finished the S.L.C., also helped with the teaching.
Pioneers: Sr. Asha Singh and Francis Penzkofer
Possession of the house in Jhamsikhel for Mary Ward School was taken on 15th January 1987. Repairs and adjustments had to be made before the school could begin functioning there. On 2nd February at 3.30 p.m., the school was blessed by Fr. Moran, after which all present enjoyed refreshments served on the terrace. Srs. Frances and Asha had done their best to have everything in apple pie order.
As the number of students in Mary Ward School, Jhamsikhel was increasing, it was decided to put up a building in the vacant plot at the side of the existing house. The construction began in 1987 and the building was completed in August 1988. On 15th August, the feast of our Lady’s Assumption, the new building was blessed by Fr. Moran, after which Mass was concelebrated by 9 priests in the open space on the ground floor of the building. After Mass, refreshments were served to all the invitees.
Activities
During the academic year, the school conducts various competitions for the students’ all-round development. Competitions such as English and Nepali Elocution, speeches, G.K quizzes, Multiplication tables, spelling, storytelling, English and Nepali action songs, dance, etc., keep all the students and teachers busy.
To test the academic progress of the children, regular class tests and three terminal examinations are conducted. The Annual Parents Day is a much-awaited event every year. Another great event of Mary Ward is a drill display. The students are excelling in different activities day by day.
The school celebrates important national days and festivals. Teachers’ day, Children’s day, Environment day, Women’s days are celebrated with prayer assemblies, cultural programs, and games.
Festivals such as Christmas, Easter, Dashain, and Tihar are celebrated with great pomp and show. Christmas is celebrated meaningfully. Hindu children enact the Christmas story and sing carols, and they are given Christmas gifts by Santa Claus. Easter is celebrated with a meaningful prayer service, and Easter eggs are given. On all these important days of the school, children are given a delicious meal along with fruits and chocolates.
At the end of the school year, there is an excursion for all the classes. The school also conducts a farewell program for the senior students at the end of the year. Also, a thanksgiving prayer assembly is conducted.
Tailoring
Late Fr. Charlie Law SJ used to come to Mary Ward for Mass regularly. Sr. Francis and I were the pioneering members in Mary Ward. During breakfast one day, he said, “I have some funds, and I want to help the poor, but I don’t know how to go about it.” We suggested that we train poor women of the locality for tailoring. We gathered five poor women for the tailoring, and he sponsored them. There was a center in Pulchowk, and we sent the first batch of five women there. Among them, there were Ms. Ganga Mharjan and Mrs. Mena Chhetri, who got trained well and eventually became the teachers of our tailoring Centre. Once we had enough money, we started our own tailoring center, which is a registered entity. Since Sr. Francis held Nepali citizenship, it was easy to get the recognition certificate, and we could put up a board for our tailoring center. Since then, tailoring classes have been functioning. About 600 women have been trained in our center and earning their living. We are indebted to all who helped us in the beginning, very especially Late Sr. Francis family, late Mrs. Esline, Mrs. Lotti Wise, and late Mr. Roy meson.