The Varkey GEMS Foundation (VGF) recently embarked on a field trip to Nepal, to learn more about how educational initiatives like UNICEFs Schools for Asia to empower children and help to give them a chance for a better future.

The Varkey GEMS Foundation is partnering with the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) to support the Schools for Asia initiative throughout 2014. Through fundraising and awareness raising activities for the initiative, the GEMS schools will help improve the education, health and well-being of the most vulnerable children in Asia.

The delegation was made up of 4 GEMS students, Lokesh Bhatia, Rashmi V. Samararatne, Anjanette Umali, Michelle Shibu Thomas, two teachers Geoffrey Blaquiere, and Kim Fraser, Principal of Royal Dubai School Kevin Loft, and Rana Awad the Manager of the Varkey GEMS Foundation.

The Schools for Asia initiative focuses on the importance of creating better learning outcomes through the Child-Friendly School (CFS) approach. The students and teachers were able to learn about what makes a school child friendly and how this creates a learning environment that helps children overcome some of the most common barriers to education such as conflict, gender bias and social diversity issues.

The delegation visited an Urban Out of School Programme in Ramailo Basti. This is a non-formal education programme with catch up classes designed for children who have missed out on mainstream schooling. On the second visit, the delegation met students who participate in the Schools Child Club, teachers, families and NGOs who were showcasing the progress made by the Open Defecation Free (ODF) campaign and the WASH Programme. Finally, they visited the Nepal Rastriya Secondary School in Madhuban Mathuwal. In that school, they attended Grade 1-3 classes and observed an Early Childhood Development Centre in action. Such programmes are vital in preparing children for formal schooling.
Education is a fundamental right for every child. Getting children into school is an important first step, but in many countries, because of poverty, poor educational quality and lack of school preparedness, the real struggle is to keep children in school, explains UNICEF Gulf Area Representative Dr. Ibrahim El Ziq. We hope that the support of the Varkey Gems Foundation and this visit by the students will help bring further attention to the challenges faced by millions of children in Asia.

Kim Fraser a teacher from GEMS Wellington Primary School commented I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to spend time in Nepal, with the UNICEF team and witness firsthand the impact we, as a school, have on changing the future of the children around the country, through providing crucial funding for education.

Education truly does empower individuals by encouraging, and developing the skills for self-sufficiency, and by providing the opportunity to bring about change for future generations. As a teacher in GEMS Wellington Primary School, I aim to not only continue to encourage the children to raise funds for these projects, but to also educate our children about the importance of providing access to quality education, for those less fortunate around the world.

Rana Awad, VGF Manager went on to add, Nepal is just one country amongst many others, that are working their way towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 2 and 3, which call for the achievement of full primary enrolment and completion, as well as gender parity and equality in education, by 2015. Although considerable progress is being made, quality education remains a global issue. The Varkey GEMS Foundation works with partners like UNICEF to address these issues, because we believe that education can positively change lives and create a brighter future for children, adults and nations alike.

The Varkey GEMS Foundation will embark on a roadshow in September October 2014 to share insights from the trip with the rest of the GEMS network of schools.

Testimonials from the Student Ambassadors:

Anjanette Umali - Winchester School-Jebel Ali During the trip, I learnt many new things about the education system for the people living in poverty in Nepal the lack of resources and materials struck me. Ive learnt that weve all got to be more grateful & appreciative for what we have. Raising awareness about the importance of education is something I shall continue doing, as I believe education is the key to eradicate poverty.

Lokesh Bhatia - Our Own High School-Boys, Al Warqaa This trip was a life changing experience for me as it gave me the opportunity to learn and understand the two different extremes of life. During the trip I was able to observe and realize that education is one of the major aspects of the society and it's the educated population which will be an asset for the nation tomorrow.
The children of Nepal have taught me a new lesson, with a lot of passion, optimism and hard work, anything is possible. This would be the message I would like to convey to my peers and students of GEMS Schools.

Michelle Thomas - The Millennium School, Dubai - The key essence of the trip was how quality education plays a major role in the empowerment of a person. Touring the schools and study areas, interacting with the children, having a heart to heart discussion with their families changed my perspective towards life. Their ability to smile and be optimistic in the shadows of darkness in spite of the lack of basic needs makes these people heroes.

Through the medium of road shows in various other schools I would like to show the world a glimpse of Nepal and the lovely people I got to meet. I believe using words as tools one can bring about change to raise awareness about the worth of quality education.
Rashmi V. Samararatne - The Westminster School-Dubai - Inspiring. That's one word to describe the determination and characters of the Nepalese people. One thing I've learnt is that education has the power to change the world and means more than a single meal for a kid in a third world country. Education for us is something we take for granted while for these kids it is their tool to change the world. It is this one thing that I want to spread awareness of the most.

I would like to share my experience and highlight the changes people can make in a positive way if they have access to quality education and hence continue to help raise money for the building of schools and other educational facilities around the world so that one day no child will be deprived of a chance to go to school and gain the access to books and pens which they so rightly deserve.