Seven Schools, Seven Days of Purpose

Every year, the Calls Over Ridges Nepal (CORN) conducts year-end evaluations across all its project sites, and this year was no different. Our team dispersed across our three working areas—Jiri, Gorkha, and Khijidemba, each bringing back unique insights, stories, and challenges from the field. While every location offered distinct experiences, the journey to Jiri stood out in familiar yet surprising ways.

CORN began its work in Jiri in 2018 with a scholarship program in three schools, and since then, the municipality has become a cornerstone of our efforts. Today, Jiri hosts the full range of our programs—from scholarships and school buses to nutrition, literacy enrichment, and teacher support, making it one of our most comprehensive program areas. Having been a part of Calls Over Ridges Nepal for over a year now, this journey into the heart of Jiri Municipality felt like a true test of the mission. On June 15th, Kritesh Bhatta (Project Manager, Jiri Municipality) and I (Anup Acharya, Project Coordinator) set out on what looked like a routine monitoring visit to Jiri. But the road ahead was anything but routine. Despite this being my seventh trip to Jiri since I joined CORN, I quickly realized, these mountains always have a new challenge to throw at you.

Travel during the Monsoon season

As we set off for the journey amidst this monsoon season, my boots constantly sank into thick, slippery mud as we wrestled our motorbike up the impossible inclines. There were moments I lost count of how many times we had to dismount and push, muscles screaming. More than once, the bike simply slid out from under us, somersaulting and leaving me sprawled on the wet ground, bruised but determined. What was supposed to be a six-hour journey to our first school, Thulopatal Secondary School, stretched to a grueling nine hours, and we arrived well after sunset, tired, sore, but still holding onto purpose. 

Jiri is a mountainous municipality in Dolakha district, where road infrastructure remains largely underdeveloped. Accessing schools in this region is especially challenging due to rugged, unstable terrain that demands both time and physical endurance. These very challenges were a key reason behind the introduction of our School Bus Program in Jiri, to ensure students can safely and reliably reach their classrooms each day.

We continued our journey. The mountains dictated our pace. Heavy rain forced us to seek unexpected shelter at one school overnight. I was deeply humbled by the teachers’ generosity; they welcomed weary, muddy travelers like family, sharing their food and space without hesitation. The teachers welcomed us with open arms, offering hot daal bhaat (the ultimate comfort food for all Nepalese) and chicken they had walked two hours to get. And for the shelter, they managed to make a room with a metal sheet where me and Kritesh Sir immediately fell asleep due to the day’s tiredness. That small act of generosity meant everything—it was a powerful reminder of why we must remain accountable to the responsibility we’ve been entrusted with.

Another night found us at a homestay near Boudha Bhuwaneshwori Secondary School after another grueling climb, where a simple home-cooked meal and genuine hospitality washed away the day’s exhaustion. These moments reminded me why we do what we do—not just for data or reports, but for real people, with real hearts.

Unlocking Another Piece of Our Purpose

In the days that followed, we visited seven schools across the municipality. Despite the mud, the rain, and the fatigue, reaching each school felt like unlocking another piece of our purpose. We weren’t just checking boxes — we were listening, learning, and witnessing the impact of CORN’s work firsthand. We evaluated the progress of our Nutrition Program, Scholarship Program, library program, school bus program, and other initiatives, ensuring they are aligned with our goals, effectively reaching the children, involving stakeholders meaningfully, and delivering lasting impact. 

My heart lifted every time I saw students happily eating nutritious meals through our Nutrition Program. Observing them engrossed in books in the libraries we support, or speaking with scholarship recipients whose educational paths are now brighter, filled me with an incredible sense of purpose. I felt the tangible impact of our work – adding real value to their education, brick by brick. Reviewing the projects, discussing challenges with the dedicated teachers, and planning for the future solidified my conviction.

More Than Numbers: A Story of Change

This year alone, the library at Boudha Bhuwaneshwori School and Garjandhunga Secondary School served 436 students, while our lunch program across Jiri schools provided a total of 124,925 nutritious meals.

These numbers reflect more than just program reach, they tell a story of change. One teacher reflected on how the lunch program has transformed school attendance, especially during critical seasons: “Before the lunch program, many of our students would skip school during the rainy season to plant crops as it’s an opportunity for them to earn a little,” said one teacher. “Now, they stay for the whole day because they know they’ll be fed.”

The impact of the library program extends beyond literacy, it’s also changing the dynamics between students and teachers. Lokendra Pakhrin, a teacher at Jiri Secondary School, captured this beautifully: “The library has encouraged students to open up, fostering stronger bonds between them and us teachers. Unlike traditional classrooms, it breaks down hierarchical barriers—students no longer feel intimidated and are more comfortable engaging with us.”

Yes, the journey was physically exhausting, pushing me to my limits. Every muddy struggle, every unexpected detour, faded into insignificance compared to the faces of those students. But seeing the difference Calls Over Ridges Nepal is making, knowing I play a part in fighting illiteracy and supporting education in these remote corners of Nepal, that is the true reward.

I returned caked in dirt and utterly spent, but with a heart fuller than I ever imagined possible, ready for the next ridge. Because when you know your work is planting seeds of literacy, dignity, and hope—no mud is too deep, no mountain too steep.