In the first phase of operations, YCC was basically the creation
of a volunteer Nepali "Americorps" for the youth and students of the city,
and the institutionalization of this as an effective bridge between City Hall
and the local community governments.
Each section of the city mobilized their own community-service youth club,
and with the club was able to mobilize City Hall and community resources
in an effective, locally-driven manner for community service activities,
life- and job-skills trainings, and social activities for the youth. For
further details regarding the YCC, please refer to:
• YCC Objectives and Achievements
• 2003 Annual Work Plan
• 2003 Annual Budget
This is a highly effective, locally driven project, and Rob is pleased to say
that after 2 ˝ years of Peace Corps service working specifically on this
project he is no longer needed in Birgunj to help direct and implement
programs: we have the team, vision, and system in place, with institutional
sustainability and strong, committed local support.
Currently YCC is a functioning, active, and engaged youth community service
club in Birgunj that's operating on it's own through City Hall - the
"software" of the program.
The main goal for this year is the actual construction of the Youth Community
Center - the "hardware": library (which is intended to serve as a regional-
hub in the years ahead), computer training room and internet café, social services
collaboration forum, main offices, meeting hall, the construction of a
new school for low-caste and low-income children, the use of the older
school as a homeless children's shelter, and the construction of a
children's park - all on the same compound.
The Bal Mandir School is in the center of
Birgunj, just around the corner from City Hall. Bal Mandir was designed
as a school for low-caste and low-income children, which should prove to
be a great focal point for the community and the youth club activities.
An added advantage is the large amount of open land available on the Bal
Mandir campus within the heart of the city. What they are working towards is
this:
• As the current school is basically one large, open gym, absent a
functioning toilet and facilities, they would like to build a new school
on the same grounds and use the older school as a homeless children's
shelter. What is ideal about this is that the homeless children
can sleep on the site and attend next door in the same school.
• On the same grounds, and just next door to the new school,
they are working towards the construction of the physical Youth Community
Center (currently housed in City Hall) - the main headquarters for the
YCC youth club activities and community services. This includes the resource
center and library, and also a computer lab for both
community trainings and income generation. This is also where the main
offices of YCC for the staff will be placed, and most importantly, a
meeting place for the youth club and community to meet up and interact will
be created.
• On the other side of the new school they are working towards the
construction of a children's park and playground - basically a
safe-zone for children and a place of peace for the community.
• All of these put together provide for an incredible, highly visible,
very rewarding centerpiece to the Birgunj community, and with the
connection to the YCC youth club and City Hall itself provide a focal-point
and basic infrastructure for community services and activities with a
meaningful, long-term impact for many years to come.
• With the expansion of YCC to various youth development programs and
City Hall's throughout Nepal, the YCC project in Birgunj should be able to
serve as a model project for other communities to follow, and also improve
upon, and the years ahead should prove motivating to be involved in.
Birgunj City Hall has provided strong funding so far for YCC youth club
community service activities (the "software"), however the next step
forward requires some outside help.
This will provide a focal point for community service activities throughout
Birgunj, and in the years ahead serve as a model to replicate within other
Nepali communities.
Estimated support needed:
• Children's Park - $2,000
• New School - $5,000
• Computer Lab - $10,000
• YCC Physical Facilities and Library - $7,000
Of note: Past support for YCC efforts include the profound donation of more
than $125,000 worth of brand new, quality textbooks from
Houghton Mifflin
Publishing, facilitated by Ellen Derrick, with shipping to Nepal donated
for free by John Wood of Room To Read. Currently we are working on the
next shipment with the intent of creating a yearly tradition of support and
collaboration. Please read the article
written for the Houghton Mifflin office quarterly discussing this endeavor.
Mesa State College students, staff, and community have also donated several
thousand textbooks the past two years in support of YCC, and donated funds
to initiate our Rickshaw Micro-Credit Project.
Return to First Quarter Projects page
Immediate. Direct. Effective.
Nepal Direct Effects.
