Junbesi Community

The WIN community has been involved and engaged with the Junbesi community for several years.

Initially, our involvement was through the Kushudebu Public Health Mission (KPHM) but following the devastating 2015 earthquake, our activities expanded to the local Secondary school and the wider community.

Rebuilding Shree Junbesi Secondary School

The school was severely damaged in the 2015 earthquake, and staff and students relocated to a series of temporary buildings further up the valley. During our visit in October 2016, we were impressed with how resilient the whole community had been, working together to ensure that the school continued to function while waiting for the rebuilding. During the bitter winter weather, the plastic and wooden walls would not have provided much warmth.

The WIN community raised $30,000 towards rebuilding the Sir Edmund Hilary classrooms which had been constructed in the 1950s. Additional funds were provided by the Australian Himalayan Foundation to build new classrooms.

In April 2017 four of our Directors, with representatives from The Wilderness School, Adelaide and several supporters attended the reopening of the Shree Junbesi School.

The reopening ceremony was a truly moving event, with the whole community packed into the schoolyard. Speeches, dancing, a shared lunch and a great sense of celebration and excitement as the school at the heart of the community was again functioning.

Roofing materials for the Junbesi Community

In addition, a further $70,000 was raised to provide for the immediate provision of roofing materials for many of the buildings in the valley. Having good contacts in Nepal, the roofing tin was shipped into the area within weeks, providing secure, dry accommodation for the families while they dealt with the recovery.

From a vantage point high up in the valley, looking down across the green tin roofs dotted throughout the landscape, the extent of the support provided is clear to see.

Community Incinerator

In the second half of 2020, WIN provided $7,000 enabling the community to build an incinerator. Rubbish and general waste is a growing problem in remote communities, and an effective incinerator is a recognised first step towards improved health and environmental outcomes.