Basic Computer Training at Swabalambi Basic Deaf School in Dhading

I would like to take an opportunity to thank our EWB Nepal for this incredible opportunity to volunteer at Swabalambi Basic School of Deaf in Dhading which was held from 9th to 17th August. Similarly, I am very thankful for the Swiss Team (EWB Switzerland) for their financial support and the initiative to make a great impact with small effort, since small efforts of ours are big for some people.

Swabalambi Basic School of the Deaf is a pioneering educational institution located in Nilkantha Municipality, Murali Banjyang, Dhading District, approximately a 4.5-hour drive west of Kathmandu, Nepal. Established in 2011 by Ram Prasad Adhikari, a profoundly deaf individual. The school aims to provide accessible education to deaf children in a region where such opportunities were previously unavailable. 

Ram Prasad Adhikari, the principal of Swabalambi Basic School of Deaf, has 4 family members. His wife, who is his helper, translator, mother of his two children and a teacher of his school, is very kind and good-hearted. Since Ram Adhikari himself is deaf, he knows the depth of the feelings and challenges of deaf people here in Nepal.

I experience how blessed I am in my life, it makes me more humble and content with how I live. I experience the joy that comes from serving others which cannot be explained in words, it can only be felt. We human beings are made to connect to each other, and I am blessed that I could connect with so many people, like the Adhikari family, the teachers, the deaf kids, the staff, and others with whom we connected during this program. It was an incredible experience, I feel as if I have already met them before. 

During volunteering, I asked myself: why can’t we reach those people who will be blessed with our small effort, leaving all our worries, anxiety, unfulfilled desires and wishes behind, and fulfilling others’ needs? Can’t we stop being self-centered and reach out to the people in need and make their life a little bit more comfortable?

During volunteering, my key role was to support Mathieu Vanoirbeek, a member from the Swiss team (EWB Switzerland). I assisted him in giving Basic Computer Training to Deaf children. It was quite challenging to teach them since they could not hear, so first the teachers of the school were trained. There were 7 teachers who knew sign language and 45 deaf students in total. Among them 15 deaf students participated in the Basic Computer Training. We taught them Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and also how to create social media accounts, use Canva for creative design, and use CapCut for editing videos. While teaching, we observed that some students were quick learners and did more than what we taught, others needed some more attention and repetition. We taught them by first showing them on a big screen and then letting them do it themselves after observation. We were also guided by the trained teachers using sign language. We also went to individual desks and showed them how to do it, erased it, and let them do it again themselves. We did revisions of things they learned as well, organized competitions on typing etc. The children were curious and showed a great interest in learning more.

Similarly, I assisted Mathieu on his Q/A sessions with the principal and his wife, being a two-way translator during the meetings and capturing the nuance of both the questions and the answers. First, Mrs. Nita, wife of Mr. Ram, translated to her husband in sign language. Then Nita explained the answer to me and I translated to Mathieu. This way, we were able to ask all the questions we had.

We also visited the water supply main treatment plant office to ask about the quality of the water, which the school received. We met with Sarita Shrestha, responsible for the water supply office, and asked all the questions related to the water supply they provide to the village, which includes the deaf school as well. Simultaneously, we worked on documenting the building layout and the water system, taking pictures, etc.

I learned so many things during the period of my volunteering. I found out that real world problems are very different from our course content, and for that we had to have those qualities to solve the problems such as initiation,taking action,encouragement and motivation,communication and collaboration,same vision,good management, adaptability,curiosity,patience and good intentions.I discovered these qualities are already within me. I enjoyed each and every challenge and process that was leading to the success of the project.

Lastly,I am grateful to be part of this project as a volunteer.

Thank you!

Anjali Shrestha (Treasurer, EWBN Purbanchal Chapter)