Dreaming of Education in Nepal

In the quiet, hilly village of Ghodethar, Nepal, Sangam and Susmita Acharya hope that their children will have something that they did not have growing up: uninterrupted education. Both know the hardship of dropping out. Both carry the pain of opportunities lost. But today, with the support of their neighbors, buildOn, and the For the Love of Bob Trek team, they are helping create a different story for their children and for generations to come.

An Education Cut Short

Sangam, now 37, grew up moving between villages as his parents searched for farmland and stability. He first enrolled in school at age 10 and made it to the fourth grade, but the Nepalese Civil War in the late 90s and early 2000s disrupted his studies and forced him to drop out. “The pain of being a dropout is still in my heart,” he says. “There are some moments when people make me feel embarrassed, saying, ‘You are uneducated, you can’t do anything.’ That’s why I believe in education. I didn’t get the opportunity—but I want others to have it.”

Susmita, the youngest of 11 siblings, was one of the few girls in her family to attend school. She walked an hour and a half each way to reach class and persevered through Grade 10. After marrying Sangam and moving to Ghodethar at 18, she returned to the classroom, graduating high school and teaching at the local school before stepping back to care for her children and family.

New Generation, Same Challenges

Despite their parents’ commitment to education, Sangam and Susmita’s children faced obstacles to staying in school as well. Their 12-year old son Pushpa dreams of continuing his education, but had to walk 1.5 miles each way to attend school since the one in Ghodethar did not offer classes beyond third grade. “I got tired walking so far, but I had no other option,” he says. “I believe my hard work will pay off. My dream is to become an engineer and build better roads for my community. My goal is my parents’ dream, and I don’t want to let them down.”

His younger sister Priya, age 8, was thriving in Grade 3. Her favorite subject is Health and she dreams of becoming a doctor and opening a health post in Ghodethar so no one has to walk two hours to reach a hospital, as they do now. Her passion for medicine began when she was treated by a kind doctor during a fever. “The doctor talked to me gently and gave me medicine,” Priya says. “I felt better. I want to study hard so that I can do the same for others.” But beyond third grade, she also faced the same long journey to school as her brother. 

The path to education in Ghodethar was fraught with challenges, but the community swore to overcome them. “It will be super expensive to continue their studies,” Susmita admits. “But me and my husband will try our hardest to make it happen. Not only me—the entire village is hoping for the best for their kids.”

“The entire village is hoping for the best for their kids.” —Susmita Acharya

Building the First School in Ghodethar

That collective hope inspired action. With buildOn’s partnership and support from Kim Kelly and the For the Love of Bob team, the people of Ghodethar built a brand new school building, which now serves 36 students. The team, which came together to build a school in honor of Kim’s late husband Bob Ainley, fundraised and travelled all the way to Ghodethar to lay the foundation for the school.

It was not easy. The Trek team worked for long hours in the hot sun, and the local families had to balance farm work with construction. Sangam, as president of the school management committee, helped mobilize his neighbors. “Our community members said the work was hard, but when the school was finished and our kids started sitting inside the new classrooms, we forgot all the pain,” he recalls. “That’s why we all came together to build this school. Everyone was busy with their field work, but we gave first priority to the school,” Susmita adds.

“The work was hard, but when the school was finished and our kids started sitting inside the new classrooms, we forgot all the pain.” —Sangam Acharya

For Susmita, the new school brings peace of mind. “Now my children are safe in a new school, and I don’t have to worry whether it’s raining or the wind is strong. I’m proud to be part of this change. It will create history.”

More Than a Building

The new school is more than just four walls and a roof. It is the first concrete building in Ghodethar. It is a place where children like Pushpa and Priya can learn without interruption. It is a place where a mother’s sacrifice, a father’s resilience, and a community’s determination have created something lasting and transformative.

Thanks to buildOn, the For the Love of Bob team, and their parents, children in this rural village can finally dream big. To the people of Ghodethar, the new school is an almost holy place. “I believe this school is the temple of knowledge,” Susmita says. “And every child born in this community should get this blessing.”

Want to help build a school in a community like Ghodethar? Sign up to go on Trek today!