The Computer Room Photo
When the founder of Logged On first saw the photo of a school computer room (right) with several computers for a school of 160 students, he thought that the children deserved a lot better.
The photo was taken by Barry Broomfield at the Shree Bhumeshwor School in Astam, Nepal, where he first visited and spent time volunteer teaching in 2004. Since then, a remarkable program of help has flourished into a 'sister school' relationship between Gingin High and Bhumeshwor schools where assistance from Australia has allowed the Nepalese children access to a quality education.
Logged On will contribute to this spirit of generosity by bringing the best in school education that a digital education can offer.
VIDEO
Publicity GALLERY
At the time Barry Broomfield (Deputy Principal of Gingin District High School in Western Australia) first visited Astam in 1994, the local Shree Bhumeshwor Primary School had around 50 students attending classes up to grade five. For higher classes, students would need to walk to either the town of Hemja or Suikhet which could take over two hours per day.
In Astam, the Nepalese Government paid the salary of the Principal and two teachers with one volunteer teacher being funded by Parents through donations.
The school, located at the foothills of the Himalayan range 20km North-West of Pokhora, had no electricity, no telephone lines, no running water and no proper toilets. What's more, there were no blackboards and the children had no chairs or desks, let alone computers, and were accustomed to sitting on rice mats on the floor. About 50 per cent of the children attended school at any one time because of the pressing requirements of subsistence farming and household chores.
After having spent time teaching at the primary school and living with a local family, Barry realised that the students and their parents had a passionate belief in the value of education even though they had to work hard to ensure even a basic education. "They value education - it's a matter of being able to afford to go to school. Going to school is a luxury for those kids, but they are aware of the need for education and keeping in touch with Western world".
On Barry's return, the students at Gingin District High School heard of the conditions at the school in Nepal and the student council decided to embark on an ambitious project: to establish a Sister School relationship between the two schools, go on a fundraising mission to raise at least $1,300 to pay the salary of one English teacher for a year; with additional money raised going to purchase much-needed school resources and connecting the school to electricity.
Since 2004, the efforts of the students, teachers and the community of Gingin has resulted in over $30,000 being raised that has helped to bring much needed improvements and help transform it from a primary to a middle school. Word of the project spread to nearby villages and as a result the student population grew three-fold to 160 students in search of the best possible education. What started with the funding of a single wage had grown to four Nepali teachers being afforded valuable employment.
"It really has opened the eyes of our local students and given them a better understanding of the world and how fortunate they are," Barry said. "But they have also gained a great sense of achievement by helping children in other countries learn. Many of these children may have missed out on an education without our school's help".
The project has provided a unique opportunity and a window into the culture and lives of children in a developing country. The project had made the Gingin students aware of what education is like in a third world country and of their own privileged situation.
Gingin's student council was recognised for its efforts in 2007 by winning the Premier's Australia Day Active Citizenship Award in the under 25 category.
Students at Gingin received regular emails from the teachers and students at the Bhumeswhor school. They had to walk for more than an hour down the mountain to a neighbouring town that has adequate computer and internet facilities.
Mr Adhikari, on hearing the suggestions for a new computer facility, extended an invitation to Logged On's founder, Mark Pinoli, to bring computers to the school. The invitation was accepted and the Logged On Foundation was established.
From the establishment of the Sister School Program, the efforts of the Gingin High School and its students, to the dedication of the people of Astam and the generosity of the Gingin community - the legacy from that first visit to a small village in Nepal continues.
The Logged On Foundation contributed to the spirit of generosity between Australia and Nepal and successfully established its first computer centre in Astam in November 2011.
