Lucy M. Gowdie, Head of School
15 November 2024
Upon learning of the opportunity for SMD to partner with Kathmandu University in a program to support access to higher education for students of the school, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mr Greg Vlasek, and myself accepted the invitation to attend a day on the KU campus and meet with members of the Office of the Vice Chancellor. Our aim was to authenticate the learning experience for the students of SMD, and understand the options for them, as students with no means to pay for higher education.
The program is an exciting one for the students of SMD as it presents wonderful opportunities for access to higher education.
In Nepal, the education completion rates are testament to a government struggling to align appropriately to protect the most important institution of all – education. Completion rates for secondary school students are 27% and this is even lower for rural and poor children.
Of the 27% of students who complete their secondary schooling, 59% of children come from the richest quintile, while only 10% come from the poorest. This data may not even speak to the children of the Himalayas who are catered for at our sister school, for they are forgotten, and up until 2015 were, by law, unable to access education.
It is no surprise that Nepal is struggling to enhance its demographic dividend, as quite literally it sits in the departure lounge of Tribhuvan Airport on a daily basis. In 2022 – 2023 alone, 884’982 Nepalese left their homeland, of this number, 110’012 were students.
While we continue to open doors to students of SMD to access an education here in Zurich, we are working towards a strong roadmap that impacts as many students in the school as possible and encourages them to stay in Nepal so that they can build its future.
Beyond the visit to KU, we were able to spend time in the classrooms, meet with the Senior Leadership Team, and develop a roadmap for the commencement of our school visits to SMD. We are excited to launch our first Teacher Exchange in February of next year, and to begin climbing the mountain together, on the peak that is of most importance to us – learning. We look forward to sharing more about this in the coming months.
In one of the more powerful moments (and there were many over the week) we were also able to gift the students of the school, over 80 pairs of magnificent handmade Finnish socks, gloves, and leg warmers, knitted by the grandmother of Grade 6 student Nicolas R., Ms Heliä Kiltti, in her home in Finland.
These were received with genuine grace, and true gratitude, and we are indebted to Ms Kiltti, for caring so much that she would give of her time to make such beautiful and purposeful gifts – on behalf of the school, Ms Heliä Kiltti, we are so very thankful.
We will very soon launch our two major fundraising campaigns for SMD – our Parents’ Association Spring Party, and our Annual Quiz Night, and both will have transformational targets that will see our sister school succeed through our support.
We thank all those who have begun to plan and prepare, and we are grateful for your continued support.
Kind regards,
Lucy M. Gowdie
Head of School