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Extension of the primary school in
Dongla >> pictures
of the new primary school in Dongla Overview – Cultural diversity characterizes the village
group of Dongla, located in the north of the remote Shuiluo
Valley in SW China. Dongla comprises around 1200 people.
It is made up of five villages, inhabited by three different
ethnic groups, the Shuhi (Xumu), Pumi and Gami. The different
villages are located at altitudes between 2200 and 2600 m
and some of them are accessible by foot only. The
primary school of Dongla for first and second grade was
very small. After second grade, the children have to
attend school in Shuiluo, the valley's capital village.
However, the way to Shuiluo takes at least three walking
hours, which is too far for the little children. Most
of them abandon school after two years. Furthermore,
around 20 children each year could not attend classes
due to shortage of space. To allow all children of
Dongla at least a four-year school attendance, an extension
of the school was urgently needed. Relevence
of the project – Fundamental changes shape
the people's life in Dongla. At the end of 2002, a hydroelectric
power plant had been built, supplying all houses with electricity
in the evening and allowing the purchase of televisions. In
the same time, the area had been made accessible by a road.
These two things influence the lives of the people strongly. Education
is essential for the orientation in a fast changing world.
It is vital to enable the children of Dongla to attend school
for four years. Afterwards, they are old enough to continue
class in the distant Shuiluo school. For these reasons, we
decided to develop a joint project with the local community
for an extension of the Dongla school. Construction
of the school – After somewhat more than
one year of planning and a construction time of two months,
the new primary school of Dongla has been finished. The
55 students and their three teachers could move
into the new classrooms right on time of the new school
year 2005.
With the construction of this school, a foundation has been
built for an improved education in the remote Shuiluo Valley.
Even an additional third teacher could have been employed
already.
Funding
– The extension of the primary school in Dongla
was funded by the "Verein Mitenand" (Switzerland) and private donors.
>> pictures
of the new primary school in Dongla
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