How a hero principal who saved hundreds of pupils from the Nepal floods is rebuilding broken lives

Rajendra Dawadi, the principal of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nuwakot, Nepal, has been hailed as a hero after he guided 900 children to safety during the devastating flash floods that hit the area on August 26. With 900 children saved, Mr Dawadi has made it his mission to ensure that education continues for these children.

He has set up 20 tents and used the shaded sections of a local sports academy to provide a temporary learning environment for the students. Mr Dawadi expressed his happiness as more than 95% of the children returned to school, even though they had lost everything in the floods that claimed the lives of at least 1,455 people and left 5,285 missing.

Despite the disaster, the children remain eager to study, and the school community has rallied together to provide support. The UN has called for urgent funding to help with the recovery efforts, as the school has been severely damaged by the raging waters. Only the roof of a three-storey building remains visible, with the rest submerged in thick mud.

The school authorities are awaiting a decision on new land where they can rebuild, while pupils currently attend classes on the floor in tents, sharing benches and desks. To help the students continue their education, Unicef and private foundations have provided tents, books, and furniture. However, the school still needs a library, science labs, and two more buses to transport children to their lessons.

Parents whose children had attended private schools are now sending them to free government institutions, as they believe these institutions provide better support during these challenging times. Despite the trauma and loss experienced by the community, school authorities are focusing on creating a normal environment for the children, with counselling sessions and music classes to help them cope with the disaster.

Mr Dawadi emphasized that the students have shown great resilience, and the school has become a place where they can find a sense of normalcy and hope for the future.