In the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake, the Global Shapers Kathmandu Hub rebuilt and refurbished a community school in Budhanilkantha municipality, raising more than $300,000 for this purpose. The Ganesh School was officially handed over to the community in 2018.

A committee compromising of four members of the hub and four members of the school board was created to oversee the project. The hub conducted soil tests and commissioned an architect to incorporate sustainable design such as solar lighting and rainwater harvesting. The school will also be constructed as a community center space, where all the families can be accommodated in case of disaster.

More information on the school:

• 1046 students study in the school, with students representing more than 50 of the 77 districts of Nepal - in one school of one municipality of the Kathmandu district. The students don't have to pay any fees.


• Almost all the students up to grade 10 come from a very low-income background. Many of these (around 35%) students are working as domestic helpers. Others come from low-income working-class families.


• The majority of the parents work as day laborers or various menial jobs. +2 level has some students from middle-class families but only a handful. The students of Ganesh School come from all across the country.


• COVID has disrupted studies and the ensuing lockdown has shut all classes. The school was used as a vaccine provision center before the recent lockdown.