THE MANE VILLAGE SCHOOL

The construction of Mane school was started in 2002. At that time there was no road to the village and all materials had to be brought by donkeys. The plan included five classrooms, a staff room, and a library dedicated to Natalie Pyke who sent over 60 boxes of books to Mane school. Solar lighting as well as electricity has been installed. The school is built in traditional style with a flat roof, wooden floors and low work benches where the children sit cross legged on a mat on the floor – the natural way for them to sit. The double-glazed conservatory (Glass House) was added on the south side to give extra warmth in winter. The School was completed in July 2005. 

 

End of School Term

 

The Government has taken over the running of the school and in 2008 the school has been upgraded to include secondary as well as primary education.

Mane is a village of 49 households (480 people), with 60 - 80 school age children aged from 6 - 12 years. Now there is enough room to add a secondary level and offer further education for the children up to 12th Grade.

 

School Children playing Caroms

 

After the age of 12 years, parents have to pay a fee to the school each month for the continued education of their child. The Spiti Valley is a poor farming community and cannot afford this, so the young people either work in the fields or become road workers.  The influence of new teachers has been very positive and the library is now open to both pupils and villagers.  With additional books in Hindi, donated by Natalie Pyke, and Tibetan books funded by Spiti Projects.

 

Cataloguing Books

During the summer holidays the school is spring-cleaned.  Certain parts are redecorated by the pupils and this funded by Spiti Projects

 

Spring-cleaning the School

 

SCHOOL DORMITORY

Spiti Projects plans to build a dormitory next to the school in 2009. This will be constructed from traditional mud bricks, made locally, using our own mud brick machines. This will consist of 10 beds for boys and 10 for girls, with kitchen and bathrooms on the upper floor, and a science block on the ground floor. Our aim is to give children in outlying villages an opportunity for an education.

The cost is estimated at £30,000.

 

SPONSOR A CHILD

By request, we have set up a child-sponsor scheme for deprived children who would not otherwise have the opportunity of an education.  If you would like to sponsor a Spiti child of school age, please click on the link  to download a Standing Order form, and return the completed form to the address indicated.

     

 

We have been funding an orphan girl, Sonam Dolma, through secondary education.  She has completed Grade 12 and has started her college education, achieving good results.  She is on-target to graduate next year.  Sonam's family does not own land so her marriage prospects are very slim. Therefore it is hoped that she will be self supporting in the future and offer a valuable service to her community.