BUTWAL, JANUARY 16

Um Hong Gil Human Foundation launched two different programmes in Sundi Secondary School in collaboration with Seoul National University Korea and Lumbini Buddhist University in Rupandehi in 2021.

The first was Virtual Reality development and the second was Online Mentoring.

Altogether 39 students took part in the VR development in which they learned the overall procedure of VR development (Theoretical + Practical knowledge) including planning, shooting and editing from the Korean VR expert online. All the students were divided in six groups and they prepared six different videos on three different topics (Nature, Culture & School Life). The main purpose of the VR programme was to make students and locals familiar with the latest technology – Virtual Reality.

On January 14, students held a final screening programme of all the six videos at the auditorium of LBU maintaining strict COVID 19 protocol. The programme was minimised with 24 physical attendance and around 100 people participated online.

Registrar of LBU Tilak Ram Acharya, Country Director of UHGHF Lim Haehoon, Principal of SSS Satish Chandra Mani Tripathi attended the programme physically whereas, around 100 participants, including SNU Social Responsibility Chairman YaeMyungseok, took part online.

There were 40 students in Online Mentoring. The attendees actively took part being mentor and mentees by dividing into five groups (Career, Computer Skill, Learning English, School Life and Tourism). SNU and LBU students were mentors and SSS students were mentees at the programme.

The two-and-a-half months programmes, had two mid-term review sessions where all the participants discussed their ideas, achievements and further plans.

Online Mentoring Programme held its final completion session on 13 January 2022, where students made the commitment to run similar programmes in LBU and SSS by establishing student clubs in both institutions for the sustainability of the programme.

UHGHF implemented the Virtual Reality programme and Online Mentoring programme at Sundi Secondary School, Rupandehi, in coordination with Seoul national University.

The programme lasted for three months (November 2021 to January 2022).

UHGHF donated eight desktop computers, one super computer, one insta 360 camera, one oculus VR set, 10 shinecon VR sets to Sundi Secondary School, while the foundation donated one super computer, one insta 360 camera, one oculus VR set and ten shinecon VR sets to Lumbini Buddhist University.

Established in 1963, Sundi Secondary School is located in Mayadevi Municipality, Rupandehi, close to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Since the school is located in the backward community, almost 90 per cent of students belong to the impoverished community from the Tarai region.

In 2014, on the recommendation of the then District Education Office of Rupandehi, UHGHF supported the school with earthquake resistant RCC building (11 classroom), gender-friendly toilets, sufficient furniture and renovation of existing three buildings.

It also supported the school with ICT lab, library with more than 7,500 books and boundary wall construction etc. Currently, the school runs classes from ECD to Grade X with 862 students. The school is producing impressive academic results.

Um Hong Gil Human Foundation was established in the name of world-famous mountaineer and philanthropist Captain UM HONG GIL, also known as 'Tank of the Himalayas' who has scaled 16 highest mountains of the world, above 8000-metre high.

Nepal government had awarded Honorary Citizenship to Captain Um in 2019 in recognition of his three decades' social work in Nepal.

The foundation has helped construct 16 community school buildings in 13 districts of Nepal.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 17, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.