We let out a relieved sigh, smiling at each other as we look around the small room newly lined with a neat row of glowing computers. Sweat drips down our necks and our muscles ache after a full day of travel and setup, but our hearts are full of hope and excitement. After two years of preparation, the Envision Education team has finally built our second bridge— in four hours, we turned an empty room into a gateway of hope for the students of Koseli School.
Our first full day in Kathmandu was an eye-opening, colorful experience from sunrise to sunset—on our morning walk, we were greeted with joyful song and dance as soon as we stepped foot onto the streets. The infectious smiles and shouts of “Hallelujah!” in the vibrant Easter parade matched our excitement for the day ahead. Energized by this taste of the diverse, lively culture of Nepal, we headed to Vishal Group’s headquarters to meet our generous sponsors. Mr. Rahul Shrestha, the Communications Manager, gave us a tour of Vishal Group, complete with breathtaking views of Kathmandu. The pastel-patchwork buildings sprawled across the valley, and the white mountain peaks rose as great rocky declarations of faith against a sky bluer than any we could find back in Shanghai. In a meeting with VG Foundation staff, we discussed the week ahead and gifted Vishal Group a traditional Chinese calligraphy piece inscribed with the words “科技连心, 携手同行”--- bridging minds, empowering futures.
The team arrived at Koseli School, where grinning children clad in navy sweaters shyly peeked out at us from their classroom doorways. Koseli means “a gift” in Nepali. The students of Koseli School come from the slums, and many are homeless or orphaned. The school gives them the lifelong gift of an education, a place to stay, and a happy childhood— the Envision Team hopes to give them a gift of our own by connecting them with limitless knowledge and opportunities at their fingertips. After greeting the principal, we got to work unboxing and assembling the monitor, processors, and wires. Using safety scissors as screwdrivers, we transformed the empty room into a full-blown technology lab through which the students can unlock the digital world. We paused only to have lunch at a local restaurant, where the tangy aromas and flavors of thakali exploded in our mouths as we scooped up soft, steaming rice and curry with our fingers, cleaning every grain on our plates. With our stomachs and hearts full, we returned to work.
As the glaring sun lowered its gaze, we finally completed set-up and testing of every computer. We were in awe that we had made it this far—all we could think was, “Wow. It’s actually happening.” As we waved our goodbyes to the staff of Koseli and VG Foundation, one little girl lingered. With a smile, she made finger-hearts as she gazed at us with bright gray-blue eyes the color of the Himalayan peaks, melting our hearts as we dragged our feet away. We simply couldn’t wait to come back the next day to meet and teach other students like her. One student at Koseli described the school as “a stepping stone to the life I have now and the future I dream of.” We hope to lay the bridge that connects those stepping stones to an even brighter destination, and we eagerly await what tomorrow will bring for the team.
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