On behalf of All Hands & Hearts – Smart Response, philanthropist and supermodel Petra Nemcova has announced the completion of Nibugaun School in Nepal.
Built by U by Uniworld and its foundation TreadRight, the school is situated in the Sindhupalchok district.
Nemcova attended a ceremonial school reopening alongside the Principal and its rural community.
With the 2017 announcement of Nemcova as U by Uniworld’s Guardian Angel, the youthful river cruising brand donated US$50,000 to support her charity and the rebuild of Nibugaun School which was left unsafe after the 2015 earthquake, which reached a devastating magnitude of over 7.3.
Following 11 weeks of relief efforts, two buildings have been refitted, providing four disaster resilient classrooms, four toilets, the installation of a water filtration system and a newly built playground.
The school serves early childhood development, between the ages of four to 11.
Nemcova and guests were warmly greeted by the village’s joyous community and were branded with a red tika (dot) on their forehead, a symbol of good luck to mark the celebration, followed by the lighting of a fire to signify new beginnings and a bright future for the many generations to come.
Volunteers who hailed from across the UK and all over the world were praised for their commitment to the project.
Nemcova, co-founder of All Hands & Hearts – Smart Response, stated: “Today, during the school re-opening ceremony, we could feel the power of meaningful connections which has resulted in the creation of a new disaster resilient school and also new beginnings for the whole community.
“When our volunteers, staff, committee members and our supporters come together, far away dreams can be made into reality.”
All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response, an organisation co-founded following Nemcova’s harrowing experience during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, effectively and efficiently addresses the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters.
Ellen Betttridge, president, U by Uniworld, commented: “We are proud to have the beautifully spirited Petra as our Guardian Angel, what she stands for is a true representation of our values.
“To be partnered with her organisation that’s making a difference in the world by giving back to communities, and helping thousands of children by bringing education and joy back into their lives – truly makes her an ‘angel’ to many.”
Take a look at a series of images from the opening here.