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The Beginning of BAJ

Established in 2016, “Bhabishya and Jamarko for Nepal (BAJ)” is a student group founded by six undergraduate students who met at AP House, the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) on-campus dormitory. The BAJ members took subjects in development studies and international relations. While reflecting on what they had learned in class, they concluded that there had to be something they could do to give back to the world.
BAJ started off with an intercultural exchange initiative that introduced the culture of Japan to Mohariya Bandipur Believers English School (MBBES). Current BAJ leader Sakura Akiyama (College of Asia Pacific Studies, 3rd Year) has stayed connected with MBBES via exchange activities since she was a high school student.

When the BAJ members visited MBBES in 2016, they were welcomed by 125 students, ranging from preschool to junior high. The children listened attentively as they learned for the first time about Japanese culture. Seeing the children having fun with origami and other cultural activities, the BAJ members deepened their resolve to provide some type of support for the children.
MBBES is a small school situated in the Nepalese town of Bandipur. It was established in 2005 to give poor children the opportunity to receive an education. Through their exchange activity, the BAJ members learned that the school faced many problems. One such problem was a deficiency in classrooms and other facilities. Most of the children who commute to MBBES come from families who lead a subsistence lifestyle. For that reason, they are only capable of paying minimum tuition fees, and the school accordingly struggles to provide the necessary environment due to a lack of funds. MBBES does not have a library, nor does it have a science lab. Although the school has computers for the children to study information science, it lacks the facilities to properly use them.

KITAB Project

After meeting the children and seeing them eagerly studying despite the obstacles, the BAJ members on their return to Japan launched the KITAB (Nepalese for “book”) project, the goal of which is to construct a library for MBBES. They recalled that during their visit to the school, the principal had indicated a desire to establish a library for the children. The BAJ members felt that the construction of a library would allow the children to pursue new knowledge and exploration, which in turn would enhance the quality of their learning. Accordingly, they decided to launch a library construction project.

The cost required to construct a library in Nepal is roughly ¥600,000. The funds are scheduled to be raised through corporate and individual donations, crowdfunding, and APU subsidies. The BAJ members have already secured financial assistance from corporate sponsors in Thailand, Bhutan, and China, and contributions from individual sponsors. In addition, they launched a crowdfunding initiative in October, raising ¥202,000.

Awareness Initiative

From October 16 to 22, the BAJ members held a chai (Nepalese milk tea) sale in the Cafeteria with the aim of raising awareness of the project. In addition to selling chai, the venue was used to exhibit photographs displaying the exchange with MBBES and raise donations. A special corner where visitors could donate English books was also set up. The chai sales campaign was a huge success, selling out every day and bringing in a total of ¥116,552. The proceeds of the chai sales and the donations raised will be used for the construction and operation of the MBBES library, and the 45 books contributed by APU students, staff, and faculty will also be donated to the library.

Requirements for sustained operation

Completion of the project will entail more than just the construction of the library. The project will also provide instruction on library operation so that MBBES staff and faculty can manage and operate the completed library into the future. The BAJ members are scheduled to receive guidance on library management and operation methods from an Australia-based specialist librarian, and they will pass on that knowledge to local staff in Nepal.

Construction of the library will start from December 2017 and finish in February 2018. Many volunteers such as MBBES faculty and students’ parents will participate in the construction, and the BAJ members will visit MBBES again to help with the final stage in February, shortly before the scheduled completion. The school plans to make the books donated by APU available in the completed library and also install the computers that could not be previously be used.