“The partnership we have with Shikshya Foundation Nepal is one of love and care,” shares Sharareh Bajracharya from Srijanalaya. The relationship is fostered by a shared appreciation of the arts, storytelling, their essential nature to classrooms, and their changemaking possibility for a more equitable and inclusive society.
SFN has been with Srijanalaya since Art Works! सँगै खेलौं was first conceptualized as an art intervention initiative and taken to Ghyachhok in Gorkha and Gatlang in Rasuwa. Art Works! has since then traveled to Gamgadi in Mugu, Pithauli in Nawalparasi, Bitijor in Sindhuli, Bangaon in Dang, changing forms before settling into a longer engagement at Thangpaldhaap in Sindhupalchowk. After a year’s engagement at Thangpaldhaap, we were able to sign a 3-year long MoU with the Panchpokhari Thangpal Village Municipality and work with schools and teachers to bring different mediums of arts and local indigenous knowledge to the classrooms across 8 wards.
SFN and Srijanalaya, literally and in spirit, have traveled together through the many evolutions of Art Works! Although the last year at Thangpaldhaap was interrupted by the pandemic, through this program, Srijanalaya has been able to build a body of knowledge and a community of artists and educators, to bring their know-hows and innovations into classrooms to teach and communicate better. The learning has been invaluable and will undoubtedly contribute to furthering arts education in Nepal, not limited to the capital city of Kathmandu and including the historically marginalized.