CFRD hands over two projects to local community in Madhesh Province

KATHMANDU: In a joint effort towards improving educational infrastructure and community welfare in Madhesh Province, the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) formally handed over its ‘Enlightening the Future’ education project to two community schools and the ‘Aaramdayik Birthing Aviyaan’ birthing project to the Madhesh Provincial Hospital.

The two initiatives were implemented with financial assistance from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nepal in partnership with Youth Pioneer group of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal (CNYP), according to a statement issued by the CFRD.

The handover ceremony of the education support project was attended by Former Deputy Prime Minister Ishwor Pokhrel, while the health program ceremony saw the participation of Madhesh Province Assembly Speaker Ramchandra Mandal. Commercial Counselor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nepal Xie Yu, Country Director of CFRD Nepal Office Zou Zhiqiang, Founding Chief Commissioner of Madheshi Commission of Nepal Dr Vijay Kumar Datta, Vice Chairperson of Planning Commission of Madhesh Province Dr Sohan Sah, Member of Parliament Juli Mahato, Member of Madhesh Province Assembly Kanishk Patel, among others, also attended the program.

At the ceremony, CFRD delivered 144 sets of desks/benches, smartboards, whiteboards and stationery materials, and 602 student uniform sets to two community schools. Between 2016 and 2025, CFRD has provided ‘Love Packages’ and ‘Warm Packages’ to more than 30,000 students of community schools in the province. In 2024 alone, UNDP, in partnership with CFRD, offered livelihood support to 18,000 students in 25 schools and 9,000 pandemic-affected households in the province.

The education project focuses on improving the teaching facilities of community schools in Madhesh Province, enhancing the learning environment for children in the region, while the birthing project focuses on upgrading community maternity services by installing air conditioning equipment in birthing rooms of the Madhesh Provincial Hospital.

Speaking at the ceremony, Zou Zhiqiang, Country Director at the CFRD Nepal Office, expressed gratitude for the support and trust extended by the local government and communities throughout the years. She added that CFRD projects aim to help remote areas in Nepal gain access to quality education, healthcare services and safe drinking water.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Pokharel expressed his sincere appreciation for the continued support from the Chinese Embassy and the CFRD in improving the educational infrastructure of community schools.

Similarly, Speaker Mandal said the improvements to birthing rooms would significantly boost the safety, comfort, and overall well-being of mothers and children in the region.