We are the Overlack family from Rastatt and we arrange sponsorships for the school fees of school children and invest donations in school buildings in the mountainous region around Pokhara in Nepal.
Since our start in 1993 with 3 children, we have been able to support the education of more than 1,300 children thanks to a large number of friends and relatives. We are currently working with 11 schools and have invested around €1.2 million in school fees and in buildings, renovations and school equipment over the years so that we can provide the young pupils with a better education.
NAMASTE
Under the motto "It's all about action," our parents, Dagmar and Jörg, decided in 1993 to finance the tuition fees for three schoolchildren from disadvantaged families in a small village at the foot of the Annapurna Massif, thereby giving them access to a better education.
At that time, there was no compulsory education in Nepal. Even today, the public education system in rural areas is often still very poorly developed, which is why many communities have established private schools that offer significantly better educational opportunities. However, these schools charge tuition fees. Through our private partner schools, we arrange ten-year sponsorships for children. With just €200 per year (as of 2024), the completion of education at a private school with higher educational quality can be financed—a chance that many families would otherwise be unable to afford.
In life, there are not many opportunities to so profoundly change a child's life with an annual amount of €200!
In parallel, we finance the renovation of schools and the provision of computers, chemistry and science laboratories, and books for libraries through individual donations. This applies to both public or community schools and private schools. New buildings are constructed when the condition of the school requires it, as is currently the case with our project in 2024: the Hillside School.
We always work based on individual agreements with the schools. They contribute 10-30% of the total project costs and, in addition, grant a certain number of their own scholarships to students or hire better-qualified teachers. This concept has already been successfully implemented in ten schools, leading to more self-responsibility and a significant improvement in academic results. The schools are closely supported by our Nepalese friends and partners and are regularly visited by us to monitor their development.
We are proud of every student who leaves school with a better education and of every school that uses its potential to provide the best possible education to as many children as possible.
We are pleased to highlight our special achievements:
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The Morning Star School in Naudanda developed from a basic school to a secondary school and later to a comprehensive school with a high school diploma. The number of students increased from 60 in 1993 to 800 (as of [year required]). The school has been among the best schools in the Kaski district for several years.
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The Morning Glory School, Morning Star School and the Little Daffodils School now also offer the 10+2 system, which corresponds to the Nepalese high school diploma.
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With our help, the public Brahma Rupa School was expanded into an IT-focused school and is now one of the best schools in the Kaski region. There, too, student numbers have doubled within a few years.
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In Sikles, we were able to rebuild a school that was 80% destroyed by the earthquake in 2019, thereby securing the school location for the community.
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Between 2015 and 2017, 75 houses destroyed by the earthquake were rebuilt by the families of our students through self-help initiatives.
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Many of our sponsored students are now pursuing higher education, some even abroad through scholarships. Some of these sponsored children have even taken on sponsorships for other children. One example of this is Krishna.
Join us – we look forward to your support!
Sincerely,
The Overlack Family
HOW CAN I DONATE?
Ways to support us:
1. A student sponsorship (€200/year) financing a child's education up to secondary school graduation (10 years of schooling) and eventually beyond.
2. Donations which we use to equip schools, construct new buildings and carry out renovations.
In either case, you can track exactly how your donation is used.
We are always open for other ideas. If you have any, please contact us.
We are looking forward to meeting you!
Sponsorship for a child
For just €200 per year, you can give a child in Nepal access to a better education. A sponsorship always lasts at least ten years (grades 1–10) and usually ends with a secondary school diploma. If the student achieves excellent academic performance, further support until the high school diploma (grades 11 and 12) is possible.
As a sponsor, you will receive information about "your sponsored child" at the beginning of the first grade. Over the years, the school will send you the child's annual report cards, and the child will write you one letter per year. This creates a direct connection between the sponsored child and the sponsor.
Would you like to take on a sponsorship?
Donations for direct investments
Individual donations, without sponsoring a child, also help us to further develop our schools and/or include new schools in our support program. We support the following initiatives:
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Renovation, conversion, and construction of school buildings
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Construction of adequate sanitary facilities
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Installation of solar systems to ensure school operations and sufficient lighting in classrooms
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Installation of adequate lighting in classrooms
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Setting up laboratories for teaching natural sciences
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Establishing computer rooms
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Construction and furnishing of dormitories for boarding students who have particularly long journeys to school
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Provision of teaching materials, books, computers, laboratory equipment, and furniture
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Training of teaching staff
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Hiring of additional, more qualified teaching staff
Why donate to us?
Advantages of our Nepal Children's Project:
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100% of your donation reaches the schoolchild or school directly!
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All administrative costs are covered by us, the Overlack family.
These include:
- Personnel and administrative costs in Germany and Nepal.
- Monitoring trips to the schools. While trust is good, verification is better: During our regular visits to the schools, we check how our investments are being used and assess the condition of the schools.
- Our local network allows us to establish direct contact with the schools and students throughout the year, even on short notice.
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Our Nepalese friend and colleague, Dr. Krishna Bhandari, has extensive knowledge of the Kaski/Pokhara region. He has not only identified many of our schools but also maintains close contact with them. This direct access to the school leaders often uncovers potential and enables us to make a significant contribution to educational success in the region. A notable example is the Brahma Rupa School.
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Every well-educated child is a success story and a catalyst for the development of Nepal as a country and society, particularly given the still very high rate of illiteracy in Nepal.
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Help for self-help: Schools and communities always contribute a share of 15-30% of the total costs for larger investments and commit to awarding their own scholarships to students for every Euro we invest.
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