𝐃𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐡𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

…𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔

By Leki Chungdon

Dorokha Higher Secondary School (DHSS) students are spending their two-week summer break participating in community service activities under the theme “Connecting to Community, Service During Summer.” The initiative is designed to encourage civic responsibility and develop practical leadership skills, enabling students to contribute to their local villages.

Rather than focusing solely on personal interests during the break, students commit a minimum of 15 hours each to various community projects. These activities include cleaning public spaces, maintaining pathways, planting trees, and preserving water sources. The program aims to strengthen students’ connection to their communities by involving them in addressing local needs.

“This is an opportunity for our students to give back and understand the value of service,” said a teacher coordinating the initiative. “It also helps them develop a sense of ownership over their environment.”
Students balance their family duties and studies with their community work, with many expressing pride in their contributions. Local leaders and community members have welcomed the initiative, highlighting its potential to foster a culture of volunteerism and civic responsibility among youth in Dorokha.

The school plans to continue promoting such programs, aligning them with broader goals of environmental conservation and community wellbeing. Initiated by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, the program requires students to complete at least 20 hours of community service during the break. It encourages students to identify local challenges and work collaboratively to address them, in line with national values and the vision of building responsible citizens.

Udai N Bhattarai, Principal of DHSS, explained, “Our school launched this community service initiative to give back, in small but meaningful ways, to the community that has given so much to our children. Before the summer break, students receive orientation on the various types of community service they can undertake, including tree plantation, cleaning and preserving water sources, and community development activities. When taken seriously, these activities offer significant learning opportunities by cultivating civic responsibility, enhancing leadership, and fostering coordination within the community.”

He added that engaging in meaningful activities during holidays keeps students constructively occupied and supports their development as responsible learners. The school is working with local government for support and plans to expand partnerships with other agencies to provide ongoing learning experiences. A challenge remains in reaching every student effectively and offering guidance, an area the school is actively addressing.
At its core, the initiative aims to reconnect students with their roots and encourage participation in community building, which is seen as equally important as nation-building.

“We believe this is an important step to help our students understand their role in nation-building,” said a school official. “It also gives them the chance to learn local skills, interact with community members, and develop empathy and teamwork.”

To ensure accountability, students maintain a community service logbook to record their activities, beneficiaries, and reflections, which are verified by village leaders. Teachers serve as mentors, guiding and monitoring students throughout the break. Parents and local leaders are also encouraged to support the planning and execution of activities.

Students document their work through photos and videos submitted to the school, ensuring authenticity while respecting community members’ privacy and dignity.
The initiative reflects DHSS’s commitment to fostering leadership qualities in youth while contributing to local development. Dewan Rai, a teacher, said, “We carefully identify simple, relevant tasks suitable for students’ age and local context, such as cleaning water sources, maintaining public spaces, managing waste, planting saplings, and clearing pathways. These activities are supervised by local elders, parents, teachers, or follow school guidelines. We ensure tasks are safe and community-focused, with parents and local leaders supporting students locally.”

Parents and community leaders are informed beforehand, ensuring safety and strengthening ties between the school and the community. The program was introduced during Parent-Teacher Meetings and has been consistently implemented since 2024. Their involvement motivates students, making them feel recognized for their efforts.
Before the break, teachers prepare students by suggesting activities, setting clear expectations, and explaining the purpose of community service. Communication continues during the break through class groups, calls, and messages, and students are encouraged to reflect on their work upon returning. The school celebrates their efforts on social media to maintain engagement.

Chitra Bdr, a student, shared, “I feel well-prepared to engage in voluntary service and eager to contribute to the community. I am proud because these activities help younger generations learn life skills, build confidence, and support community development. Community members have responded positively, expressing happiness and motivation to give back themselves.”

Students are encouraged to share photos and videos of their work on the school’s official page or with teachers, helping to sustain the initiative’s spirit.
Community service teaches students empathy, responsibility, and the value of giving back. It builds belonging, cultivates humility, and deepens understanding of teamwork and civic duty. These lessons extend beyond the classroom, helping students develop life skills such as leadership, time management, teamwork, and problem-solving. They also learn values like compassion, respect, and lifelong commitment to service- qualities that support academic success and prepare them to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the nation.

Ranjan Rai, another student, said, “I chose to participate because it allows me to contribute to the community while gaining valuable experience. It helps develop the community without financial burden, making it a genuine act of service. Despite home responsibilities, we willingly sacrifice personal time, hoping our efforts will have a positive impact. Based on our experience, we believe our work benefits the community, as we have received many positive comments. By taking on tasks that would otherwise require community members’ time, we allow them to focus on other duties. Our contributions may seem small, but we believe our collective efforts will bring positive change.”

Students can select activities in areas such as environmental conservation, educational support, elderly care, community infrastructure maintenance, and cultural preservation. From cleaning community spaces and protecting water sources to offering reading sessions for children in remote areas, these efforts address small but meaningful local needs.