January in Nepal is bitterly cold. In Kapilvastu, many primary school children walk to class in thin shirts, some even barefoot. This winter, Tzu Chi volunteers organized the first large‑scale winter clothing distribution across five schools. On January 9 and 11, 921 students from kindergarten to fifth grade received sweaters, hats, and socks so they could stay warm and keep coming to school.
LEFT: Volunteers in Kapilvastu distribute winter uniforms to 921 students at five schools. | Photo: Bishnu Gaud. RIGHT: Principal Samira Kurmi (right) of Shree Janata Basic School hopes the clothing will improve attendance. | Photo: Li‑Chu Hsu
A simple wish: keep children healthy and in class
As temperatures dropped suddenly, supplies arrived earlier than expected. Volunteers moved the first distribution forward to January 9 and began at three schools.
At Shree Mahendra Basic School, 14 volunteers finished setting up before 10 a.m. Children gathered quietly, eyes fixed on the piles of sweaters and hats. Local volunteer Rakesh Tripathi told them that Master Cheng Yen had heard about the cold and was worried they might fall ill and miss school, so warm clothes had been prepared.
Ward leader Ramjeet Prasad Kurmi urged the students to cherish and use the clothing so they could “study comfortably through winter.” Principal Baitullah Teli said the severe cold had already reduced attendance, especially among children from poorer families. The extra layer of warmth, he hoped, would also become an extra layer of security for their education.
Deputy CEO Xin‑Yu Zhao (趙信玉) of Tzu Chi Singapore explained that once volunteers learned many students had no sweaters, hats, or socks, they quickly sought suppliers so the items would arrive before the worst cold. Here alone, 183 children received winter clothing. Adults helped the youngest students pull sweaters over their heads and tug hats over chilled ears, offering care that felt almost like family.
LEFT: Ward leader Ramjeet Prasad Kurmi (right) urges students to make good use of their winter clothing so they can study safely in the cold. | Photo: Bishnu Gaud RIGHT: At Shree Tilaurakot Secondary School, Gobari, student representatives offer a traditional welcome and dance to bless the volunteers and Principal Sanjay Kumar Varma (left). | Photo: Li‑Chu Hsu
“Now I can come to school”
The same afternoon, at Shree Janata Basic School, teachers warmed themselves around a small fire while 62 students lined up in the wind. Some shivered in short sleeves; a few had no socks, and some were barefoot.
Principal Samira Kurmi said families often could not afford winter clothes, so parents kept their children home when it was too cold. She hoped the sweaters, hats, and socks would remove one more barrier to attendance.
Student Roshni Teli clutched her bundle tightly. With a sweater, socks, and hat in her arms, she said she would wear them and keep coming to school.
At Shree Buddha Bidhya Basic School, 45 children stood quietly in the cold. Principal Parbati Bhusasl and volunteers gave out clothing and gently helped students put on their hats and backpacks. As the wind continued to blow, the line of children slowly stopped shivering.
That evening, volunteers returned to the Tilaurakot Community Learning Center to prepare for the next round. They sorted each set of clothes by school, class, and student name, double‑checking lists late into the night. Hands numb from work and cold, they still tried to pack a sense of care into every bag.
LEFT: Community leaders, principals, and overseas volunteers hold bundles of clothing as teachers gently guide children forward. | Photo: Ching‑Ho Chang (張清和) RIGHT: Charity team member Simran Thapa (right) helped plan and prepare the distributions, hoping warm clothes would keep learning from being disrupted by the cold. | Photo: Bishnu Gaud
Rural schools facing winter
On Sunday, January 11, Shree Tilaurakot Secondary School, Gobari, opened specially for the distribution so 557 students could receive their winter sets before the next cold spell.
Principal Sanjay Kumar Varma explained that most students come from poor farming families in a remote area. When the school asked for help, warm clothes were prepared so children could continue their studies through winter. Older students volunteered to help with queueing and handing out clothing, making the large‑scale event run smoothly.
Second‑grader Bipin Sahani shared that his only sweater was still wet from washing, so he had felt especially cold walking to school. After receiving a new sweater and hat, he said that once he put on the hat, he no longer felt cold and his body warmed up. Now, with more than one sweater, he felt an extra layer of warmth and gratitude, and shyly added:
“Thank you for coming from so far away to help us.”
In the afternoon, volunteers went to Lambu Sagar School, the first Kapilvastu school to collaborate with Tzu Chi. Seventy‑four students received winter uniforms there. Seeing bare legs and children without socks, volunteers quietly helped them pull on thick sweaters and hats.
Principal Rama Acharya shared that in the past two years, donations of schoolbags, shoes, and stationery have clearly improved attendance and interest in learning. Many students come from very poor nearby communities; some parents migrate to India for work, taking their children away from school for months. With continued support, parents have also joined sweater‑knitting and mushroom‑growing training to supplement income and have begun to value their children’s education more.
In winter, Acharya said, most students used to arrive in only a thin shirt, and some had to light a fire near the classroom just to keep warm. This year, after requesting help, the school received sweaters, hats, and socks for all. Student Shamar Shah said the new set kept his whole body warm, “even my ears.” In his class, seven classmates had previously had no winter uniform; now every child is better protected from the cold.
LEFT: Children wait eagerly for the distribution, eyes full of anticipation and joy. | Photo: Bishnu Gaud. RIGHT: Principal Rama Acharya (left) of Lambu Sagar School says long-term support has improved families’ situations and students’ interest in learning. | Photo: Li‑Chu Hsu
Planning warmth, one child at a time
During earlier school visits, Zhao had seen children wearing only two thin layers in harsh winter weather. Once that need was clear, the charity team quickly planned procurement. She was grateful that a supplier managed to deliver more than 900 sets of winter uniforms, hats, and socks in a short time.
Staff members Aliza Chaudhary, Seema Ghimire, and Simran Thapa used their familiarity with local children to estimate sizes and pack each set by name. Every child received clothing that fit.
Zhao shared that when she helped students put on their hats, their ears and cheeks were icy, but their smiles showed they felt warmer and safer. She hopes the winter clothing will help children fall sick less often, attend class more regularly, and focus on learning.
After hearing about the plan, Simran helped design the program, coordinate logistics, place orders, and gather measurements. She treated every detail with care so that, in the coldest months, students would still feel supported and able to study.
Across five schools in Kapilvastu, the winter clothing distributions did more than provide material comfort. They reassured children that they are seen and valued, encouraged parents and teachers, and showed how quietly persistent care can change the way a school year unfolds.
Written by Li‑Chu Hsu (許麗珠), Anish
Translated by Mindy Chen (陳敏理)
