Shree Maple Primary School
Date of Completion: May 1996
The people of Bolgaun are Tamang - a group of people who migrated
from China centuries ago. They are nearly all subsistence farmers whose
main crops are corn, wheat, millet, and rice. There are also a small
group of people living in Bolgaun from an "untouchable" caste
who work as metalsmiths.
The people of the community face many challenges in their daily
life, however, the greatest threat is to the young girls of Bolgaun
who are being exploited in what is known as Girls Trafficking. Girls
Trafficking involves the selling of teenage girls into prostitution,
usually by their parents. It is estimated that of the 120 households in
Bolgaun, only 7 or 8 have never been involved in Girls Trafficking over
the more than 40 years that is has been going on. The sale of girls has
already been slowed through educational programs, and with better access
to education the numbers will continue to drop.
The original school had been built over thirty years ago and because
they had not been able to maintain the structure there was only one room
left standing. Carrying in all the materials, including 130 bags of
cement and all the windows, doors and metal roofing - a full days walk,
the villagers completed their new four room school in under three months.
The people of Bolgaun are Tamang - a group of people who migrated
from China centuries ago. They are nearly all subsistence farmers whose
main crops are corn, wheat, millet, and rice. There are also a small
group of people living in Bolgaun from an "untouchable" caste
who work as metalsmiths.
