About Us
Introduction
Saral Nepali Language and Culture Center Inc. (SNLCC) was informally established in September 2016. The school was founded by a few like-minded Nepalese women who were concerned about the inability to speak the language and know about the culture of their US born children. Unofficially, the school started in a rented room of a Karate Studio on September 17, 2016, with 9 students in Elmhurst, New York. With the help and guidance of the parents, the center was officially registered in the year 2018 as a nonprofit organization.
The school has its own executive board, and it executes school activities in a participatory manner. The board meets regularly for planning and implementation of school activities. Every two years, the board holds the election of new board members. The school has its Bylaws and Articles of organization which is the school’s operational manual. All the administrative costs are supported by voluntary contribution from the board members, parents, and volunteers.
The school has its own bank account with three signatories, with two mandatory signatories. Even though it was not required, in order to maintain transparency and accountability, the board decided for two mandatory signatories.
Mission Statement
To promote and preserve Nepali Language and Culture.
Purpose
To accumulate all Nepali community members living in different parts of the United States in one umbrella as one family and promote Nepali cultural and traditional activities.
To preserve Nepali Language, cultural heritage, and organize social cultural events.
To teach Nepali culture expressed through Nepali language, history, and traditions in order to nurture pride in their heritage and identity.
Activities
Since its informal establishment, the school started classes for three different levels of students in three different corners of a rented room. Since there were different aged children, the school started classes for beginners, mid-level and senior levels, as per their knowledge of Nepali language. With the support and guidance of parents, gradually, the number of students increased. Most of the parents, themselves, worked as volunteer teachers. As the number of students increased, the board decided to bring in more volunteer teachers from the parent group as well as individuals interested in teaching children. The board developed curriculum and lesson plan for different groups of children from Nepali books that were brought from Nepal. The board also developed criteria for volunteer selection. The school has developed its own Holiday Calendar too. The calendar coincides with the USA holiday lists.
During 2020 March, the school was closed due to COVID-19. The school was impacted by the pandemic and could not run its activities. As the pandemic period lengthen with no end in sight, the board members decided to start online/ virtual classes to continue the learning. The online classes became so popular that the number students increased more than ever. This initiative was so exciting that, the board members’ enthusiasm grew. Gradually, the google hang out classes turned into google meet classes.
Achievements
Currently, the school is running 12 different levels of virtual classes with around 180 registered students.
There are students not only from New York, but also from New Jersey, California, North Carolina, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Texas. We also have students participating from the UK. The rented studio-based school has widened its horizon from U.S. to an international country.
The school has developed good collaboration with other Queens based non-profit organizations like Adhikaar, Chhaya CDC etc. The school participated in an event organized by Chhaya Community Development Corporation in 2019 and 2020. Children from the school performed Nepalese cultural dances in the fair – Chatpati Mela. Parents and the board members put a stall offering different Nepalese food in the fair to raise funds. Likewise, the school organized an important event in partnership with Adhikaar, a Nepalese right based organization. During the USA Census of 2020, the school organized an orientation about the importance of Census 2020 with our kids and their parents. Some board members of the school participated in some of the Census related meetings.
The school also participated in Nepal Day Parade event, which occurs every year in May organized by Nepalese Immigrants in the United States.
The school celebrates its Annual Anniversary each year by performing various activities like cultural dance, arts, sports, picnic etc. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the school did virtual dance and arts.
Fund Raising Activities
The school is completely operated through our wonderful volunteers, great support from our parents and its board members. The school also performs annual Nepalese cultural events such as – Deusi- Bhailo program, selling T-Shirts with the School logo and Nepali Books as a part of fund-raising activities. Recently, the board members have started raising birthday funds through social media platforms like Facebook.
