Serving in the Mountains of Nepal

The School Sisters of Notre Dame who serve in Bandipur, Nepal, are (from left) Barbara Soeté, Andre Maureen Soeté, Evangela Imamura and Miriam Therese Kanaya. Photo by Ken Buslay

High in the Mahabharat mountain range in the Asian country of Nepal, School Sisters of Notre Dame are making a difference for the youngest Nepalis and their families. To reach this remote area, the sisters must fly from Japan to Bangkok, Thailand, then to Kathmandu, Nepal. Then it’s a five-hour car trip up the mountain to Bandipur.

Sisters M. Evangela Imamura and Miriam Therese Kanaya from Japan have served in Bandipur for 30 years. Sister Miriam Therese started Child Care Centers, Seto Gurans, to better prepare children for school through early childhood education. She currently is a teacher at Notre Dame Higher Secondary School. Sister Evangela is a teacher and acting principal at the school.

In 2014, the village of Bandipur was designated a municipality by the Nepal government. This title signifies that a community has achieved distinct milestones such as having a certain number of people, suitable roads and other infrastructures. Municipalities also gain the benefit of larger grants for continued growth and development.

Sisters Evangela Imamura and Miriam Therese Kanaya were honored for 30 years of service in Bandipur, Nepal. Sister Evangela is pictured. Photo submitted by Sister Barbara Soeté

Recently at a meeting of major officials of the municipality and district, Sisters Evangela and Miriam were honored for their 30 years of service and contributions to the development of Bandipur.

The plaque they received said, “You came from the developed country of Japan to this remote village to help the people here. You have worked for 30 years to educate and assist this community. Your work has produced great results. The Municipality of Bandipur is grateful to you and honors you for your service.”

Sisters André Maureen Soeté and Barbara Soeté, who are biological sisters from St. Louis, Mo., also are teachers at Notre Dame Higher Secondary School in Bandipur.

Notre Dame Higher Secondary School in Bandipur. Photo by Ken Buslay

Sister Barbara explained how the school is structured: “The school name, Notre Dame Higher Secondary School, indicates that we have classes up to and including class 12. All of our 834 students learn in grades nursery through class 12 in one school with four instructional buildings in one compound. If you include the preschool (about 100 2- to 4-year-old children), the name is Seto Gurans. It is a short distance from the school.”

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