Alicia Isles, who now lives in Melbourne, was just three years old when she suffered horrific burns to 65 per cent of her body when she fell into a boiling spa bath.

At the time she was airlifted to the Camperdown Children’s Hospital where she spent three months undergoing numerous skin grafts, blood transfusions and intensive medical care just to keep her alive.

The 31-year-old now works in the travel industry and has a special association with Nepal and in particular the Rehman family in Kathmandu.

When she left Bomaderry High School she travelled to Nepal, working as a volunteer for six months with World Youth International.

She stayed with the family, which established and still runs the Angels World Academy school.

“They became my second family and I have been back many times in the past 11 years or so to help them,” she said.

“They have run the not-for-profit school for mixed genders and races since 2000.”

This year’s earthquakes badly damaged the school, with five classrooms declared unsafe.

Students now take classes in the canteen while others are forced to sit outside.

Sisters Yashi, who is the principal, Saba, Toshi and Adibaba established and run the school, which has 278 students ranging from kindygym (aged three) up to leaving certificate, the equivalent of our Year 10, aged 16.

 “They risk having to close down if they don’t have the funds to rebuild,” Ms Isles said.

Since 2000 the school has been forced to move on five occasions.

“The school just gets established in rented premises and the landlords keep upping the rent, which they can’t afford and have to move,” Ms Isles said.

“The four girls run it as principal and teachers and they often put their own money in to try and keep the school operating.

“They work with many underprivileged families in the area. 

“They have never had any funding from outside, they are self-sufficient but run on a really tight budget.”

Ms Isles said the immediate goal was to raise $9000 to rebuild the damaged classrooms so the children could continue their studies and to provide a glimmer of hope and stability in a time of devastation.

“Ultimately the long-term goal is to raise enough money to buy land and secure permanent premises for the children,” she said.

Through various fundraising efforts, including a gofundme page, around $5000 has been raised.

For more information about the school go to www.aama international.org or if you would like to support Ms Isles’ fundraising efforts you can go to the gofundme page www.go fundme.com/rebuildourschool