Educating 100+Girls in College in Nepal Every Year

Congrats to our latest Grade 12 graduates from Solukhumbu!

We’re bursting with pride to tell you that yet another group of girls from our dormitory in Solukhumbu’s district capital, Salleri, have passed their 12th grade exams. They are our 14th batch of students to graduate through The Small World’s program since it kicked off in 2010. Two years ago, these 20 girls came from all corners of Solukhumbu, and thanks to their courage, hard work, and support of one another, they’re leaving Salleri as senior high school graduates. This might not sound like much, but for young women in this part of the world, it’s no mean feat.

Typically, in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal, seven out of every 10 girls drop out of school after Grade 10. This happens because in most villages, schools don’t offer education past the tenth grade. Anyone who wants to get their high school certificate must move to the Solukhumbu district headquarters to do so. And the reality is, most families cannot afford to pay extra for a child to live away from home. Besides, girls are normally not allowed to travel, rent a room or study away from the supervision of their parents.

Facilitating a home away from home Girls from all over Solukhumbu can apply to stay at The Small World’s dormitory to complete their final two years of high school. With us, they’re not only supported to achieve their academic goals, but they also learn to peacefully coexist with others from different castes and ethnic groups. This communal style of living reveals their differences and similarities, so in the future they will be comfortable and confident to live and work in any community. They share cooking responsibilities and chores together with their dorm mates, which also teaches them practical skills like how to manage their time and household duties. By the end of their two years with us, the girls are usually very close friends and some undergo radical transformations. With some encouragement, many discover their passions, talents and hobbies that they enjoy.

This is a stark contrast to the lives of many girls and young women in Nepal who are only raised to see themselves as bringing value to society by being obedient daughters, wives or mothers. Once joining The Small World’s program, each girl is exposed to computer skills, learning English, public speaking, and sports like volleyball and badminton.

Pemdiki didn’t want to be a teenage bride

One of our most recent Grade 12 graduates, Pemdiki Sherpa, said without this dormitory program and support from The Small World, “today I would not be graduating, but I would be a married girl with an uncertain future. My parents tried to force me to get married after Grade 10. In the village it is very normal that girls marry as young as 15 and 16. I'm so glad I continued with my studies.”

Kiran values self-management and self care

Kiran Rai, another graduate of 2024, said these past two years have been “the most beautiful years of my life”. In addition, “Here I learned to schedule my day in a way that works for me. I learned what I like doing and why it’s important to take time for myself. Now, I feel capable of so many new things like playing volleyball and dancing. I will miss all my friends and this guidance from TSW.”

 Anita learnt about her unlimited potential

Anita Rai shared that when first joining the dormitory, she was very nervous and scared as it was her first time leaving home. “I traveled two full days to get here, but with continued guidance and support, I excelled in my academics and have made lifelong friends. I learned so much about how many different careers women can have. Previously, I thought women could only be teachers and nurses. Those were the only jobs I’d seen women doing before. I want to continue to study and become an accountant.” 

Thanks and watch this space!

From all of us at The Small World, we want to give our most heartfelt congratulations to all of our 2024 graduates. We’re also gearing up to welcome a brand new group of Grade 11 girls to the dormitory in the next month. 

Thanks to the care and generosity of people like you, a new generation of young women in Solukhumbu are being empowered to take the reins of their own lives. We can’t wait to see where this year’s graduates will end up, and watch more communities in this beautiful but fragile corner of Nepal flourish.