Send a Girl to High School with a Bicycle Gift

This time we share you the story of Seema Sahani, a high school girl of 8^th grader in Rajarshi Janak Higher Secondary School, Kurtha, Dhanusha who was among the recipient of a bicycle in first lot of distribution through this project. Seema's principal Mr. Birendra Yadav recalls ''Almost over seventy percent girls from Mahadaiya Tapanpur village (Where Seema belongs to) in the previous batches has never completed their secondary education from the school. They enroll and keep up to grade 8 or 9 and you will find very few in grade 10. Only a few of them have completed grade 11 and 12 from the village. As the high schools are not located in every village commute becomes a serious problem for every girl who walks 5-10 KM every day for a high school class. At this stage drop out is very high due to early marriage tendency in our society. Other parents feel insecure of their daughters as they find their fellow class mates in the neighborhood had already left for groom's house that even leads to child marriage. But I hope a better batch from the village after the bicycle distribution from this project to the high school girls like Seema. Ten high school girls from Seema's village has got bicycle through this project. School record shows they have improved on their studies as they are regular and on time to the school. With a bicycle in hand they are more motivated; more dedicated and feel secure in their commute with a unity of group of ten cyclists. I am sure these girls' performance and pass out from the village will impress others in the neighborhood!'' Seema says a bicycle for a girl that too for school commute was not possible in her family situation. But with a bicycle I reach school on time and my parents are even happier as I come back home earlier and have time to assist them in some house hold chores as well. Many thanks to Sumitah Atluri (Donor's name and country is written in her bicycle's chain cover) from USA who had made it possible for me with the donations of such a wonderful gift to me! With this bicycle I feel like something different for how to do better in my studies.

Thousands of girls like Seema across Nepal do not continue their higher secondary education as the schools lies 5-12 KM far from their home. They become tired to walk the distance and feel insecure on the way, as they are few in numbers and even alone sometimes. Due to this they are irregular and often late for school and forced to quit school which leads them to be married earlier. Because the national data shows that, girl's dropout rate is quite high and this has increased the risk of being married at child. In Nepal, Women between ages 25 and 49 years with a school-leaving certificate (SLC) and higher education marry five years later (21.8 years) than those without education (16.6 years)[1].District level high authorities in the event

 In Nepal, the current enrollment rate of children at primary level stands at 96.2 percent. But due to various factors the proportion of children who enter the secondary level falls to 56.1 percent (National Strategy to End Child Marriage, 2016). The school dropout rate is disproportionately skewed towards girl children with more girls dropping out than boys. Due to this the girls are at increased risk of being married as a child (ibid.). 

Government of Nepal has already endorsed the National Strategy to End Child Marriage (on 12 March, 2016) The national strategy has targeted to end child marriage by 2030. JWAS this project is in line with the national strategy direction 13.2, which states, “encourage out of school married and unmarried girls to continue their school education by providing them and their parents with various facilities (Scholarship at Secondary and higher secondary level, free books and uniform among others)”. In this regard, JWAS venturing of BICYCLE distribution to the vulnerable girls to continue their education is a step towards fulfilling the national target of ending child marriage.

41 percent of women aged 20-24 years in Nepal married before 18 years of age (UNICEF, 2013). In the Terai region, the percentage of early marriage is even higher. To save those girls who are at risk of child marriage, JWAS has stepped by initiating to support their education.  JWAS is targeting to support 500 girls for continuing their education in first stage but this depends on the response from generous donors as well. Till this quarter with the collected donations we are able to distribute 50 cycles to the high school girls and other such distribution events are planned. We heartily request all generous donors to help girls from being married earlier and request all to join hand with JWAS in this mission.

 [1] Nepal Demographic Health Survey, 2011.

Story Information:

“I had no option than to quit my education and getting married as other girls of my village are doing. I hadn’t thought that, I could continue my education”, Nadina Khatun from Mahadaiya Tapanpur VDC, expressed her joy after receiving bicycle. All nine (9) girls expressed same voice.Now the bicycle is not only a means to go to school, but an opportunity to transfer her life witheducation, a vehicle of confidence and bright future. As the national strategy has mentioned, “Girlswith no education or from families with lower incomes are at greater risk of child marriage (NationalStrategy to end child marriage, 2016)”, the beneficiaries (girls) were selected from the poor familiesbelongs to the Madhesi marginalized communities. Before providing bicycle to girls, commitmentfrom their parents was acknowledged in the presence of Chief District Officer, Superintendent ofPolice (SP), Assistant District Education Officer of Dhanusha district and other higher-level districtauthorities, journalist, political as well as civil society leaders.They are committed to continue their daughter’s education and not to marry her before 20.  The girlsfrom Mahadaiya Tapanpur VDC of Mahottari district were travelling 5 KM each day to come toRajarshi Janak Higher Secondary School at Ward No. 21 of Janakpur Sub Metropolitan City, Dhanusha district (Mahottari and Dhanusha are the neighboring district). As stated by the NadinaKhatun, they had no option rather than to quit their education and get marry. Now, the distancebetween their village and school has shortened with the cycle and their road to higher education isclear because their parents are also committed. This has disallowed the risk of early marriage to them.

 Speaking at the distribution program, CDO of the district Mr. Dilip Chapagain said that the education to girls would help to erase the inequalities prevailed between men and women. He further stated that, “The bicycle surely built confidence among girls and increase their access to education. This is just the beginning”. Our later communication with the head teacher of Rajarshi Janak Higher Secondary School, Kurtha, Dhanusha revealed that the girls who have got the bicycle are always punctual to the class.

 The generous donors have also been acknowledged with their nameplate in the front of bicycles and later JWAS will provide them with a certificate of appreciation for the donation of a bicycle to continue high school education of Nepali school girl. With the first and second lot of distribution JWAS has till date gifted 20 bicycles to the school girls and the distribution events will be regular and continue as per the donation collected.