Send Deserving Children to school in Rural Nepal

Young, impoverished Nepali children are getting a head start on their schooling through a new Early Childhood Development program started by Nepal Youth Foundation.

This year, we are developing eight centers: five of them are scattered throughout village schools in rural villages outside Kathmandu and three of them are in Kathmandu. Each class has about 20 students.

“This is a first for all of these children,” said Binu Thapa, manager of NYF's new program for children ages 3-5 from poor families. “It will make a big difference later in their lives.”

While public primary school is now widely available to all children in Nepal, preschool is a rarity, especially among the country’s impoverished children. Yet preschool is an essential step in making sure children are ready to learn in primary school.

In a corner classroom in a village school in the eastern district of Kavre, 20 children squirm and giggle as a teacher reads them a story in their native Tamang. A low murmur of conversation among the mothers sitting outside the open door drifts into the classroom. Puzzles, blocks, clocks and books are stacked in in a corner of the brick-floored classroom.

"We started the centers to give children a solid foundation to succeed, and we also want the government to succeed in maintaining the program" said Som Paneru, NYF’s president. “While the government understands the need for early childhood education and has opened over 30,000 centers across the country, the programs are not fully developed. They are understaffed, underfunded with poorly trained teachers. The centers do not have enough books or supplies and the facilities are inadequate.”

NYF’s goal is to help Nepal’s Department of Education to improve the quality of the ECD programs by training teachers, providing teaching materials and improving facilities to develop a model that will be replicable across the country.

Many children and their mothers travel long distances up steep, narrow paths to attend the class held at the local village school. The nutritious meal served daily is a big draw.

“It’s hard for families to feed their children,” Binu explained. “Children need a balanced diet, exercise, and educational stimulation to enjoy their childhoods properly.”

Nearly half of all Nepali children are malnourished. That's why the ECD staff work with NYF's Nutrition Program staff to weigh all the ECD students and assess their health. ECD and Nutrition Program staff will conduct follow up visits with families of children at risk of malnutrition. If children are found to be severely malnourished, they are sent to one of NYF’s Nutritional Rehabilitation Homes for treatment. And all ECD children receive healthy, locally available meals at the centers and their mothers are educated on good nutritional practices.

“Our goal is to prepare these children for a successful entry to first grade,” Som said. "And getting children the nutrition they need is absolutely essential to make it work."

Links:

• Nepal Youth Foundation

Thank you for your support of our project to Send Deserving Children to School in Rural Nepal. Your generosity has changed the lives of some of the most destitute children in Nepal by giving them the gift of an education.

These children come from families so poor that the cost of school uniforms, supplies and even a modest school fee is far beyond their meager budgets. They live in remote villages where access to education is difficult. In addition, many parents need their children to work on the family farm or perform household chores and some believe school is beyond their reality, and sadly beyond their dreams.

In several rural districts in Nepal, NYF grants scholarships to children to cover their school expenses. This is the first generation in most of these areas to receive an education. The cost – about $100 a year per child – is an incredible investment. An education will best prepare these youngsters for the very difficult future that awaits them.

NYF supports children until they can support themselves. After they graduate from high school, we provide them with college scholarships or vocational training. There are currently 30 children in the program.

We asked some of the rural scholarship girls to reflect on their lives and ambitions:

Pushpa, a student in class five wrote; “Despite the … adversities, I am not hopeless… I am studying hard because I am determined to become a nurse and take care of the poor.”

Kamala, an 8th grader, said; “After getting this scholarship I have been able to go to school regularly and keep myself neat and clean.”

Menuka wrote; “I am happy that this scholarship has provided an opportunity for us to get education on an equitable basis with other rich and high class people. We can also become a renowned person if we get equal access of education.”

Your support gives young girls like Pushpa hope for a better future.

Namaste.

Links:

• Nepal Youth Foundation