Improving Access and Quality of Education in Nepal

We’re excited to share lots of lovely impact from our recent projects in this report. So… let's dive into what we've been up to!

Our Act on Education (AoE) project in the rural community of Bethanchowk has been a game-changer for both students and the community, making education more accessible and engaging through creative methods.

We kicked things off with some fun and creative activities like drama and art workshops, focus groups, and stakeholder meetings. These helped us pinpoint the specific challenges kids face in getting an education.

Next, we brought everyone together for public theatre events where young people performed to highlight issues and suggest solutions. It was a fantastic way to get everyone involved! A member of the federal parliament, Mr Gokul Baskota, even came along and joined in! (See photo.)

We formed community committees and held regular meetings to make sure our solutions were put into action. Experienced facilitators are still supporting these efforts, and the work continues!

This project has already made a huge difference. Here are some of the highlights:

• Boosted Student Confidence: Students are now more confident and can express themselves better in front of their peers and community members.
• Stronger School-Community Bonds: By involving parents and local leaders in school activities, we've strengthened the relationships between schools and the community.
• Increased Awareness and Dialogue: There's now more discussion around social issues affecting education, especially for girls, which is a key focus for us.
• Improved Student Engagement: Teachers have noticed that students are more engaged and thinking critically in the classroom.
• Active Participation in School Improvement: Our AoE student group is actively involved in school improvement and other extracurricular activities.
• Local Government Action: The local government head has committed to addressing the stray dogs biting problem in Bethanchowk.
• Better Understanding of Relationships: Teachers now have a deeper understanding of their relationships with students, parents, and each other, and we've seen these relationships improve recently.
• Importance of Education: There's a greater awareness of the importance of education in Bethanchowk.
• Negative Effects of Alcoholism: The community is more aware of the negative impact of alcoholism on children's education.

This AoE project has been a blessing for students, schools, and the entire community. By tackling educational barriers with creative and participative methods, we've improved access to and the quality of education. Our collaborative and sustainable approach means the positive impact will continue for years to come.

We’re also delighted to report on the progress of our Early Childhood Development (ECD) project in Panauti, which aims to tackle the neglect of early childhood education. We trained 12 teachers from six local schools over three days with the help of Kathmandu University trainers. The training covered creative classroom environments, health and wellbeing, numeracy and literacy, classroom management, community and parent engagement, and safeguarding. We also provided follow-up support over three months to ensure the new skills were effectively implemented.

The impact has been tangible: teachers have gained confidence and improved their skills, benefiting 98 children from marginalised communities. Classrooms became more engaging, and children showed significant developmental progress. The project's success attracted more support form charitable trusts, allowing us to plan another ECD project this summer.

We're so grateful for your support, which has helped create vibrant learning environments and empowered teachers and students alike. Your continued support will help us keep making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children in Panauti and beyond.

In other exciting news, Joey recently arrived in Nepal and will be working with the team across multiple projects, including our brand new community hub and cafe in Panauti. Follow us on social media to see all her updates!

With best wishes,

Aimee, SK, Joey, Sarina and all the team

P.S. We’re still busy generating extra income for our projects by selling our stock of beautiful, handmade goods from Nepal. Our first stall of 2025 is taking place on Sunday 4^th May at New Milton Recreation Ground, where we’ll be joining in the VE80 Day celebrations. We’re also excited that our stock will be displayed in the Strawberry Gallery in Milford from next month. Make sure you drop by and check it out! And, finally, you can always purchase gifts and treats from our online shop! Link below.

Links:

• Our online shop
• Our website
• Follow us on Instagram