Creating child-friendly Learning Center in Nepal

Parahu - “Let’s Study”

Creating a child-friendly Learning Centre in Nepal

Project Summary: Dhanushadham lies in the southern belt of Nepal. The Musahar population in Dhanushadham is the most vulnerable and marginalized in terms of access to resources. At a learning center in Govindpur, Dhanushadham, 190 children from the Musahar community are provided informal classes with the support of 3 facilitators who belong to the same community. Our project aims to educationally empower and encourage children to build their capacities out of school and support the facilitators. 

Through GlobalGiving September Accelerator program, SAATH was able to raise a total of $ 5356 including 62 donations from 54 donors in a period of 17 days. Now that we are a permanent member of the GlobalGiving community, we wish to engage with more donors and continue our work in the Musahar community. Our current goal is to raise a total of $25000 for the learning center. 

Project Activities

Diagnostic Test for the children: To understand the learning levels of the children coming to the learning center, we will be conducting a diagnostic test for each child and cater to their needs accordingly. 

Numeracy and Literacy Classes: Numeracy and Literacy classes for the children by the facilitators will be conducted every day where the children will be supported to learn letters, words, sentences, reading, and storytelling to begin with. 

Stationery for the children: The children coming to the learning center will receive a monthly supply of stationery as motivation and encouragement. 

Facilitators Remuneration: The three facilitators will be remunerated with a basic stipend as motivation and reward for their hard work on a monthly basis. At present, we have a total of 3 facilitators. We wish to increase the pool of facilitators for the number of children is increasing with passing days. 

Teacher’s Training: One of the most important aspects of the project is to provide support to the facilitators. In this process, teacher training will be periodically provided to them to support their learning and update them with skills and knowledge applicable while teaching.

Capacity-building Workshop: The facilitator will receive TOT on capacity building to work with selected groups of children in the learning center. The capacity-building workshops is aimed at improving the leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills of the children who showcase an extra zeal to learn and work towards supporting other children in the community. 

Project Update

In December, the 3 facilitators of our learning center visited Kathmandu for the teacher’s training and development. Over the course of 4 days, they made an organizational visit, received development training and TOT to enhance their skills and knowledge on classroom teaching and their relationship with the children. During their visit, the following activities were carried out to support their learning:   

Exposure visit to Changing Stories Nepal

A one-day exposure visit to Changing Stories Nepal, a non-profit established in 2016 working to ensure that all kids are learning when they go to school was made by the three facilitators. Changing Stories Nepal supported us take the Diagnostic Test for the children of the Musahar community. During the visit, the facilitators shared the results of the diagnostic test with Ms. Niharika Mainali, Executive Director of the organization. The facilitators were able to share their challenges and experiences to which Ms. Mainali further extended her support by sharing her learning and way forward on the challenges seen through the diagnostic test.  

3 days Teacher’s Training

In collaboration with Sutra for Leaders, a 3-day teachers training and development was organized from December 25-27. Classroom Management, Lesson Plan, Understanding Self and Others, Managing Large Classrooms, Utilization of Local Resources, Way forward on the results of the Diagnostic Test and Reflection Session were amongst the training content that the facilitators learned about during the training program. The facilitation was done in support of experienced trainers who have been working at grassroots and educational reform. 

TOT on Capacity-building

Hakuna Matata, SAATH’s signature program has been running since 2012 with children from difficult backgrounds. At present, we are working with 11 children belonging to settlement areas through a 5-year long intervention to build their capacities and skills outside of the classroom. Monthly workshops and reflection sessions are organized for the children on themes that are in line with the year of their engagement. A TOT on Hakuna Matata, its components and delivery of workshops was conducted for the facilitators at SAATH. Public Speaking, Leadership, Social Skills, Higher Order Thinking and Career Development are the core components of Hakuna Matata and each skill is facilitated for a year to the children. The TOT was provided with an intention to regroup children on the basis of Diagnostic Test into smaller number and facilitate workshops on soft skills

Way Forward

Classroom Monitoring of the facilitators post-training

Continued Monthly Stationery Drive for the children of the learning center

Hire an additional facilitator for the learning center 

Weekly Facilitator’s Meeting 

Monthly Workshop for the children of the learning center on Leadership and Public Speaking