Improve education for Nepali girls and minorities

Our teacher training encourages teachers to make it a habit to read aloud to their students. As a key element of that practice, we focus on creating children’s books with easily accessible materials. At a recent session, participants wrote and illustrated their own books based on childhood memories and expressing their inner child.

The materials used for bookmaking were different types of paper, including some with texture; as well as fabric, cloth, thread and glue. A training session was held to stress the importance of communication between teachers and students. 

A second workshop explored different illustration techniques. Participants are free to experiment with watercolor to create backgrounds for illustrations. Acrylic color and kite papers are also used.

Promina Shrestha, an artist and board member of Kakshyalaya, our partner organization in Nepal, led the illustration session during a recent training session in Nuwakot district.

One of the teachers said she was fascinated by the way Promina drew each picture in her book so that it told a unique story. "She inspired me to do it even if I’m bad at drawing," the teacher said. "Our school encourages regular illustration among students so we can turn our shortcomings into their strengths."

Teachers tell us that they are happy with our training program because they are able to replicate activities that they learn, like bookmaking, with their students. The teachers have seen strong improvements among their students in terms of building relationships with their surroundings.

Another teacher, from a school in Kavre district, said she can see her students developing social and emotional skills with each read aloud and with each story. The children were learning about new characters and those characters’ feelings and are able to share their own feelings with their friends.

Thank you for your support in helping us to share the tradition of reading to children!