Preventive Initiative Focusing Children from Risks

The impact of an initiative to increase self-motivation of children for education and change of perspective towards valuing education of parents who have not been to school, school dropouts or never stepped into school. A village that has 22 households whose children attended self/peer group learning class before, after and during school close, 26 children, there were neighbouring villages, developed school going habits, teenagers completed school, join college with the support and guidance from Co. Mi. to study in urban and many started earning. Among them girls numbers is high. The local government called Bagmati Village Municipality (BVM) separated scholarship fund to support 3 students who were manage to stay with Co. Mi. that was called Self Managed Home (SMH). Co. Mi. found scholarship from a not-for-profit sharing organisation called Minority FOCUS who funded 70% tuition to manage 30% Co. Mi. wrote letter with a reference from their Colleges to BVM and so they provided fund. And that was a start for the student to receive financial support from the municipality who complete school elementary examination/ secondary level. That was also shared with the other 2 rural neighbouring municipalities. Recently Co. Mi. interacted directly with the chairman of 18 wards that comes under those 3 municipalities. They sent their representative to find out and learn about the initiative. The purpose was to increase interest and motivate children to learn and continue going to school. Before, children used to return home without reaching school. The way to school is less than 45 minutes and more than 2 hours' walk. Their attendance showed that after the initiative was started, 2018, children were an attraction for the teachers. Because when students used to be absent, teachers reaching and traveling from far to teach felt uninteresting.

Now working directly in the villages, creating volunteers and directly interacting the local government, a way is widen that Co. Mi. is offered partner and ready to follow this initiative that Co. Mi. called Our Study Place (or Hamro Pardnay Thau in Nepali language). A Similar situation is all over the country and there are 460 rural municipalities, including the 3 that where the impact is seen. When children get environment and support from the parents and participation of the stakeholder like the local government and the school teachers handled by the trained volunteers developed by Co. Mi., cost-effective and sustainable, looking forward to stop "the wheel of illiteracy". It is important because if even 1 person is illiterate that lacks knowledge to put information, knowledge and training into action. Covid 19 is a hint that no human must leave behind. Illiteracy could be seen as a social disease that affects other parts like sustainable development. School is a place to learn, academic and world's perspective. But to understand local, practical and what is needed, it is important to have a community learning and moreover an environment for children to study and develop their skills that are necessary for life.

OSP is a place, cost-effective because it is geographically a challenge to manage a tutor from outside of the community and even from around the area. Self-learning and peer-group learning with guidance from local volunteers and parents' participation is the way. And another side, less visible and less participation of the management team from outside community assures and develops independency that is a key to sustainability of the project.

At OSP children participates in social activities, prevention from diseases, speaking skills and games. At school they learn from books and back home they get opportunity to workout, practice and moreover focus on learning about the environment. This will also help to give direction and put in a position to be capable of moving further after completing secondary level that was not happening. Because children did not know and lack ideas, at home parents are busy taking care of livestock and working in growing vegetables or something to earn, poverty, essential knowledge is shadowed by poverty and daily need. At school, teacher and student follow timetable that children less opportunity to know what is vital even like about sexual and reproduction. All this vital knowledge that is necessary, when available that work integrally to be a capable person, a quality human asset, elements for sustainable development and a world citizen.