Preventive Initiative Focusing Children from Risks

This project is unique because it is built entirely on trust. There is a prevalent superstition that NGOs are corrupt, but organizations like ours assure you that corruption in Nepal, as reported by Transparency International, is well-documented and not universal. Corruption levels are indeed high, but Console Mission (CoMi) understands that perception is often based on superstition. In the areas where CoMi operates, such as Ghongwa, Ghurdum, and 19 other villages (21 in total), people are gradually exploring ways to build trust. They are testing and observing, rather than labeling CoMi as corrupt. To address this challenge, CoMi has developed a strategy to empower local human resources by recruiting them as staff members. One such individual volunteered in the past and now works for CoMi, although she faces scrutiny for living in town working in the office, and traveling to the project area only on weekends. Despite these challenges, close collaboration withMi has inspired the community to strive for better opportunities, such as pursuing education not available in Chaughare, the ward encompassing all 21 villages, including Ghongwa and Ghurdum.

One of our associates, who travels to the project area on weekends, reported an incident involving Mrs. Sumitra, the Secretary of the Ghongwa Tole Sudhar Samiti (Ghongwa Development Committee) and a health worker at Chaughare Health Post. When Mrs. Sum became ill, she sought help from a traditional healing lama, despite also attending church. While there is nothing wrong with consulting traditional healers, it is crucial to determine which illnesses can be effectively treated by them. Otherwise, the Health Post's purpose is undermined. Unfortunately, in this case, the treatment from the traditional healer did not yield favorable results reflecting a common traditional practice in the area.

The "progress" of this project is as follows:

1. Establishing a relationship with the ward's office and the key person, the chairperson, who provided information about the 21 villages and their names.
2. Committees have been formed in two villages, Ghurdum and Ghongwa.
3. On February 21, 2025, both committees came together to get acquainted and discuss strategies to strengthen the project.

"Challenges":

1. As of April, 2025, the new academic year is expected to begin, but it is not happening across the country in public schools.
2. The committee and associates have been informed to take advantage of this opportunity to continue efforts, as this is a critical time for children's learning. It has been emphasized that learning the primary concern for students and their parents. If this gaps, children may lose interest in continuing their education. Co conveyed this message on prior experiences. Although schools are closed, community learning "Our Study Place" mitigates risks such as:

• School dropouts
• Child marriage
• labor

What CoMi is looking forward to:

1. Meeting with the ward representative, Chairperson Mr. Santalal, and his team to plan outreach to all 21 villages.
2. It may not be necessary to form a committee in each village; instead, based on geography, three villages can be combined into one, resulting in only seven committees, which would suffice.
3. Similarly, on the number of children, it will not be necessary to 21 community learning centers. A minimum of seven centers will be adequate, with two already started.
4. Furthermore, the functioning of these learning centers is important topic that Co must discuss extensively which can be facilitated by establishing a committee called the Chaughare Village Committee Management Committee

Links:

• About a focused project Our Study Place