The challenge

A decade of civil war between the Nepalese government and Maoist rebels finally ended in 2006, and yet the conflict’s legacy continues to wreak damage by drastically limiting the potential of Nepal’s poorest children. The war cost at least 16,278 lives and also crippled the country’s infrastructure, damaging roads, hospitals, and schools.

Nepal’s educational system has been devastated by the war and, as of today, it is unlikely that Nepal will succeed in achieving the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education by 2015. High drop-out rates and grade repetition plague Nepal’s government schools. Indeed, during the 2011-2012 school year, nearly one third of Nepal’s Grade 1 pupils could not go on to Grade 2, either having to repeat a grade or drop out of school altogether.

Lack of financial resources and adequate facilities has led to extremely large class sizes in government schools, with about 100—one hundred—students per class. This makes it nearly impossible for teachers to offer specialized attention to struggling students. Moreover, many schools fail to instill an appreciation for learning in their pupils, employing traditional teaching methods that promote rote learning or memorization through pure repetition, and relying on corporal punishment as a primary means to enforce discipline.

The solutions we're proposing 

W4’s field project, RUWON Nepal, is responding to the country’s dire need to give children—especially children from poor socio-economic backgrounds and marginalized communities—the opportunity to pursue their right to an adequate education. Within the framework of an early intervention model, rural girls (ages 8 to 16) from the Sindhuli and Kathmandu districts are given remedial education lessons in literacy, mathematics, and English language. Thanks to a team of volunteer teachers, these girls can benefit from essential tutoring services, which help them to stay on track in their studies and acquire a life-long passion for learning!

The impact of giving 

By sponsoring a girl’s tutorials, you help ensure that she can obtain the qualifications she needs as she perseveres on her path to a brighter future through higher education and gainful employment!