Our programs
Daily classes, practical skills, and families at the centre.
Everything we run is designed around one constraint: it has to work for a child whose day is already full. Classes happen locally, cost nothing, and fit around the work and care that many of these children cannot put down.
Daily non-formal education
Classes held every day for children who are out of school or at risk of dropping out — literacy, numeracy and Nepali and English basics.
- Reading, writing and arithmetic at each child’s own level
- Held in the community, so no child has to travel or pay to attend
- A bridge back into government school for children ready to enrol
- Exercise books, pencils and slates provided at no cost
Life-skills training
Practical sessions on hygiene, health, safety and confidence — the skills that keep children well and able to keep learning.
- Hand-washing, menstrual health and personal hygiene
- Personal safety, and knowing who to turn to for help
- Communication, teamwork and speaking up in a group
- Goal-setting, so children can picture a future worth studying for
Chepang community outreach
Learning support for children in Chepang hillside villages, one of Nepal’s most marginalised indigenous communities.
- Learning sessions run in the villages themselves
- Support with school enrolment and the documents it requires
- Materials and warm clothing before the cold months
- Work alongside parents and village elders, never around them
Families and volunteers
Nothing runs without the families. Parents help choose where classes are held and volunteers are recruited and trained locally.
- Regular meetings with parents and community leaders
- Volunteer recruitment, training and ongoing mentoring
- Attendance followed up child by child, at home
- Referrals to health and legal support when a family needs it
Questions
What people ask us most
What is non-formal education?
Structured classes for children who are outside the school system — because they have never enrolled, have dropped out, or work during school hours. It covers the same foundations as school, on a schedule that fits a child’s real life, and can lead back into a government school.
Who are the Chepang community?
The Chepang are an indigenous people living on the steep hills of central Nepal. Their villages are remote, schools are far away, and children are among the least likely in the country to complete a basic education.
How do you choose where to work?
We start where children are already missing out and where families want the programme. Community leaders and parents help decide where classes are held and who most needs a place.
How can I help from outside Nepal?
Sponsoring learning materials, funding a volunteer teacher’s stipend, or connecting us with a partner organisation all make a direct difference. Get in touch and we will tell you exactly what a contribution covers.