World Vision Nepal

Meena (18) and Reema (10) are the beneficiaries of World Vision International Nepal (WVIN) Butwal Area Development Programme’s (ADP) Education Project. The change in their parents’ attitude to their attending school has given them a sense of relief and excitement. However, things weren’t the same for them before WVIN Butwal ADP’s intervention.

Not only girls in Butwal, but almost all Nepali village girls suffer from the brunt of existing socio-cultural norms, which prohibit them from accessing education.

From an early age, Nepali girls start taking care of their younger siblings and share in the difficult day-to-day responsibilities of running a family. As girls are confined to household duties, this often prevents them from attending school. Collecting water, cooking food for the family, tending to the cattle, washing clothes, working in the fields, cutting grass, are some of the household duties girls are expected to manage from the age of five or six.

Parents often consider girls to be ‘temporary property’, as they are to move to their husband’s house by the age of 18. In such a case, spending on a daughter’s education is considered economically irrelevant.

Though girls are enrolled in school, often they are not able to attend due to the amount of work at home. Attending school with unfinished domestic tasks is very much frowned upon. Some do manage to do both. However, they are generally too tired to be able to study properly in school.

Meena says, “Our parents never let us girls study after grade five. We were labelled as others’ property and giving us proper education is not their priority. We were expected to do house chores only.”

Meena is a class ten student, the eldest sister of two brothers and three sisters. Being the eldest, Meena started taking care of her siblings from the age of five. Though admitted into a nearby government school, she seldom got the chance to attend class. She struggled to pass her school exams. Her brothers are studying in a private school whereas Meena studies in a government school, where the quality of teaching is very low and classes irregular.

Meena adds, “I used to get up as early as four in the morning and try to finish all my house chores and get to school. Even so, there were days when I had to miss school regularly. My brothers are treated like they were royals. I could feel my parents loving them so more than me and trying their way out in giving them the best.”

Reema, on the other hand was told to leave school after completing class two. Her parents felt that a grade two education was more than enough for a girl. Reema was expected to stay home, learn how to do housework and prepare herself for her own family life.

However things are now a great deal better for Meena, Reema and many other girls in the village. Meena says, “World Vision has been able to get rid of those futile beliefs and practices of our village.”

The change has come about because the WVIN-initiated education project in Meena’s village. One of the objectives of the project is to help young girls who are at risk of dropping out to remain in school. Activities such as parent/child counselling, awareness activities, teacher/parent training on girl-centred education, training for girls on child rights and women’s right are undertaken through child clubs. These activities have helped reduce the school drop out rate of young girls in the village. It has also helped parents understand the value of educating girls.

Bishal Shrestha, Community Development Coordinator, WVIN Butwal ADP says, “WV-initiated awareness activities have made many parents realise the value of education for their children, especially girl children.”

Meena is now preparing herself for the biggest and the most difficult hurdle of school life, passing her tenth (School Leaving Certificate, Nepal). Even though she may not be able to get out of doing her house chores, her mother allows her ample time to meet her education requirements.

Reema has been re-admitted to class three. Reema’s father says, “I had stopped sending Reema to school after grade two. But, thanks to World Vision I have now understood the value of giving a proper education to my daughter. Though Reema lost a year, she is very much encouraged by World Vision’s efforts and is studying hard these days.”