The boarding school we built in 2021 in the Dhading mountains of Nepal, run by the Chepang association, currently accommodates 22 teenage girls aged 12 to 18. Thanks to the ties we've kept, we've realized that many of them need support, whether psychological, academic or in their daily lives. So here we are, back at their side.
Lacking support from those around them in recent months, the girls became discouraged. Only one of them passed her final exams. With only 2 months to go before the end of the school year, it's time to support them.
Phulmaya, a social mobilizer who has already worked with Planète Enfants & Développement, was recruited in December to supervise the teenage girls in the morning and evening at the boarding school. She lives close to the school and is familiar with the girls' difficulties. She has already established a good rapport with most of them.
With the visit of 2 social workers from our partner Chhori for 3 days in early February, the girls were able to express their feelings and needs. Individual and collective psychological support for the teenagers has now begun. They are also beginning to attend daily support classes in English and science. Personal development training, to help them build their confidence, will take place after the March exams.
Thanks to our work over the past 10 years, attitudes have changed, and when we talk to Chepang families, most of them have ambitions for their daughters.
But many teenage girls still drop out of school because of poverty, the distance between school and home, or a lack of support from those around them. These obstacles limit their prospects and increase their vulnerability to discrimination and violence.
For many of them, being born a girl is still a form of handicap. Our project, in partnership with the Nepalese association Chhrori, aims to boost their well-being, confidence, autonomy and future opportunities. It includes training on understanding the menstrual cycle and puberty, on combating discrimination, awareness-raising sessions on violence against women, regular psychological support, and educational support.
Former boarding school girls will share their experiences to inspire their sisters and show them that a better future is possible. Events with families and villagers will raise awareness and ensure lasting support for the girls. Meetings with local authorities will also ensure the sustainability of the project and reinforce its long-term impact.
Beyond the education of these 22 young girls, what is at stake is the place of women in Nepalese society in the years to come. They want to assert themselves: become nurses, doctors, teachers .... Let's support this new generation of children and pave the way for a more egalitarian future in Nepal.
