Udaan "Catching the Missed Opportunity"

Nepal

This is the second phase of the “Access to Quality Education for Economically and Socially Vulnerable Girls” project, which was launched by CARE AUSTRIA in 2013, with OFID’s support (grant in the amount of US$250,000 approved in 2013), and aims at improving the socio-economic prospects of girls from poor and socially excluded families through better access to education and vocational training in Nepal in 10 villages for people from poor and marginalized rural communities of the Kapilbastu district. 500 poor and marginalized adolescent girls who have never been to school or who drop out are empowered through an accelerated learning course in 10 Udaan schools. Of the Udaan II first batch, 95.86% adolescence girls (232 out of 242 enrolled) completed the Udaan course in 5 Udaan centers. Out of the 232 girls who completed the Udaan course, 204 girls (87.93%) transited into formal mother schools. Out of those 204 girls, 137 girls (67.16%) are continuing their education at formal mother schools till now. This success was made possible through the targeted intervention measures applied directly at the mother schools, as well as Udaan parents’ support committees and field staff who have rigorously worked for it. SOME FACTS AND FIGURES OF THE REPORTING PERIOD • 204 marginalized girls are enrolled in formal mother schools of their respective areas after the successful completion of the Udaan classes. Their learning outcomes are also improving. • 263 out of school girls (second batch) were identified in Maharajgunj and Krishnanagar Municipality and they are now enrolled in 6 Udaan learning centers. • In collaboration with local government, the Udaan model has been piloted in one mother school in Maharajgunj municipality. The school provided 2 female government funded teachers for facilitating the Udaan class, who received Udaan training from the project. • Local government is developing their understanding of the Udaan model and is exploring the process to replicate the model in their respective areas. They are visiting Udaan centers to get inspired and to learn more about this model. One Ward Chairperson of the Maharajgunj municipality has concretely expressed interest to establish an Udaan center of their own with the technical support from CARE, starting with the next school year. • One Udaan center is operating in a Madarsa (Madarsas used to be rather against formal education for girls) following agreement of the Muslim religious leader. Both Muslim and non-Muslim girls are now attending Udaan class in this center. • 100 girls of Udaan I (first phase) appeared to the final examination in their mother schools, which was also the result of ongoing coaching support. • 7 mother schools have started to implement an action plan that was developed through applying the Community Score Card methodology, facilitated by the project. Through these plans, different sports materials and other basic equipment for quality education was being provided to schools. • 20 households where the families of Udaan girls live received seed money through cooperatives and started businesses like poultry, livestock farming and vegetable production to improve their livelihood through additional earnings. • 240 Udaan I and II graduated girls received a bicycle from the project, which contributes to punctual and regular class attention, and the girls can use the commuting time they save through riding their bike for studying. • 350 Udaan graduated girls are going to receive educational materials to support and improve their learning outcomes. Despite the challenging COVID19 situation, the project has reached its planned targets and achieved some great results. In addition, over 17,500 children and 446 teachers benefited from the reallocated COVID19 response activities under this project.