DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Brighter Future Programme

Rationale of the Project

RRN believes not in temporary relief from suffering, but a permanent release which enhances people’s productive and organising abilities, thus enabling them to take their development into their own hands. In line with RRN’s objective, the Brighter Future Programme was formulated as a partnership between RRN and World Education in order to uplift the plight of children (10-18 years old) who have experienced or are at risk to the worst form of child labour. The programme aims to increase the awareness level of education of these children who have previously lacked the opportunity to study in formal education or who dropped out from their lower classes.

General Objectives

The overall objective of RRN is to work towards the empowerment of the rural poor and marginalised and works towards sustainable development in Nepal. It aims to uplift the socio-economic conditions of the rural poor and those who are disadvantaged and socially oppressed, particularly rural women and small farmers.

Specific objectives

• To increase the literacy level and knowledge in regards to the health of rural children;
  
• To increase enrolment of the number of children in formal school and to reduce dropouts;
  
• To decrease the percentage of the worst form of child labour;
  
• To raise awareness among the community towards education and child rights;
  
• To make the people responsive towards the community works;
  
• To raise social awareness through Child Literacy Classes (CLC);
  
• To prioritize the selection and education of Dalit community girls and
  
• To encourage enrolment in formal school after graduation from the programme.
  

Beneficiaries

The numbers of beneficiaries in this project were 177. Out of this male were 61 (34%), female 116 (65%), Dalits were 55 (31%) and Janajatis 95 in number.

Results

The target group of children’s educational level has been improved through the conduction of literacy classes, monitoring and supervision of their classes, and provision of scholarships to help pay for their education. Support to the students was targeted with the training and regular monitoring of the PTA and the running of the TTL Centre. In this way, teachers, parents and the community in general became involved in the education of the students. Since its inception in 2003, the Brighter Future Programme has helped to increase the literacy level and knowledge of the target beneficiaries, increase their enrolment in school and decrease the number of children vulnerable to the worst form of child labour. Many of the students have remained or gone on to formal education.