active· Education

Concern for Education - Promoting Community Engagement (CFE-III)

Interpedia ry and Loo Niva Child Concern have previously partnered in Far West Nepal with projects in 2012-2014 and 2015-2017. The Concern for Education -projects have supported children?s right to access to free quality education in rural Far-West Dadeldh ura area. Dadeldhura is one of the less developed areas in Nepal where vulnerable groups such as girls ethnic minorities and Dalits (the lower caste) still face discrimination and have lower accessibility to education. The projects have successfully manage d to improve the status of basic education by training and sensitizing children parents teacher and local authorities for their role in promoting the Right to Education; by establishing children?s groups for strengthening children?s active participation in society; supporting local Concern for Education- and Education Watch Groups in supervising and promoting quality education and using local and social medium for raising awareness about education and good educational practices. The projects have aimed at m aking schools as No Politics Zones supporting peaceceful education fulfillment of child rights and avoiding misuse of schools as an instrument of political targets and conflicts.For ensuring that the good practices that have been developed and introduced d uring the previous phase can be spread the next phase of the project will focus even more on promoting basic and primary level education in Dadeldhura area with effective engagement of local actors of civil society. After the new constitution in September 2015 NGOs and civil society have a significant opportunity to strengthen their role in policy-making as well as to advance the democratization process in Nepal. Due to that training and empowering local communities will be important parts of promoting educ ation during forthcoming years. Trained local communities will also ensure sustainable redistribution of roles and responsibilities of improving the right to education as well as new ways to finance education promotion activities after the inputs from Loo Niva. The project balances direct project interventions and advocacy work with a clear geographicacal focus in the remote Far West area.