Regions: Africa   Asia   Latin America


Name of Organization: Community Action Center of Nepal (CAC)

Country: Nepal

Project Title: "Community based Innovation to Reduce Child Labour through Education"

Project Timeframe: 10 months (Starting in June 2005)

Location of Project: 10 VDCs of Bhaktapur District

Budget Amount: $ 9,700

NGO contact and website:
Email: cac_nepal@hotmail.com

Project's Primary Objective: Raise awareness of the importance of education for all children, and mobilize a wide array of actors to improve and expand education infrastructures.

Description of Organization: CAC, a pioneer organization of Nepal, has been working for the betterment of women and children for 12 years. CAC's motto is empowerment of women and children to tackle problems by making them aware of legal matters. CAC has already worked with sex workers of Bhaktapur district to make them aware of HIV-AIDS.

Major activities undertaken by CAC so far include free education programmes and coaching classes for needy children, non-formal and out-of-school programme for women and children, and advocacy on trafficking of women and children. They conducted a study on stocktaking of existing research and data on trafficking implemented by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and supported by UNS Task Force Against Trafficking, called "A Joint Initiative in the Millennium Against Trafficking in Girls and Women," in September 2001. They also completed a Study on Internal Trafficking of Sex Workers in Kathmandu with Special Reference to Children for the ILO / IPEC in January 2002 and a baseline survey on trafficking in five VDCs of Nuwakot District for United Nations System Taskforce/JIT project, NEP/96/003 (Under Compilation). They carried out an exposure visit to Humachal Pradesh for five female farmers from dalit and indigenous groups in September 2003, with funding from Winrock International. The main objective of this visit was to study the issues of social equity and various techniques adopted in the management of natural resources. In 2004 they implemented the Programme Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) in Bhaktapur District supported by Plan Nepal; the main objective of this program was to protect and prevent children from commercial sexual exploitation.

Description of Project funded by CIRCLE: Through the CIRCLE project, CAC will sensitize target communities against sexual exploitation of children and provide non-formal education to children in ten VDCs of Bhaktapur District. Non-formal education is a key strategic intervention in combating child labor, and classes will provide a space for socialising as well as an opportunity for child labourers and at-risk children to catch up with their peer groups and acquire basic skills. In addition, children will be empowered with information about their rights, gender equality, and importance of education, health and hygiene and about other social issues. In implementing this strategy, the project will mobilize local communities to demand accessible, affordable, and relevant and quality education. The participation of parents, and especially of women, will be strengthened through community-based school improvement activities and community mobilisation. Special attention will be given to raising the demand for better teaching practices, which is more sensitive to the needs and aspirations of girls. This approach will jointly target the problem of the exclusion of girl children and children of disadvantaged, deprived communities. Given the precarious status of women and girls in Nepal, gender mainstreaming in the project will be an integral part of the project. The employment of female staff will be encouraged in the project. Support will be provided to construct girl friendly facilities in formal and non-formal setting.

This CIRCLE project will include improved specialized programs and increased role of the community in educational and anti-child labor initiatives including the sale and trafficking of children and use, procurement, or offering of a child for prostitution or pornography. The following strategies will be adopted:
  • Conduct intensive campaigns in 10 VDCs against child labor through community meetings, children's rally and open-air drama (covering topics like worst forms of child labour, sexual abuse, early marriage, birth registration, child exploitation, gender equality, violation of child rights etc).
  • Explore opportunities for collaboration with other local development and poverty alleviation projects, where the families targeted under the project can participate to further compensate for the loss of the child labor income.
  • Conduct home visits and focus group discussions with parents of children to encourage them to send children to the education project.
  • Stakeholders meeting
The following outcomes are expected:
  • 100 child labourers identified and provided with NFE classes
  • 50 children enrolled into formal schooling after NFE class
  • One model latrine built
  • 30 Female teachers trained in child labor (girls' trafficking and sexual exploitation)
  • Advocate for having full-fledged female teachers in the schools in targeted areas
  • Parent Teachers' Association (PTA) established in 5 schools, with regular meetings
  • Progress of children monitored through regular visits to school
  • Schools supported with game materials, classroom maintenance

Project Targets (Common Indicators):
Enrollment: 100 children
Persistence: 70%
Transition: 25%
Completion: 70%