Good Neighbours UK (GNUK) proudly announces its successful grant award from the Education Opportunities Foundation (EOF). This critical funding will support a two-year project in Bardiya District, Nepal, aimed at addressing the barriers faced by children with disabilities (CwDs) in accessing education. In close cooperation with Good Neighbors International Nepal (GNI Nepal), and built on extensive consultations with local stakeholders, this initiative seeks to empower CwDs to advocate for their rights while fostering inclusive learning environments.
Understanding the Challenge
To design an impactful and effective project, GNUK & GNI Nepal engaged with parents, teachers, local leaders, disability rights activists, and CwDs themselves. This collaborative process included reviewing existing data on CwDs and conducting a needs assessment at the local level. The findings highlighted stark challenges:
Educational Exclusion: Over half of CwDs are out of school, with children facing multiple disabilities being disproportionately affected.
Inadequate Teacher Training: Government-provided training in inclusive pedagogy is insufficient to address diverse learning needs.
Lack of Support Mechanisms: Schools lack the infrastructure and resources to accommodate the specific needs of CwDs.
Limited Parental Awareness: Many parents are unaware of their children’s potential and face significant barriers in accessing educational opportunities.
Policy Gaps: Local government struggles to support CwDs due to unclear policies and insufficient provisions.
Our initiative aims to address these challenges through a comprehensive strategy:
We will make 6 schools more accessable by providing assistive devices, constructing ramps, and equipping them with accessible learning materials. We will also train 45 teachers and school leaders in inclusive pedagogy to better support diverse learners. To empower CwDs, we will offer life skills training, mentorship programs, and extracurricular activities designed to build self-esteem and advocacy skills. Additionally, we will engage the community by raising awareness among parents and peers about the rights and potential of CwDs, while mobilising local stakeholders to foster a culture of inclusion.
Children Advocating for Their Own Rights
Although they face multiple barriers, children with disabilities will also often have to be the one who fights hardest for their own rights, and they will be doing so for their whole life. A key feature of the project is empowering children with disabilities to become advocates for their rights. By participating in extracurricular activities and learning from role models who also live with disabilities, CwDs will develop the confidence and skills needed to voice their needs and aspirations.
GNUK & GNI Nepal would like to thank Education Opportunities Foundation for selecting this project. We are aware there are many causes. We commit to sustaining the project’s impact beyond the EOF grant period. By partnering with local governments, NGOs, and community-based organizations, the project will embed inclusive practices into local education systems. Advocacy efforts will also aim to secure long-term funding and integrate disability rights into government policies.
If this project has affected you, why not reach out to your local organisation who work with children with disabilities, and see where you can help advocate, support and encourage those who face these every day challenges? Even a small effort can lead to a significant change in someones life.
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