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Nepal Social Development and People Empowerment Center (NESPEC) Udayapur: Innovative Program to Celebrate Universal Children’s Day is an Overwhelming Success
To truly commemorate the UN’s Universal Children’s Day, the members, staff, and volunteers of NESPEC decided to involve the children of Nepal at the grassroots level. Instead of participating in a more traditional and centralized district headquarter program NESPEC took their event into the villages. The program drew the participation of more than 450 children, was held in the central location of Harridya Village, and was attended by children from the neighboring villages of Jogidaha, Sundarpur, and Siddipur (above). NESPEC arranged for many of these children to be transported in via tractor so they could participate and be honored.
To select the children for participation in the program NESPEC relied on the Child Clubs they have established throughout their working area of Udayapur. These clubs were formed with the purpose of organizing children from oppressed and depressed groups and creating a point of contact to provide support directly to them, their families, and their communities; ultimately serving to increase their prospects in life. The clubs, some school based and some community based, all have an adult sponsor, but are run by child-only boards that range in membership from 8-14 youngsters and are responsible for helping define the activities and programs of the clubs. Current activities range from chess to cultural performances to sports to conflict resolution and focus on the overall well-being of the child and helping them fulfill their true potential.
The Universal Children’s Day program began with an inspiring 40 minute march throughout Handiya market where children cried out: “Celebrate International Children’s Day!” and “Protect Children’s Rights!” They also carried placards with inspirational slogans that read:
- Education for all is an urgent need
- We need education! education!! education!!!
- Food Security, Our Basic Right
- Housing, food, clothes, and knowledge are our rights
- Successfully Celebrate the 18th International Child Day
- School is our peaceful zone, please do not hurt us here
- Empowering the Citizens of Tomorrow
- Working on behalf of the children of the world
- Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders
The procession returned to the main chowk where all the children sat down and were welcomed by NESPEC President Arjun Kumar Dahal. They then listened to speeches by the honored guests, including Shashi Chandra Giri, President of the Nepal Human Right’s Organization Udayapur Chapter and Nicole Farkouh, Advocacy Project Peace Fellow from the USA.
Following the speeches, the highlight of the event began. Each of the 8 Child Club Boards had identified 5 children from their community who were struggling and in need of support to continue their schooling. NESPEC then presented essential stationary goods and 2 sets of uniform clothes to a total of 40 Udayapur’s most needy children from Janajati, Dalit (Musahar, Bishwakarma, Damai, etc.), Tharu, and other communities. Additionally, each of the 8 Child Clubs was given a large bag full of sports equipment and educational goods to support the ongoing activities of the clubs. The event was concluded by 13 year old Gita Kumari Khadka, studying in class 8 at Siddeshwori Lower Secondry School, who was the designated Chairwoman of the program.
The budget for the program, around 40,000 NRS, included the supplies given to the 40 students and the 8 Child Clubs, the transportation and food for over 200 children as well as the adult participants. All the expenses or the funds for this program, as well as continuing support for the 8 Child Clubs were donated by Action Aid Nepal under Food Security theme and generated by their Child Sponsorship programs in Europe. In contrast, the local government held a program in the District headquarters attended by approximately 350 children from within the municipality itself. The program’s budget was 300,000 NRS and included speeches and a poetry contest.
The feedback given to NESPEC on the program was resoundingly positive. The press who attended from the Kantipur Daily, Gorkhapatra, Himalayan Times, Purnapusti Weekly, and Majhkharka Weekly newspapers, Nepal Television and AV News Television, as well as local papers, along with school personnel and other local leaders, representatives of political parties, and parents all congratulated NESPEC on conducting a truly innovative and meaningful program conducted in the actual spirit of the United Nations Universal Children’s Day. Back