Kopila

WDRF (World Development and Relief Fund) is the relief and development body of the Methodist Church in Ireland. MRDF (Methodist Relief and Development Fund) is WDRF's equivalent within the Methodist Church in Britain. In partnership they have co-funded this project since 2005.

Nepal

Kopila - Education for underprivileged children

Funding for 2008: £10,000 (€15,000) from WDRF

Background

	Bal Kalyan School Management Committee help to mobilise resources for the school and to encourage parents to support their children both financially and with motivation for their education.

Nepal is one of the poorest in the world and the Maoist struggle has killed thousands of innocent people and set the country back decades in terms of development. Children have been particularly affected, suffering abuses on both sides or losing parents. Schools have often been closed or misused for Maoist political mobilisation. 40% of the people live in poverty and there is only 20% literacy. Poverty and isolation prevent children from accessing education and many children undertake take on daily chores or hazardous labour such as rock breaking in order to support the family. The slum villages where many children live are not suitable environments for young people. Adults may have little understanding of children's rights or, how as adults, their behaviour might negatively impact the young.

Kopila

		Kopila, meaning 'bud about to flower', was established in 2001 by a group of like-minded social workers for the children of slums in Western Nepal. Its vision is to create an environment where children can enjoy an environment conducive to learning and positive development, in health, education, recreation and child rights. Kopila works alongside dynamic community workers, including children, to make long-term changes.
The children are very happy to be at school.

The Programme:

A 3 stage programme over 3 years has been developed. It incorporates:

• Child-friendly teacher training for all primary school teachers
• Community awareness-raising through theatre, song and dance, on child rights,importance of education, disability, environmental and civic duties
• Children's clubs offering fun, awareness-raising, peer support and encouragement
• Parent groups for solidarity, sharing and problem solving, supporting of children's clubs, skills training, micro-credit, parenting skills
• Early morning school (6 to 8 am) for children who must work
• Referral system for physically disabled children

Kopila is making a real impact on the lives of underprivileged communities in Nepal as it helps them face up to the problems which are holding people back from fulfilling their potential.

Some costings:

• Workshop on child rights - £38 (€60.80)
• Child friendly teacher training for 25 teachers - £590 (€944)
• Primary healthcare and First Aid training session - £25 (€40)
• Project Supervisor per annum - £1157 (€1851)