Nursery Schools for Hope, a project of the programm "childhood in Danger"

In Nepal, in the most underprivileged zones, many very young children are left alone at home, at their mother's work place, or on the streets since public nursery schools do not exist. They are vulnerable to violence and human trafficking. Direct and immediate assistance is necessary in order to insure their protection.

Planète Enfants insures this protection through the establishment of structures to welcome little children (aged 2 to 6 years) who have not yet reached the minimum age for elementary school.

"Nursery Schools for Hope" is a new project which creates nursery schools for the children of young women who are exploited (in the workplace or for prostitution) in Khatmandu. On the one hand they create a privileged space where children are welcomed, protected from violence and educated; and on the other hand they offer mothers the opportunity to move to different career choices.

The nursery school receives about 20 children, who are welcomed, fed, and provided with medical care by a team that specializes in early childhood. This structure protects them from abuse of all kinds, allows them to make a smooth transition to elementary school under the best conditions, improves their capacity for concentration and diligence, and improves their chances of success. A monthly participation fee is requested from parents in order to better involve them in the project.

The children are the direct beneficiaries of the project, as well as their mothers. The program also touches the entire family, notably the brothers and sisters of the child enrolled in the nursery school.

The objectives?
To provide a protective and benevolent daily environment for vulnerable children
To facilitate later schooling in elementary school
To reinforce the capacities of mothers and to provide advice on parenting education
To remove children and mothers from the exploitation of working in the "leisure" sector.

Key statistics
Number of beneficiaries per year:
-20 children of nursery school age
-20 mothers, as well as 50 young prostitutes benefit from parenting education and individual follow-up
-30 women and young girls given access to professional training
-30 women and young girls given access to revenue-generating activity and the possibility of reintegration

Length of the program: 36 months
Number of projects initiated: 1, the pilot phase began in May; the operational phase began in January
Number of working per project: persons: 8

Local partner :
Change Nepal is an NGO (non-government organization) founded in 2003 in order to aid victims of trafficking and to allow them to become socially reintegrated by fighting for their rights. Change Nepal also struggles for the implementation of the Rights of Man in Nepal, especially for the rights of women and children.
The NGO provides psychological support to women who are victims of trafficking in order to restore their self-esteem. It also invites them to programs in which they can develop their professional competencies, and be directed to economic activities that will allow them to reduce their vulnerability to trafficking by becoming economically independent.
Change Nepal is a partner of Planète Enfants for the program "Nursery Schools for Hope" in Khatmandu.

Technical file

Geographical location: Thamel neighborhood, Khatmandu
Beneficiaries: children from 3-6 years, mothers, young girls between 14 and 18 years

Intervention strategies

Creation of a protective and benevolent daily environment for vulnerable children
-Early childhood education in a center welcoming 2-5 year old
-Creation of fun and educational activities for the children registered
-Access to medical care for the children in the nursery school
-3 well-balanced meals provided daily

Sensitization and training of parents for the care and development of their children
-Sensitization and training for mothers concerning the rights of women and children, sexual exploitation, and trafficking
-Involvement of the parents in the management committee of the nursery school

Reinforcement of the capacities of mothers and young girls who are victims of exploitation so that they can build a new life.
-Classes for literacy and sensitization
-Professional training
-Support for revenue-generating activities