Background:

Save the Children SCIUS is a non-governmental, non-sectarian, apolitical, non-profit development organization committed to making lasting positive change in the lives of disadvantaged children.

This organization has been working in Nepal since 1981. In the beginning, it has stated to work with "Community Based Integrated Rural Development" (CBIRD) program in one Village Development Committee (VDC is a smallest political/developmental unit which consisting with a population of more than 2000) in Gorkha district. SC/US gained valuable experiences working with CBIRD program. It has expanded its working area gradually in 20 districts with multi-sectoral activities in next 15 years. These districts are located from Eastern part to Western part of Nepal. The total number of beneficiaries are more than 500,000 in above 20 districts of SC/US program

In the beginning, SC/US has started to work in community as a direct implementing agency, but later on it has gradually changed its working strategy and started to work as a partnering program with Local Non-Governmental Organizations (LNGOs) and NGoO in close coordination with Governmental Organizations (GOs). Currently, SC/US is working only in two districts as a direct implementator among the 20 and in rest of the districts it is working with NGOs as a partnering pro,-ram.

Education and Child development, Health, Economic Opportunity are the core sectors and Partnering and Institutional Development (PID) is its working strategy.

Education and Child Development (ED & CD Sector)

Non-formal Education (NFE) or literacy program for adults and children, formal education supporting program and early childhood development program are the major areas of Ed. and CD Sector.

NFE or literacy program for adults (specially for women) has been accepted as an entry point of community development by SC/US. Baseline survey, meeting with community, NFE management committee formation are the basic activities for starting NFE program . This NFE management committee supports to identify the learners as well as possible facilitators (NFE teacher). Hut construction or arrangement of class room is a precondition for community to get NFE program. The local people are greatly involved in selecting NFE learners, recommending possible facilitators and constructing hut for NFE centre in centrally located area. Similarly, cash contribution as an admission fee, nominal book cost and monthly tuition fees are the obligation for learners. But this contribution should be deposited as a group fund of that NFE group. This is the starting of saving concept. This literacy class runs for six months as a Basic Literacy Class. For the succeeded participants of Basic Literacy Class another six months Advance Literacy Class should be organized as a post literacy program in next year.

The advance literacy curriculum has been designed relating to the need of learners as well as geographical variation. Including reading, writing and numeracy other functional knowledge and skills are also incorporated in the contents. They discuss on their day to day related issues like health, immunization, nutrition, child-care, environment protection, income generation activities, use of green manure, prevention from HIV/AIDS, women saving and credit group, gender, institutional development etc. which are the functional content of literacy class. This curriculum gives information on above issues and they choose the best way from literacy class. Health and Economic Opportunity sectors provide technical and advisory services to the same participants who are the active member of the society.

SC/US carries out its most of the activities through these literacy participants. The learners get multi- sectoral information from their literacy class and they use sectoral services which are available in their surroundings. These literacy groups will be the focal point to disseminate the other sectoral informations like health education and services, immunization, child rights, HIV/AIDS, environment protection, Saving and Credit or income generating activities.

The concept of women group formation will be developed from literacy class. The same literacy group follows by Economic Opportunity (E0) Sector for formation of Women Saving and Credit groups. In the literacy class they learn the important of group, saving and credit activities etc. and EO sector provides the access of what has they learnt. Similarly, in literacy course health information are incorporated and learners learn about health. Health sector has been working in the same community to provide the services. In these programs literacy, numeracy and functional knowledge and skill has to be used in -different way. For example, in women saving and credit group - minuting of the meeting, account and record keeping, billing etc. are the use of literacy. In health program - reading posters/pamphlets , notices, immunization card, time table and instruction of using medicine etc are the use of literacy program. Other sectoral activities also co through the same literacy group in the community. Similarly, women from the literacy group are capable to advocate on women and child rights. They are positive to send their daughter to school. Literacy program has been seemed supportive to increase the school enrollment.

SC /US supports those Women Groups to grow as a local organization either co-operative group of Local NGO. The next role of SC/US is to support them for their legal registration either as a cooperative or as a NGO.

If the Saving and Credit group members are able to keep their records it means the quality of literacy is high but if it is not the quality also low.

In conclusion, literacy knowledge and skill has been applied in other sectoral activities. These sectoral activities are helping each-other to fulfill their objectives. The functional use of literacy program reflects in other sectoral activities. This type of use of literacy has been proved as a tool of cross check for program quality. Similarly, other sectoral activities are also supported through literacy program. This is a good lesson for programmers, if literacy program could be linked with other sectors the result will be positive.

Contact Info:

Ghanashyam Khatiwada
Program Officer - Education
Save the Children US
Himalayan Field Office - Nepal Program
P.O. Box - 2218, Kathmandu, Nepal