Early Childhood Education
Educating poor children in Nepal is challenging. Many children live in unsafe, unhealthy homes and work to help support the family. Many children who are victims of child labor, or who have parents who are itinerant workers, are not enrolled in school. They lack school-readiness skills, are neglected and malnourished, all of which interferes with their ability to learn.
In order to serve these children, the Contact Center, located in Balaju, Kathmandu, was created. Here children aged 3-10 years old are provided an educational foundation in a nurturing, loving environment, similar to the Montessori model. Enrollment in the Center averages 26 students. The children enter at the preschool level, are taught basic skills, including reading, writing and an introduction to English. They are also provided with hygiene education, healthcare and two high-quality protein-rich meals each day.
Contact Center Playtime
Playtime is learning time for the children attending our rehabilitative day program. The Contact Center actively outreaches to street children and children of itinerant workers who have not attended formal school, need a safe place to spend the day and benefit from high-protein meals. The children remain in the program for up to two years, acquiring the skills needed to begin elementary school and then enroll in private schools to continue their education.
After 18-24 months, many of these children are ready to enter the school system and after testing are placed in second or third grade. Even children who prematurely leave the Contact Center have benefited from a nurturing environment, nutrition, healthcare and an educational foundation. The Contact Center serves as a source of new children to enter into our sponsorship program. In 2017 five children graduated from the Contact Center and were placed in private schools. Currently, however, there are more young children in need in the Kathmandu area than we can host at our Contact Center. This is why we are expanding to serve more children during this critical period of development.
