CAIRN Schools
56% of the population in Nepal are illiterate.
(DFID)
Background
Schools in rural Nepal are both scarce and difficult to reach.
The steep hills, long distances and poor roads, combined with the acute poverty of the region make education within the villages difficult and often unattainable.
Many children have to walk up to three hours each way in order to attend primary school.
This results in poor attendance, or delaying the starting of schooling until the age of 8-9.
The schools that do
exist are often extremely underfunded with ramshackle collections of crumbling stones, dirt floors and no windows.
Education is a proven way out of poverty. With more than more than 42% of the population living below the poverty level, Nepal understands it has a challenge. The Nepalese Government does not have the resources to provide enough schools in rural areas. The onus is on the local village communities to provide the school building, with the Government then providing the teachers and their salaries.
What is The CAIRN Trust Doing?
The CAIRN Trust aims to alleviate the problem of schooling within some of the remotest villages by bringing the schools to them. By partnering with the villagers we provide the funding for the building materials, whilst the villages provide the labour to construct the schools and often donate the land. Together, with our partners, we have built nine schools in rural villages in Nepal, giving over 2,500 of the poorest children the opportunity of an education. Click here to learn more about our schools and villages.
Future plans
In the coming year we will be launching a maintenance program for the existing CAIRN Schools, to ensure that they are meeting the needs of the pupils. This maintenance program will identify and address any equipment or supply shortages within the schools. Click here to read more about our existing CAIRN Schools and their villages. The CAIRN Trust will be extending the geographical area that it currently covers.
