Mugu District in the far north-west of Nepal is divided into four
“belts”: Gam, Soru, Khatyad and Karan. The Karan best is the most
remote. Ethnic tribal communities live in the Karan belt, and have very
limited access to health facilities and education. Most of the women and
teenaged girls are illiterate.
 
UMN’s local partner, Karani
Community Development Centre (KCDC), started three-month-long non-formal
education (NFE) classes in Mangri and Maha. The classes were
facilitated for three hours a day in local mother-tongue, by local
facilitators. In total, 64 women and girls attended, and are now able to
do simple mathematical calculations, read and write Nepali sentences,
and know the English alphabet A-Z. They even know some English words!
This success is because of the right selection of facilitators, the
learning attitude of participants, close monitoring and mentoring by
KCDC and UMN, and support and encouragement from the participants’
families.

Pema Aangmu Lama, one of the NFE participants, said:
“Education is our eye on the world.We are now more confident to do
things and speak out when we are among others.” Pema Aangmu Lama,
Chhiring Chhomu Lama, Yangjin Lama, Tasi Aangmu Lama and others
explained that getting admission to the local high school is a dream for
them, and they were glad that KCDC and UMN are helping to make their
dream a reality. Thirteen participants from the NFE classes have now
enrolled at Buddha Higher Secondary School (BHSS), and are attending
classes. The District Education Officer welcomed and congratulated them.
BHSS has put aside one classroom for their study.