Educating the poorest children in south Nepal
At Pipal Tree, we believe that environmental restoration must go hand-in-hand with community upliftment. You can’t protect nature without also meeting the basic needs of the people who live alongside it. That’s why education plays a vital role in our work in South Nepal.
A lifeline for ‘untouchable’ children
Together with our local partner, the Mithila Wildlife Trust (MWT), we’re building Community Learning Centres (CLCs) to support Dalit children – historically labelled as ‘untouchable’ – who have been excluded from mainstream education by poverty and discrimination for generations.
Each CLC is led by inspiring young tutors, themselves college students from the same caste group, who serve as role models. They help children gain basic literacy and numeracy so they can enter formal schooling, often for the first time. Once enrolled, the children return to the CLC for homework help and mentoring, reducing the risk of dropout – especially among girls, who are otherwise vulnerable to the misery of child marriage once they reach puberty.
Proven impact
MWT launched this programme in 2013, and the results have been remarkable. Some of the very first students are now tutors themselves. Since 2020, Pipal Tree has expanded MWT’s original work by funding new CLCs and bursaries for tutors so they can continue their own education.
Progress in 2025
This year, we built two new CLCs using a climate-resilient design tailored to rising temperatures. The buildings feature raised roofs for air circulation, eco-bricks made without polluting kilns, and shaded outdoor areas so learning can continue even during extreme heat.
One CLC is beside the Kamala River, where families were displaced by devastating floods two decades ago. Their children’s education has long been neglected. Now, we are helping to put that right.
One of our new CLCs, showing the raised roof and outdoors teaching space
Future impact:
With your help, we can reach up to 700 children at a time – 60% of them girls. In one community alone, there are an estimated 300–350 Dalit children, yet only 45 are currently in school. At present, one dedicated volunteer is teaching children in the village street each evening. We can do so much better for these children by creating proper learning spaces.
The Big Give Education appeal:
At noon today we launched our Big Give Education Appeal. Will you please help us raise £50,000 towards building two new CLCs? We already have £25,000 in matching pledges in place. That means every pound you gift through The Big Give will be doubled at no extra cost to you to reach our appeal target.
One gift, twice the impact:
Our CLCs are safe, inclusive spaces that open the door to education and a brighter future. Please note that with your support, thousands of children will benefit over the years to come.
Thank you so much for helping us make this possible.
Before: Dalit children being supported in the street by a local volunteer, doing his best.....
After: Dalit children being taught at our newly opened CLC by the Kamala River
