Bursaries for college students
Overview

In Nepal, the major educational hurdle for teenagers is the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) which is taken at the end of Year 10 (equivalent to GCSEs in the UK).

Without passing this examination, students have no prospects of good employment or further education, only to become unskilled labourers. Girls will most likely enter the hopeless misery of child marriage.

Against the odds, some children from the ‘Dalit’ (‘Untouchable’) community do pass this notoriously tough exam in spite of living in dismal domestic circumstances that are less than conducive for study. Through our bursaries, these children can complete a further two years of higher secondary education, attending college courses in streams such as science, management or education.

location
category

Madhesh Province

Our funding

Our funding support works out at £44 per student per month and runs for two years. This is paid directly to the school (to ensure that the children really do benefit) and covers fees, books, uniforms and travel. Both boys and girls are eligible with at least as many girls as boys benefiting from the opportunity.

Our field worker with Mithila Wildlife Trust, Sita (pictured centre with 2025 bursary recipients), researches family circumstances to ensure that all the recommendations are bona fide and that there is no favouritism or nomination of relatives by school teachers.

We award 16 bursaries per year. As ‘pay-back’ students act as tutors for younger children in their communities. They can act as Community Learning Centre (CLC) teachers where they act as inspirational role models.

Fundraising

Girls’ bursaries are covered through the Big Give Women and Girls Match Fund in October and the boys’ bursaries through the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Upon students completing college they may start employment or go into further education. If the latter, we will seek sponsors who are willing to cover university fees (approximately £1,000 per annum).

If you are interested in donating through a future Big Give or in becoming a university sponsor, please contact Philip.

Related projects