Child Labourers in Nepal Given Classes for a Brighter Future

Like any other 10 year old, Tara Nepali from Dang district in Nepal, loves playing with her friends, wearing nice clothes and going to school.

However, she is different than many other children in her community.

At the tender age of 10, she is shouldering the responsibility of taking care of her new-born brother and helping her family to earn money.

5 o'clock start

Every day, Tara wakes up at 5 o’clock in the morning to help her step-mother with household chores and babysit her young brother. Once her chores are complete, she goes to the stone quarry with her older brother to break stones, while their father goes to the workshop where he works as a mechanic.

“Every day, my brother and I go to work in the stone quarry near my house for about 4 to 5 hours,” says Tara.

UOSP Classes – Tara's chance of a better life

Tara says that without doubt, her favourite part of the day is the two hours when she goes for classes. She is currently attending UNICEF classes run for out-of-school children.

“I enjoy the time I spend here as I like studying new things while playing with the materials available in the class,” says Tara with smile on her face. “Here I get to play with my friends and sing rhymes. I simply love singing.”

Like many child labourers, Tara is forced to miss formal schooling because she is busy breaking rocks to earn money. The Urban Out-of-school Programme (UOSP) helps working children aged 10–14 years, teaching them to read and write, so giving them the opportunity to build a better future for themselves. Counselling and life-skills lessons are also taught in the classes, catering to the special needs of working children.

After completing the two levels of 10 month courses, the children have caught up with their peers at school, and are encouraged to join formal schooling.

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Many child labourers like Tara

In the Dang district, where Tara lives, UNICEF is supporting 30 UOSP classes, benefitting 600 children.

UNICEF is advocating to increase the time of classes from two hours to three hours a day to provide more opportunity for children to spend quality learning time in the centres.

A ray of hope

The UOSP classes have truly proved to be a ray of hope for disadvantaged children like Tara who are excluded from formal school because they are forced to work.

When asked what she would like to do in the future, she promptly says, “My teacher is my idol and I will study a lot and become just like her.”