Empowering children to ensure child protection

Sandhya (13) is currently studying in grade 8 in secondary school in Khalte, Dhading. She is all smiles when asked about her experience participating in life skill and psycho-social support training conducted by World Vision.

She cheerfully explains, “I was able to learn about self-awareness skills through this training and I understood that these skills help individuals to speak out for themselves. The training has certainly motivated me to become a better person."

World Vision has been conducting life skill and psycho-social support training in order to educate and empower children on key issues such as child rights, child protection, child empowerment, child abuse, child marriage, and child labour. The training covers themes such as improving decision-making skills, improving effective communication, managing stress, developing problem-solving skills, and, most importantly, realising one's own identity.

Durgab (15) is another participant from Khalte. Before the training he was often sick so couldn’t attend many of his classes and therefore failed an exam. He also suffered from anger management issues.

He shares, "I have noticed that I have even managed to control my anger after participating in the training. I have also noticed that I have become more friendly and sociable with my friends. I am happy with the changes I see in myself."

He wishes his friends could also attend such training so that they too could benefit and learn how to promote and ensure child protection and child empowerment. "At present I am studying and I dream of becoming of a pilot."

Child Protection in Emergency Specialist, Keshabraj Bhatta, explains, "This training increases self-awareness and internal capacity among children and empowers them to speak up against probable future incidents such as child marriage and child abuse. After this training they know what to do and what not to do in order to ensure child protection in their community."

One year after the earthquake, World Vision has reached out to 733 children through 31 life skill and psycho-social support trainings in 5 earthquake-affected districts. Moreover, 125 children have been trained as life skill trainers in 5 districts and have facilitated several community level trainings.

 By: Aryem Clara Rongong and Barun Bajracharya, World Vision International Nepal