Footprints Project

A total of
9446
Travelers
donated
$30002.74
(100% funded)
to help improve
Education
impacting
44000
people
in
Nepal

Project Background

The Australian Himalayan Foundation’s (AHF) first Teacher Training and Quality Education (TTQE) Program was inspired by the work of Sir Edmund Hillary that has benefited the Khumbu district of Nepal, near Everest, since 1961.

Nepal faces large disparities in literacy rates between urban and rural areas. In addition, teachers in rural Nepal receive little or no training and regularly resort to basic rote-learning methods.

Without access to a quality education, children in remote communities like the Everest region of Nepal remain deprived of the life skills and knowledge gained from education and are more likely to remain trapped in the cycle of poverty. In response to this need, the AHF's flagship TTQE Program is helping to ensure that all children have access to a quality education that can lift them out of poverty.

Project Activities

This project helps to ensure that children living in one of the poorest regions of Nepal have access to inclusive, high quality primary education for improved opportunities now and into the future.

Teacher Training and Quality Education (TTQE) program continues its long running efforts in up skilling teachers, strengthening school governance, providing educational resources and empowering children, women, parents and school committees.

Following an evaluation and project redesign process, 2018/19 was the first year of a new three-year project phase.

TTQE focuses on developing schools to become centres of excellence (model or ‘Namuna’ schools) with quality teachers and educational resources which provide safe and supportive learning environments integrating schools and communities.

A range of activities designed to identify and address the needs of the school community are being implemented including: teacher training, literacy programs; parent volunteer opportunities; facilitating school representatives in planning and milestone setting; support to child-led clubs; and providing materials for classroom and school upgrades.

Project achievements

The key achievements in 2018/19 included:

1,553 students (790 girls) at 14 schools accessed improved quality education via TTQE schools
860 children in grades 1-3 were provided with literacy materials
34 children accessed improved nutrition via school meals pilot program
489 very vulnerable children received financial and material assistance to continue schooling
180 students and 60 teachers received orientation in hygiene practices, and new hand washing facilities provided at 7 schools

Project partners

TTQE is implemented on the ground by AHF local NGO partner REED (Rural Education and Environment Development Centre) Nepal with technical support from AHF in project design, management and monitoring and evaluation.

Project feedback

“I was naïve before training but now it’s comfortable to look after 14 young kids. Six learning corners in Early Childhood Educational Development (ECED) room mean students can choose playing and learning materials of their interest. Our ECED classes are now in line with standards of early childhood development”.

– Tika Rai, an ECED teacher in Solukhumbu Nepal

What next?

TTQE is an ongoing project based in Solukhumbu Nepal.

Can you visit the project?

AHF can make special arrangements for supported visits to projects depending on the current priorities and resources of our NGO partner and the schools at the time.