The retention and participation of girls in school in rural Nepal is linked closely with a lack of awareness and stigma around sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues and harmful practices such as child marriage and chaupadi (segregation during menstruation) which lead to missed school and school drop-out. To support girls’ education the proposed project aims to improve girls’ participation and retention in school by strengthening and making more accessible comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and life skills education in secondary schools in rural and remote Nepal. CSE is proven to help adolescents avoid unwanted, unintended pregnancies and STIs, promote gender equality, and improve critical thinking, communication, and decision-making skills.

We are partnering with International Nepal Fellowship to pilot the use of mobile learning labs to deliver CSE in five schools in the remote and mountainous Karnali District of western Nepal. The mobile learning labs are an alternative method of delivering CSE and learning about life skills which will help to overcome taboos when discussing SRH. The project will support girls’ education in Nepal by:

1. Strengthening CSE to raise awareness of the importance of SRH, learn about navigating healthy and respectful relationships, and reduce the stigma around menstruation; and
2. Equipping girls with the tools and life skills to advocate for their health and wellbeing, improve agency, and make informed choices.

This increase in awareness and skills is expected to help avoid early marriage, reduce the stigma of menstruation, and improve the ability of girls to advocate for themselves, all of which will support girls’ education by increasing participation and retention in school.

The expected medium-term impacts include (1) improved SRH knowledge and awareness among students including awareness of the negative consequences of child marriage and chaupadi;(2) reduced stigma around sensitive SRH issues and menstruation; and (3) improved life skills & soft skills such as confidence and decision-making skills among students, especially girls. The long-term impact of this project is improved participation and retention of girls in school and reduced school dropout of girls.