By Field Office | IsraAID Nepal
IsraAID Nepal’s Education and Livelihood Project (ELP), run in partnership with SOS Children Villages Nepal, has worked over the past two years providing scholarships, vocational training, and emotional support for young Nepalese youth.
After two years of learning, discussing, and growing together, the group participants will be graduating from the program this month!
All 28 participants in the program were either orphaned as a result of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, or left in a single-parent home, thus significantly decreasing their access to the financial means to complete their studies and find upward mobility in their society.
The ELP program, which runs over two years, has multiple tracks to support the varying interests of participants. One track focuses on vocational training, providing internship placements, empowerment activities, emotional support, and leadership skills, while the other supports students continuing their studies to a 2-year post high school diploma program.
Now that our program participants have graduated, they will all be invited to apply for micro-grants from IsraAID and SOS to jump start a small business or begin a new employment-related project.
Krishna, 23, describes his journey to ELP:
“I am very happy to have participated in this program. I was having a very difficult time managing my school fees and I was on the verge of dropping out…One day, I heard about the application call for scholarship for underprivileged youths through SOS and IsraAID. Ever since that day, my life has changed, now I am studying Hotel Management, the subject of my interest, with the scholarship provided by IsraAID.”
Shree, 24, lost his father at a young age and also lost his house during the earthquake. Shree is one of the top students at the Sanothimi Technical Institute where he is studying to become an electrician. He shared:
“I was left with no choice, no option to support my younger brother’s studies as well as my living costs. Then, one day, I saw the opportunity for vocational training with ELP. I always looked for some handyman skills and was interested in pursuing a course to become an electrician so that I can have a regular salary and support my family.
I was selected and from then on, my life has been completely different. I’ve already received job offers, but I’m waiting until I complete my course. I feel lot more confident, competent and relaxed that something is there for me. I can see a whole new life ahead of me.”
Ramesh, 25, explained:
“I lost my mother and I could not continue my studies after tenth grade. The 2015 earthquake demolished my house and my entire village. I was struggling to move forward in my life, there was no hope. One day, I heard the application call on a local radio station for vocational training. I got enrolled here, studying hostel facilities. The environment at the institute and especially the teachers helped me to learn to cook. I already got a paid internship opportunity at a restaurant!
Though this is only the beginning, I feel that I can conquer many things in the days to come and be strong enough to move forward with my career and my future.”
Congratulations to our graduates, and best of luck!
Thank you to our supporters who keep this program running!
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