Only when families are able to fulfill the basic needs of children, the chances of school dropout would be low. But conversely, when children feel that parents are not giving them what they needed for their school the chance of dropout would increase.

Rainbow Nepal colleague Madan says, "I ended up dropping out of high school. I'm a high school dropout, which I'm not proud to say, but the situation I had been through in 2009 was very difficult. You know what? I dreamed to a doctor when I was in high school. But, I had to abandon my dream because I had focus on living rather than dreaming.... I realized I was a child born in a poor family. So, I give it up! But, I am living to give what I missed when I was young. With Rainbow I feel proud to be holding hands of children who are in dilemma and uncertainties."

Two years ago in March, Nepal government announced lockdown due to pandemic. Since then schools closed frequently and learning was greatly hampered. March 2022 now children in Nepal have slowly started to go to the school.

COVID-19 pandemic posed the greatest difficulties in life of students in Nepal. Running virtual classes was the first time practice in the history of Nepalese education. So, in Nepal students actually don't know what really an online class means.

All the schools were unable to organize distant learning classes due to lack of manpower to undertake it technically; a few organized it but most of the children were unable to join because of lack of smart phone, internet and frequent electrical power disruptions. Thus, education is one of the severely affected sectors as result of COVID-19 pandemic.

"During the school closure we tried our best to organize distant learning classes for children but junior primary students were not joining classes and only 50% of senior secondary students were joining. We found that the virtual classes were very ineffective as children were either skipping or were passively participating. For a month we gave a try but we had to dismiss it shortly."

Gita Basnet Karki, Shree Ananda Bhairab Secondary School (Principal)

Children in Nepal faced severe disruption in the education, especially those children who did not have the option to access alternative learning modalities and resources to continue their learning. The learning loss is disproportional among those students that have no access to any type of online or media-based learning resources and posed a high risk of dropping out school at the onset of the pandemic.

"During pandemic the greatest worries I had was the lack of money to pay for the house rent. My parents were unable to go to work and house owner used to come to collect house rent every month at the end. When the school was closed the school organized online classes but had an old phone and battery would only last one for hour. We had 6 classes but I could only attend 2 of them. It was very hard for me to join online class. Looking at the situation of my parents I also couldn't ask for a new phone. So, I let go the online class and study by myself."

Tej Bahadur Saud, Grade 11 (Shree Ananda Bhairab Secondary School)

Most of the students in community schools are children of wage earners, and labourers. Parents are often illiterate and are unable to understand children's assignments. At the time of school closure there was no one to guide children at home regarding their study.  Studies estimates, nearly nine million students in Nepal were affected due to school closures in response to the pandemic.

"I was infected with COVID-19 and at that time I felt that I am going to die. I was very worried about my parents and wanted to live. I wanted to be with them forever. But when she was recovered and tested negative she felt so happy and now she is determined to pursue her study and make her parents proud. She said, "This is my new life I have got and I will always live it to fullest and achieve my dream.

Subina Limbu, Grade 11 (Ananda Bhairab Secondary School)

"I was selected in province level football and I was very happy that I was going for a provincial football association." But, when the COVID 19 broke everything came to an end and I had to let my Dreams go away. I was so broke and hopeless, and I felt in my life, I will never be selected again."

Prassanna Rai, Grade 11, Shree Ananda Bhairab Secondary School

After COVID-19, the students had the first activity with Rainbow under Rainbow SENSE. They feel very glad that they had opportunities to express what they have been through when pandemic broke out.  We want to protect children from going on the wrong side and we want to ensure they are less worried about the consequences of pandemic, and become an example for children to focus their dream.

"During pandemic my parents were not having chance to work. The main problem we faced was lack of money for house rent and food supplies. I witnessed the situation and felt so bad because it was very hard for me to see my parents worried for our survival. I used to miss my school and friends but expect missing them I had no choice. I pray that the situation like those would never fall upon us all again."

Santoshi Pariyar, Grade 6, Shree Balbhusan Basic School

"I want to be a Nurse and help needy people with treatment when I grow up. But, looking at the family situation I sometimes feel that I will never be able to reach where I wanted to be. My father is a labor in house construction, and his work is not continuous; and now my Mother has also been working as a dish washer in a local restaurant to support family and my education. To be one of them selected under Rainbow SENSE, I feel very glad. I will continue my study in full capacity and will always put my dream at the center of my life."    

Gita Thapa Magar, Grade 6, Shree Binayak Saraswoti Basic School. 

Under, Rainbow SENSE students aid program we have supported 243 students of Northern Sindhupalchok district already. In Kathmandu, the program had just begun. Under the project in Kathmandu we are supporting 257 students, and so far we supported 80 students of 3 different community schools in Kathmandu, and we are moving on. 

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