Rautahat Programme Unit
Area: 1,126 sq. km
Population: 545,132
Communitiess: 96
Sponsored children: Around 6,700
Rautahat district is in southern Nepal and 85% of the population depends on farming. Plan has been working in the area, in partnership with local community-based organisations, non-governmental organisations and government agencies since 1994.
Programme highlights
Healthy motherhood and preventing HIV and AIDS
Plan is supporting safe motherhood practices by establishing pregnant women’s groups.
We also support HIV and AIDS prevention and care for children with disabilities. Hundreds of patients have benefited from our sexually-transmitted infection camps where they receive counselling, testing, medical support and services for HIV and AIDS and resulting illnesses.
Transforming lives through agro-forestry
“I can remember the days when my children were forced to drop out of school. I could not pay for books, stationary and clothes,” said Sarala, a 55-year-old landless single mother from Rautahat. “Now I have sufficient income to feed my children.”
Plan assigned her an area of forest for cultivation which she cleared, prepared, planted herbs and vegetables and applied the technical aspects of agriculture she gained in training with Plan. After just 2 years, she made US$146 and has expanded her business through Plan’s microfinance initiatives.
Early childhood care and quality education
Plan is supporting early childhood care and development programmes for 3 to 5- year-olds and we are training local committees so they have the skills and resources to effectively operate them.
We are helping public schools to enhance the quality of children’s education by building schools, supplying furniture and teaching materials and training parents, teachers and school management committees to create an engaging, child-friendly learning environment.
Giving children a voice
Plan has helped children form clubs where they can discuss their rights and how they can make themselves heard when decisions are made on issues that affect their lives.
We have trained children in journalism to improve their written skills and ability to express themselves clearly. We have also run life skills classes where they learn about the dangers of early marriage, human trafficking, discrimination, and various types of exploitation.
They now participate in the various meetings held by the community and can make informed choices when planning for their future.
