Article: Delivering 2,000 workbooks in Dang, Nepal
Delivering 2,000 workbooks in Dang, Nepal
Nearly a quarter of a billion students worldwide were affected by COVID-19 school closures, forcing hundreds of millions of students to rely on virtual learning. 
But for thousands of students in Tulsipur Dang district of Nepal, this was not an option. Without smartphones or internet access, many rural kids were caught in the digital divide. The news of school closure also disrupted the teaching plans for 20 Teach For Nepal (TFN) fellows that were recently placed in the schools. 
One of the solutions to keep students learning at home was to compressed teaching plans into self-help worksheets that included main subjects like Math, Science, and English. 
The 50-page content will be designed by TFN fellows — which includes psychosocial content to help students cope with mental stress at home. It was reported that COVID-19 increased anxiety, depression for already stressed students living in isolated communities. 
On 9 August, the books were transported to the first school, where about 300 students from Pratapkot and Damargaun region received their first learning workbook. 
In total, our grant of 100,000 NRS (approx 1039.13 SGD) directly supported 2,000 low-income students without internet access at home. Fellows continue to follow up their class through phone calls and guide them through each worksheet.
While this is not a permanent solution to the lack of technology access in rural schools, these physical worksheets, story cards, and books are the only source of learning some children can rely on during school closures.
We thank the amazing team of leaders and fellows behind this project — keeping thousands of students learning at home despite time and technology constraints.
About Teach For Nepal
Teach For Nepal Fellowship is a two-year, full-time paid program where fellows teach in public schools to bring about academic achievement and transformative impact in their students.