SCAI’s Education Scholarship programs help keep families together by educating children and empowering their families through Income Generation support
Due to poverty, lack of education and various social, economic and political issues, thousands of children continue to be trafficked, used as labour or sent to orphanages or other similar institutions in urban areas, in the hope they may have a better life and education. As a result, many children unnecessarily lose contact with their families, often for several years, and in some cases permanently. This is particularly prevalent in remote village areas where many families are uneducated and don’t understand the risks of sending their child away, where poverty is at its greatest and where it is simply too far for children to find their way home.
Every parent wants the best for their child, and if they can’t provide even basic needs like nourishing food, clothing, medical care and an education, when someone comes along and says they will give your child an education and everything you can’t give, you think you are doing what is best for your child. At the time, many parents do not realise that whilst they may be changing their child’s life by sending them away, that it is actually for worse not better.” – Emma
How our support helps
SCAI’s Education Scholarship programs aim to provide families with the means to create a stable home environment, where they can take care of their children themselves. Our holistic approach takes into account various physical, psychological, and social factors that may influence families’ ability to look after their child.
“Without basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, medical care and a safe, nurturing home environment where they feel a sense of love and belonging, it is very difficult for children to attend school regularly, concentrate on their studies or perform at their highest potential. Without basic needs, families can suffer a great deal of stress which can result in behaviors such as violence or depression, which may impact heavily upon the children and put them at much greater risk of trafficking or being sent away from home voluntarily. The support to help them meet their basic needs in the early stages of the program, regular visits, counselling and support networks for the children and families is vitally important.” – Emma
We support each child and their family for a five year period, over which time we help the families develop a more sustainable livelihood, so when our support ends they are able to continue funding their child’s education and other needs themselves. Read more about SCAI’s Income Generation support that forms part of the education scholarship programs.
What support we provide
Physical support
- School materials including uniforms, shoes, bags, books, stationery, fees, tuition
- Short-term support for basic needs such as medical care, clothing, toiletries
- Rent assistance and basic household goods
- Income generation support for the children’s families
Physiological and social support
- Regular visits to the children’s school to discuss each child’s progress with their teachers and to meet with the children
- Regular visits to the children’s homes to monitor the living conditions, assess their progress and provide counselling and support as needed
- Family counselling to address issues of individual members or family relationships
- Group forums and support groups for parents and guardians to share their issues, express their views, learn about their child’s development, risks they may face, opportunities they have and provide feedback about the program and their experience
- Child clubs in all schools in the program areas, which empower the youth by building their confidence, creating a local peer support network, giving them a forum to be heard and supporting them to take action to protect their rights, such as prevention of early marriage (Read more about SCAI’s Youth Empowerment programs)
- Child Club Network which brings together representatives from all child clubs for regular training, capacity building and child protection activities with local child protection specialists, that can then be disseminated through all child clubs
SCAI sponsors almost 500 children across 5 different Education Scholarship programs in Nuwakot District, north of the Kathmandu Valley.
Join our team of amazing supporters today and give these children the opportunity they deserve!