Literacy for Nepal

Established in 2012, Literacy for Nepal (LFN) is a grassroots initiative born from the passionate commitment of Brijlal Chaudhari, a General Member of Sano Paila. Growing up in a village in the Parsa district, Brijlal recognized the privilege of education, having studied at one of Nepal’s best schools and later receiving a scholarship for his undergraduate studies at St. Lawrence University in the United States. During his college years, he established this initiative. After graduation, he returned to Nepal and worked with Sano Paila for over two years as Deputy CEO, simultaneously expanding LFN into a full-fledged program of the organization. Brijlal is currently an indigenous rights activist living in France, where he continues to advocate for a better world.

LFN is committed to transforming learning opportunities and strengthening educational infrastructure within Nepal's marginalized communities. Recognizing the significant unmet needs in the nation's education sector, Sano Paila channels its dedication through LFN to create tangible and lasting change.

Our work encompasses a holistic approach to educational development. We do not just build schools; we envision and construct vibrant learning environments. We do not just establish libraries; we create accessible hubs of knowledge and inspiration, encouraging a love for reading and exploration. We embrace the power of technology by establishing digital classrooms, bridging geographical divides and opening doors to a wider world of learning. Understanding the specific needs of girls, we prioritize the construction of girl-friendly toilets, ensuring a safe and dignified learning experience. Furthermore, we provide essential learning materials, from textbooks and stationery to school bags and dresses, ensuring that basic necessities are not a barrier to education. Recognizing the importance of adolescent well-being, we also supply crucial health-related materials.

Beyond infrastructure, LFN invests directly in the potential of individual students through our comprehensive scholarship program. We believe that financial hardship should never be a roadblock to education. Our LFN Scholarships empower bright and determined students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue higher secondary education, opening pathways to further learning and expanded opportunities.

By addressing these fundamental needs – the physical spaces for learning, the resources to engage with knowledge and the financial support to continue their educational journeys – Literacy for Nepal aims to cultivate truly equitable educational opportunities. We strive to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to build brighter futures for themselves, their families and their communities, fostering a more literate and empowered Nepal.

Key Components of Literacy for Nepal:

Education Infrastructure Enhancement: We are committed to creating conducive learning environments through the construction of new schools, the improvement of existing public-school infrastructure, the establishment of accessible libraries and digital classrooms and the building of girl-friendly toilets. We also provide essential learning materials, including dresses, stationery, bags and adolescent health-related resources, ensuring students have the tools they need to succeed.

LFN Scholarships: Investing in Future Leaders: Our scholarship program directly supports talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to overcome financial barriers and pursue higher secondary education, paving the way for their continued academic and personal growth.

La Ngonpo: A Look Back at an Educational Bridge in Nepal

In 2012, Sano Paila, in partnership with the Multicultural Center Prague in the Czech Republic, launched a unique initiative called the La Ngonpo Project in Nepal. La Ngonpo, meaning “meeting point” in Tibetan, brought together seven schools from Nepal to participate in this international project focused on multicultural and global education for students aged 12 to 16. This pilot project aimed to provide teachers with effective teaching methodologies and foster connections between students and their peers in foreign countries.

One significant achievement of La Ngonpo was that students strengthened their perspectives and attitudes through interaction with their foreign classmates. At that time, the project connected classrooms from the Czech Republic and other nations. The foundation of the project was an elaborate, field-tested manual that could be integrated across various school subjects, including English, social sciences, art and mathematics. A fundamental requirement for participation was the active involvement of students in classroom activities. Guided by the philosophy of the La Ngonpo interactive methodology, teachers encouraged students to think critically about topics and explore them from diverse viewpoints. Participating classes from different countries consistently covered the same subjects during the same week of the school year.

The core principle of empowerment behind La Ngonpo was the belief that examining issues from different angles and hearing the opinions of peers could help students gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between developed Western societies and developing countries. It also fostered an acknowledgement of one's own value system and the various factors that shape it.

Read success stories of LFN (Anju’s story and others).

Impact of LFN – Infographic