Ramdulari Rana, 15, from Kanchanpur district of Province 7 had to drop her dream of getting educated after completing grade 5, but she became able to resume her studies thanks to the FEST approach of Sahakarmi Samaj.

Her parents decided not to send her to school as they wanted help in the daily chores at their home. Whenever she saw her friends going to school, she felt upset but she could not do anything. Years of gap had created a difference between her and her friend’s level of education. Although she expressed her desire to join school, it went in vain. However, earlier this year, she got a big surprise when her mother told her that she would do all household chores herself and that Ramdulari could go back to school. 

Sahakarmi Samaj was about to form a group and as per the FEST approach, during group formation her mother expressed her interest to join the group, which was later named “Laligurans Community Group”. She, as per the approach, simultaneously participated in various discussions, interactions on and for identifying the generative themes and participating in CODE facilitation session. Her mother said, “One day, discussion on drop out of girl children from school was going on, which we ourselves identified as a generative theme”. During discussion, every member put forth their thoughts and I was impressed with the explanations of our colleagues as to why they thought stopping girl children from education is wrong”. She realised then she had been extremely unfair to her daughter and that was the point she decided to resend her back to school. It dawned to her that girl children need more education and empowerment.  Although it was not easy to convince her husband, she finally won.

Ramdulari rejoined school, and although it was a challenge for her to re-establish herself as she has to study with her juniors, she is more than happy and her strong will power is overcoming the hurdles. She is now regularly going to her school and performing well and is only focused on her target of getting better in her studies.