This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
2 mins Read
Brick workers, both women and men, face numerous vulnerabilities without any form of social protection. The seasonal migration that this work entails has resulted in the exclusion of generations of workers’ children from formal schooling systems – trapped in a vicious circle of relocation and subsistence livelihoods. Yet, investments in the living and working conditions of women and men brick workers can enable mutual benefits for all involved in this sector. Therefore, in addition to working with the Federation of Nepal Brick Industries (FNBI) to provide technical support to help kilns become more energy efficient and reduce emissions through seven model kilns across Nepal, ICIMOD is also mobilizing support from local governments and the private sector to implement action research in three priority areas: health, workplace safety, and education for workers’ children. This three-pronged intervention is expected to showcase how improved working conditions at factories can directly result in enhanced productivity for brick entrepreneurs.
“The school’s teachers came to the kiln and said that we should send the children to study so that they can have a life better than mine. My daughter has learned so much since she started school. I am so happy that my children are being given a chance”. –Leela Maya Moktan, parent from Rolpa
In March 2019, ICIMOD established ICT-enabled facilities at Shri Kalika Elementary School in Dhading in collaboration with FNBI, Dhading Brick Kiln Association, Dhunibesi Municipality, and Shikhar Insurance. The provincial government has indicated interest in becoming an active stakeholder in this undertaking in the coming Nepali fiscal year. With Open Learning Exchange (OLE) as the service provider, five teachers (including two women) were trained in computer-enabled teaching. The E-Paath (computer-enabled classes) and E-Paathshala (digital library) classes are based on the Government of Nepal’s national curriculum.
Dhading Brick Association President Ekraj Gajurel marveled at how the small school, which the association had helped build for workers’ children, was hosting the only OLE computer-based teaching in Dhading district. Arabinda Mishra, Livelihoods Theme Leader, ICIMOD, outlined how the newly inaugurated e-learning facilities at the school hinged on three key aspects: social responsibility (of everyone involved) to better the lives of brick workers and their children; optimizing and maintaining effective public–private collaborations; and aspirations of the parents, school, and community to break through towards better futures.
“In this scientific age, the opportunity to learn interactively using OLE’s E-Paath and E-Paathshala platforms is vital for children, regardless of whether they are brick kiln workers’ children.”–Rajendra Prasad Pandey, MP–Province 3
Share
Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.
RELATED CONTENTS
An age old question that plagues our society is: where are the women? In my recent field visit to Sinduli, ...
HI-AWARE researchers from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), The Mountain Institute-India and local organisations recently visited Santook ...
On the occasion of National Conservation Day on 23 September 2021, the Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative ( ...
Students, teachers and the local community celebrated International Biodiversity Day 2016 at Mechi Janasadharan Higher Secondary School, Bahundangi, Jhapa on ...
The HKH is undergoing significant changes. Recognizing these changes and building resilience is key to safeguarding livelihoods in rural mountain ...
ICIMOD responds to key research questions at the local to regional level, generating highly technical air pollution-related data in a ...
At the second Policy and Advocacy Network Asia (PAN) meeting on 20 and 21 June 2019, ICIMOD provided government representatives ...
The Hindu Kush Himalaya Monitoring and Assessment Program’s (HIMAP) Coordinating Lead Authors' Writeshop was organised by the International Centre for ...