Aarambha

  • P Project/Program

I Inactive

Key Information

Aarambha was a project implemented by People In Need (PIN) in Nepal that supported 9,497 out-of-school adolescent girls from marginalised communities in Madhesh Province, particularly in Rautahat and Bara districts. The project aimed to improve girls’ learning outcomes, life skills, and social status through a combination of formal and non-formal education approaches, while increasing their transition into formal schooling, vocational training, and safe employment opportunities.

The initiative established Community Learning Centres offering literacy, numeracy, sexual and reproductive health and rights, financial literacy, and leadership training. It also delivered gender-transformative workshops to address harmful social norms, trained teachers in gender and social inclusion, and mobilised community mentors and local networks to challenge practices such as child marriage and early school dropout. By engaging schools, families, and community leaders, the project contributed to more supportive and inclusive environments for girls’ education and empowerment.

Lead Implementing Organization(s)

Location(s)

South Asia

Nepal

Activity URL

https://girlseducationchallenge.org/projects/project/aarambha/#/article/aarambha

Government Affiliation

Non-governmental program

Years

2018 - 2024

Partner(s)

Aasaman Nepal

Ministry Affiliation

Unknown

Funder(s)

Not applicable or unknown

COVID-19 Response

Unknown

Geographic Scope

Global / regional

Meets gender-transformative education criteria from the TES  

Unknown

Areas of Work Back to Top

Education areas

Other skills
  • Life skills/sexuality education
Quality
  • School-related gender-based violence
  • Teacher training
Skills
  • Literacy
  • Numeracy

Cross-cutting areas

  • Adolescent pregnancy/childbearing
  • Community sensitization
  • Early/child marriage
  • Menstrual hygiene management
  • Mentorship
  • Social and gender norms and beliefs

Program participants

Target Audience(s)

Girls out of school

Age

10 - 19

School Enrolment Status

All out of school

School Level

  • Upper primary
  • Lower secondary
  • Upper secondary
  • Tertiary

Other populations reached

  • Boys out of school
  • Other community members - female
  • Other community members - male
  • Policymakers

Participants include

Not applicable or unknown

Program Approaches Back to Top

Community engagement/advocacy/sensitization
  • Community mobilization
  • General awareness-raising/community engagement
Mentoring/psychosocial support
  • Adult (non-teacher) mentors
Teaching
  • In-service teacher training – gender-responsive pedagogy
Tutoring/strengthening academic skills
  • Literacy - in the classroom
  • Numeracy - in the classroom

Program Goals Back to Top

Education goals

  • Improved academic skills (literacy and numeracy)
  • Increased literacy
  • Increased numeracy
  • Increased years of schooling
  • Reduced absenteeism
  • Teachers and learners have the knowledge and skills to promote gender equality

Cross-cutting goals

  • Changed social norms
  • Improved health - other
  • Improved maternal, newborn, and/or child health (MNCH)
  • More equitable gender attitudes and norms
  • Reduced adolescent pregnancy/childbearing
  • Reduced child marriage
  • Reduced school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV)