Year: 2020
Supported by: UNESCO-UNFPA-UN Women
Major component: advocacy, girls’ education, comprehensive sexuality education
Introduction
“Champions 4 Change!” is a youth advocacy campaign implemented by Visible Impact in 11 municipalities and 3 rural municipalities of 5 selected districts of Nepal namely, Sunsari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Achham, and Bajura under the framework of UNESCO-UNFPA-UN Women Joint Programme (JP).
Major activities under this project
Selection and training of local coordinators and social champions
From each of the municipalities 1 local coordinator and 4 social champions were selected who later participated in the advocacy boot camp on Girls’ education and Comprehensive Sexuality Education advocacy (CSE).
Peer and community sessions
After receiving the training, the social champions with the support from their respective local coordinators conducted peer sessions and community sessions where they highlighted the importance of girls’ education and CSE. Problems and challenges on girl’s education and CSE implementation were also discussed during the sessions.
Advocacy with Municipalities
In each of the selected municipalities, kick-off meetings were conducted where the municipal heads, representatives from each ward, and other important local leaders participated. The kick-off meeting was done to inform the municipality of the activities being implemented. Lobby meetings with the municipalities were also conducted to discuss the challenges and problems brought up by the participants of the peer and community sessions. Ways to mitigate the problems and challenges were discussed and the municipalities have also proposed various commitments to support girls’ education and CSE implementation.
Our Impact
A total of 67 sessions (peer and community and municipal meetings), have been conducted by the local champions and social coordinators and have been able to reach 1340 people altogether.
During some of the meetings and sessions representatives of the municipality and respective wards have committed to promoting girls’ education, CSE, and allocation of budget for the CSE curriculum.