Location and general information
Access to Sport - 
Environmental protection - 
Gender Equality - 
Healthy lifestyle - 
Personal developmentContext
The Chepang are among Nepal’s most disadvantaged indigenous groups, classified as 'highly marginalised' based on various socio-economic indicators including population size, literacy rate, housing conditions, land ownership, occupation and access to higher education. Nearly 90% of the Chepang population lives below the poverty line.
A recent study by the District Public Health Office revealed that 45 to 86% of Chepang girls in Makwanpur marry between the ages of 12 and 15 – despite child marriage being outlawed in Nepal since 1963. Poverty, lack of education and awareness, and limited availability of food and opportunities to generate income are considered major contributing factors.
Project goals
Main objectives
- Empower children to recognise and assert their right to protection from abuse
- Establish strong collaboration and a unified approach to safeguarding children among parents, schools and communities in Makwanpur District
- Develop and implement innovative, play-based teaching methods that foster active, immersive learning
Additional objectives
- Incorporate sport and play in education and ensure that all children have access to structured recreational activities in school to support learning and engagement
- Design and implement a sports-based curriculum that addresses critical social issues such as child protection, equality and harmful traditions
- Encourage children to challenge stereotypes and advocate for their rights, fostering a culture of openness and empowerment
- Raise awareness among parents and communities about child protection using engaging, sports-driven outreach programmes
- Provide training for teachers and community youth leaders to integrate immersive, play-based techniques into their teaching practices
The GOAL-S project has already achieved positive outcomes, including increased participation, especially among girls, and heightened community awareness of child protection issues.
Project content
- Weekly sports sessions led by trained youth leaders for approximately 300 children aged 11 to 14
- Social studies curriculum that delivers key messages on child protection, educates children about their rights and encourages them to discuss what they learn with their parents, caregivers and other family members
- Tailored games and activities that promote behavioural change to help children assert and claim their rights
- Active consultation and engagement of teachers to incorporate their expertise and understanding of their students' needs, including a process of co-creation and delivery through which teachers acquire new skills in play-based pedagogy that they can apply in various contexts
- Capacity development workshops and mentorship for teachers and youth leaders
- Child protection training for parents and community members, with a view to co-creating a child protection mechanism
- An annual football festival involving children, parents and community members to raise awareness of children’s rights and abuse prevention
Partners
