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OUR PROJECTS

Beyond Silence: Building Confidence and Emotional Resilience in Young Women in Nepal

Problem Statement / Need

Mental health is still highly stigmatized in Nepal and is under-researched among youth. Young women face specific needs regarding increasing levels of depression and anxiety due to parental migration, stress from early marriage, and academic pressure, to name only some risk factors. (Aryal et al. 2019, Chaulagain et al.,2019, Marphatia, Ambale, & Reid,2017).

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Target Beneficiaries

Grade 10, 11, and 12 young women (40 in total) at a secondary school in  Sindupalchok, Nepal.

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Project Objective(s)

Through a two-day, student-centered, participatory workshop, KFN will deliver a 3-hour session (Day 1) facilitated by a Nepali graduate with an MSc in Counselling. The Day 2 workshop will be facilitated by a Bhutanese community-based rehabilitation (CBR) worker in mental health. We shift from 'lectures' to interactive learning, teaching youth how to advocate for their own rights and health.

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The focus will be on discussing core constructs of mental well-being, as well as higher education study and career opportunities in mental health in Nepal. Additionally, KFN will assist the young women in organizing monthly self-help groups to support one another, with peer educators from the group. Follow-up will continue for one year with KFN, including regular online chats with participants and our facilitators to encourage continued development of the skills introduced in the workshop and to support the self-help groups. At the end of the year, the peer educators will continue to identify additional peer educators from the existing group to sustain the self-help groups.  After this, contact with KFN and all participants will be on an as-needed basis.​

Student-Centered Health and Wellbeing Needs Assessment at Monastery School in Pharping, Nepal 2026

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Background and Rationale

Kids First Nepal will conduct a student-centered needs assessment at a school serving 97 monks aged 6–19 who follow the Nepali national curriculum alongside monastic education. The residential and religious structure of monastic schooling shapes students’ daily routines, health practices, psychosocial development, and access to services.

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Despite the importance of these institutions, there is limited systematic evidence on the health and well-being needs of young monks. This assessment will generate practical, field-based evidence to guide future programming and resource allocation.

Purpose and Objectives

Purpose:

To identify priority health and well-being needs of the monks aged 6–19 in order to inform responsive, culturally appropriate interventions.

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Objectives:

  • Document students’ perspectives on health, well-being, stress, and daily challenges

  • Identify age-specific needs

  • Assess existing support systems within the school

  • Identify service gaps and institutional constraints

  • Produce actionable recommendations for Kids First Nepal programming

impact from past projects

Our Impact  from Past Projects

Stretching break at BIA

Impact Statement: Rehabilitation & Functional Independence Support Program 2019-2020

 

In partnership with Bodhisattvas In Action (BIA) Foundation — Supported by Kids First Nepal

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Project Overview

Kids First Nepal supported a year-long rehabilitation initiative at the Bodhisattvas In Action (BIA) Foundation, with Nepal-registered physiotherapist Barsa Khadkha, providing patient-centered, biopsychosocial rehabilitation for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities. The program aimed to enhance functional independence, improve psychosocial well-being, and foster sustained community participation among marginalized clients.

Target Population

Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) and physical disabilities from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds who lived and worked at BIA’s residence facility, creating Nepali handicrafts for sale in support of BIA.

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Service Delivery

  • Six-day-per-week rehabilitation/physiotherapy services.

  • Individual and group therapy sessions focused on mobility, self-care, social interaction, and community engagement.

  • Individualized plans emphasizing strength building, postural control, peer interaction, and self-management education.

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Program Goals

  • Increase independence in daily living tasks (mobility, grooming, dressing, household activities).

  • Improve psychosocial resilience and social participation through peer-supported group sessions.

  • Develop long-term self-management capability through targeted exercises and education.

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Reach

  • Total clients supported: 82 individuals

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Results: Quantitative Outcomes

Outcome Area 

Clients showing measurable improvement

Clients needing continued assistance

Result

75/82 (≈ 80%)

7/82 (≈ 20%)

Case Example 1: Young Woman (Dhaka Work Unit)

Improved upper limb strength and independence in grooming and household tasks.

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Case Example 2: Adolescent with Severe Cerebral Palsy (Art Department)

Increased flexibility, better sitting balance, and improved participation in creative work.

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Conclusion: 

Kids First Nepal’s support enabled sustained, consistent rehabilitative care at BIA, resulting in significant functional and psychosocial improvements for 82 clients living with disability. Nearly 80% achieved measurable gains in independence and physical function, illustrating the impact of consistent, personalized rehabilitation within a supportive, community‑integrated environment. Continued investment will further strengthen independence, dignity, and long‑term quality of life.

education projects

Impact Statement: Menstrual Hygiene & Dignified Menstruation Education Project 2020

In partnership with Bodhisattvas In Action (BIA) Foundation — Supported by Kids First Nepal

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​Project Overview

The Menstrual Hygiene & Dignified Menstruation Education Project was designed to promote menstrual empowerment, dignity, and sustainable hygiene practices among adolescent girls and young women in Nepal. The approach focused on participatory education and equitable resources to address the complex social and material challenges faced by these communities.

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Objective

The primary goal of the project was to advance menstrual empowerment, uphold dignity, and foster sustainable hygiene among adolescent girls and young women. This was achieved through targeted educational interventions and by ensuring fair access to necessary resources.

Implementation

The project was implemented by Kids First Nepal, with Barsha Khadka, a physiotherapist and KFN Country Director (Nepal), serving as the facilitator.

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Context & Rationale

In many Nepali communities, menstruation is still surrounded by stigma, which limits access to accurate information and perpetuates secrecy and shame. The project aimed to address these barriers by tackling both social stigma and material constraints through education, dialogue, and the distribution of sustainable resources.

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Activities & Methods

  • Two participatory workshops were conducted, focusing on menstrual hygiene, stigma reduction, and body awareness.

  • Bodhisattva in Action (BIA) (INGO): Held on December 12, 2019, with 12 participants.

  • Sertsang Home (part of BIA): Held on December 14, 2019, with 6 participants.

  • Distribution of eco-friendly, reusable cotton menstrual pads and guidance on their sustainable use.

  • Facilitation of personal storytelling and open discussions about menstrual experiences in both school and home settings.

  • Support for participants to articulate their own menstrual empowerment goals.

  • Integration of the workshops with community fundraising and awareness-raising activities.​​

​​Intended Outcomes

The project is aimed at participants to:

  • Demonstrate improved understanding of menstrual health.

  • Increase comfort in discussing menstruation openly.

  • Adopt sustainable menstrual hygiene practices.

  • Develop and implement personal empowerment strategies.​

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Implementation

The project was implemented by Kids First Nepal, with Barsha Khadka, a physiotherapist and KFN Country Director (Nepal), serving as the facilitator.

​Results & Evidence of Impact-(Mixed Methods: questionnaires and discussion, followed by qualitative data collection and analysis

  • 95% Participants showed expanded knowledge of menstrual physiology and hygienic practices.

  • 100% There was a marked increase in willingness to discuss menstruation openly.

  • 95% Stigma surrounding menstruation was reduced, and participants reported a greater sense of bodily dignity.

  • 80% Commitment to using reusable pads and maintaining hygienic practices was observed among participants.

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Challenges & Lessons Learned

Cultural stigma required sensitive facilitation and trust-building to create a safe environment for learning and sharing. The experience underscored the importance of sustained engagement and ongoing support to achieve lasting behavioral and cultural change.

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Future Directions

  • Expand workshops to reach additional schools and communities.

  • Develop peer mentorship initiatives to foster continued support.

  • Continue provision of resources and conduct reinforcement sessions.

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Conclusion

This initiative successfully advanced menstrual dignity, knowledge, and sustainable practices among the young Nepali women participants. By providing practical support and engaging participants in participatory learning, the project enabled them to build confidence, reduce stigma, and manage menstruation with dignity. Continued investment in these efforts will help expand and sustain this positive impact.

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