The Sisterhood gives disadvantaged youngsters the chance to learn a trade and secure a job in Nepal
The Sisterhood have just raised over £200,000 taking part in this year’s The Speed Project ultra race. The money will be going toward Nepal Youth Foundation UK’s Vocational Scholarship programme for disadvantaged youngsters.
Nepal is moving into a new era of development by increasing their growth of modern industry and infrastructure. However, there is a huge lack of skilled workers and high quality, affordable vocational courses. In addition, Nepal's youth unemployment rate is at 19.2% and 25% of the population are living below the poverty line. There are scarce opportunities for youngsters from marginalised groups to improve their situation because of either their poor academic achievement, the limited availability of training opportunities or the constraints of Nepal's caste system.
The Sisterhood funding will mean that hundreds of youngsters will not only be able to receive invaluable vocational training but will also receive support to be able to secure long term jobs at the end of their course. Training will be offered across five trades at a specially designed training school in Kathmandu – plumbing, carpentry, steel fabrication, electrical and care giving and will involve 390 hours of classroom and on the job training. Students will also be provided with career counselling skills and counselling will be on offer to any students who should require the support (many of the students have had pretty tough lives to date). Students will also be provided with free accommodation and food as the training will be open to students from across Nepal.
It costs approximately £710 to train one student and help them secure a job and Nepal Youth Foundation have had huge success with the project - 90% of graduates are employed or self-employed, with the remainder pursuing further education or training.
To understand more about Nepal Youth Foundation UK’s work, watch this short 2-minute film: