Dates: 2009 – 2016
Funded by: Oak Foundation and Anonymous
Faced by stagnant rural economies and limited income generation opportunities, vast numbers of youth and their parents across Asia are leaving their communities in search of work. They often leave without the appropriate knowledge, skills, health-related behaviors, and support networks to keep themselves safe, healthy, and free from abuse and exploitation. The increased vulnerability of youth is evidenced by the soaring rates of sexual and labor exploitation, sexual abuse, trafficking, poor health status, sexually transmitted infections (STI), and HIV infection among migrant youth across this region. The Youth on the Move Project, funded in part by the Oak Foundation, is improving the learning and life outcomes of vulnerable migrant and potential migrant youth in China, Cambodia, and Nepal.
World Education’s activities ensure that youth who are migrants, as well as those who are likely to migrate, can equip themselves with the core knowledge, skills, and healthy behaviors that reduce their vulnerability. In Nepal, the project centers on addressing the education and well-being of migrant and vulnerable youth through interventions such as literacy, post-literacy, life skills, specific workplace preparation and livelihood development programs for out-of-school youth, extracurricular activities, teacher training, school management capacity building and curricula enhancement for in-school youth, child protection system strengthening, policy and advocacy, and local capacity building. In this program year alone (2012), Youth on the Move Nepal has enrolled 428 out-of-school children (388 girls and 40 boys) in non-formal education classes. Additionally, the program has assisted mothers, youth, partners, schools, and local leaders to mobilize their communities and address issues related to girls’ education, child labor and child protection.