In short
- The full government assessment is in, and we have published an English summary of it
- The situation on the ground is still unsettled. Families are spread across shelters, schools and monasteries, and government education plans are not yet clear
- Children's needs fall into roughly four groups, depending on whether they lost both parents, one parent, the family's earner, or their home and land
- Older children are leaving school to care for their families, so a safe place to keep learning matters now, before longer-term plans are settled
- Our conversations with organisations on the ground are ongoing, and we have joined Project Kuhiro, a coalition working on education for these children
- A team of five now leads this work, and we expect to choose a partner by the end of the year
What has changed in two weeks
15 SeptemberA first summary of the government's numbers
NowThe full assessment, read and summarised in English
15 SeptemberEarly calls with specialists and organisations
NowRegular updates from people on the ground in Bidur, Rasuwa and Kathmandu
15 SeptemberWorking on our own
NowPart of a coalition of groups working on the same problem
15 SeptemberVolunteers offering help
NowFive leads, each running a workstream
The situation on the ground
The government's numbers give the scale. What we are hearing from people on the ground shows how scattered and uncertain things still are.
1,341
dead and 4,996 missing
22,100+
children affected, 2,600 of them under five
102
children in holding centres who lost both parents
6,901
students whose schooling was disrupted
What we're hearing
Government plans are still unclearLocal and national government are still working out their plans, and how children will be schooled has either not been decided or not been shared
Children were moved quickly for safetyMunicipalities have taken children who lost both parents into a school in Bidur. It kept them safe, but many were unhappy to be taken from their communities
Families are scattered across monasteriesWe've heard from three monasteries in Kathmandu sheltering families from villages including Timure, Betrawati, Devighat and Amachhodingmo. There are others, and we don't yet know where every child is
Schools are stretched or movingTrishuli's school is finding new premises. A Kathmandu school taking children from one monastery is overwhelmed. In Syafrubesi, a school higher up is still standing and ready to take children back
Older children are dropping outAdolescents are leaving school to take on caring for their families. People on the ground say temporary learning spaces can't wait for government
Some places are steadierThings look a little better in Bidur, where tents are going up as temporary shelters
Four groups of children, by need
Early thinking, shared across the coalition. Each group needs something different.
1Lost both parentsIn Bidur, the municipality has taken them into care at a school
2Lost one parentMany families are looking to move to Kathmandu, so need schools there
3Lost the family's earnerAlso looking to move, and at risk of leaving school to work or care for others
4Both parents, but lost home and landFamilies whose savings, land and livelihood did not survive the flood
Who's doing meaningful work on the ground
Our conversations are ongoing. These are some of the groups we've been speaking with or hearing from.
Project KuhiroA coalition we have joined
Groups working on education for flood-affected children. On 1 October it agreed to start with a few children, build one verified list of affected children, work with government, and explore a day centre where children can learn and feel safe
Chakraviu NepalKathmandu nonprofit
Education, wellbeing and climate action with young people
Samaanta FoundationIn its 15th year
Fellowships for public-school students through higher secondary and beyond
Prithvi Secondary SchoolWhat we've heard
A government school in Bidur with around 1,000 students, 112 of them affected. One lost both parents, six lost a parent, and every one of the 112 lost their home and belongings
Our team
Five people now lead this work, each running one workstream. For now, most of our effort goes into Strategy: choosing the right partner.
Current focusStrategyAssessing partners and deciding which children we serve
OperationsTurning pledges into payments once a partner is chosen
CommunicationsUpdates like this one, and keeping everyone informed
Finance and adminHow money is held, moved and accounted for
Long termPlanning beyond the first group of students
Where we go from here
NowDevelop the partner framework — one set of criteria to assess every organisation the same way. Keep listening, and learn from the coalition's first small group of children
By the end of the yearChoose one partner, and with it, which children we serve and what we fund
ThenPublish what a year of schooling costs per child, and open collection so money is ready for students starting next term
Questions we're still answering
- Which children: those staying in their communities, or those whose families are moving to Kathmandu
- What we fund: school fees, or the costs around them that keep a child in school
- How long we commit: two years for a Grade 10 student, or many more for a younger child
What we're asking government
- How many affected children the Education Ministry has on record, and how many it already supports
- How students sitting the SEE exams in February will be accommodated
- What is known about missing children, and how they are being protected
Get involved
- Know someone on the ground? Teachers, ward officials and relief workers in the affected districts help us most
- Want to help the team? We welcome time and skills in any of the five workstreams
- Not pledged yet? Add your name. No money moves until a partner is chosen
- Questions? Write to us any time
Add your name or get in touch here