Zeal to learn sparked through unconventional teaching approach

Biyes loved going to school every day. Not because he was keen on studying but rather enjoyed playing with friends in their school playground. That was the only motivation for him to be at school. A student in grade 3, Biyes used to be a less than average student in his class until his eagerness towards studying was sparked by a creative approach to learning through Reading Camp.

Biyes is excited when his parents sit and draw along with him. His parents cannot read or write, which is why Biyes regularly narrates stories to them. His parents say that they feel a rush of emotions during storytelling when Biyes translates some words to his ethnic Tharu language to make them understand some specific words. It makes them proud of their son to see him fluently reading Nepali and some English words, as most of the people in their community only speak their ethnic Tharu language and struggle to understand other languages. His enthusiasm to study has increased since his parents began taking an interest in his progress and helping him out at home, which has also helped strengthen the bond between him and his parents. His parents understood the importance of helping their children study at home after attending various sensitization programs by World Vision.

“I learned to make paper toys in the reading camp. I feel jovial to showcase my learnings to my grandparents back home," shares Biyes. The study camp attempts to creatively teach extracurricular skills to children in order to increase their enthusiasm for studying. The learnings from the Reading Camp directly complement their studies at school, which is why Biyes has started scoring first in his class.

Swostika is also a participant in the Reading Camp, and just like Biyes, she studies in grade 3. She regularly attends the reading camp on Saturdays and during holidays. She gets to learn through dancing, singing, drawing, and painting at the camp. She particularly loves singing and is usually the first to volunteer to sing rhymes and poems in her Reading Camp. Receiving appreciation and praise from her friends at the camp inspires her even more.

"Earlier, during holidays and on Saturdays, we used to spend the day in the same routine as always. Since we started attending the reading camp, our holidays have become full of fun. We get to learn so many new things in every session," she says. Her learnings from the camp have not only helped her in her studies but have also sparked a dream in her of becoming a good citizen. She shares with a smile, "I will study a lot, and when I grow up, I will work so I can give back to my society."

World Vision International Nepal is partnering with various local organizations throughout Karnali and Sudurpaschim Province to boost the learning of 8,331 children through a total of 334 reading camps.