The critical contribution mentors make

The CarNetNepal Learning Space programme has helped turn one girl, Anita, from someone disinterested in studies to becoming ‘student of the month’ and passing all the subjects in the school exam for the first time. She is even the vice-captain of one of the four groups in her Learning Space, when she was once a girl who disturbed her classmates and did not concentrate on her studies. After seeing her friends getting stars in the monthly evaluation chart - and getting gifts for securing a high number of stars - Anita started to get serious. She began to follow the class rules, listen to her mentors, and show sincerity in her studies. Her turnaround is of great encouragement to her parents - but also to her mentor. From this example and many others, it can be seen that the mentors, who are trained by Viva’s partner network, CarNetNepal, are critical to the success of Learning Spaces.

Photo credit: CarNetNepal

Mentors in Learning Spaces (LS) help communities serve vulnerable children with support from CarNetNepal. Vulnerable children from marginalised groups find a safe space and conducive environment to pursue their academic studies, as mentors help them catch up on missed education. Children also have opportunities to acquire life skills to help them learn independently, explore inner talents, and are supported in building resilience. Learning Space mentors also provide psychosocial support by addressing the difficult experiences some children have been through and finding ways to help them move forward against these challenges. Children come for one or two years, and there are currently Learning Spaces in two districts in Nepal, reaching fifty children.

Ms Kumari Tamang, seen below with CarNetNepal staff members Christina and Sanjay, has been a Learning Space mentor for almost five years. Her desire for excellence, personal growth and dedication is inspiring!

“Before this, I was in the teaching profession for 12 years. When I received the offer to be a mentor in LS, I thought it would be easy, like teaching at school as usual. However… this experience has changed my definition of teaching. Instead of teaching children only through books, I learned that they can be taught through playing, dancing, and engaging in extracurricular activities in a conducive environment. There, I could understand the inner abilities of children. I found that children who are weak at studies are good at drawing; those who are slow in speaking are good at singing; and those who seem disengaged are good at dancing.”

Photo: Ms Kumari Tamang receives a certificate, seen with Sanjay (left)and Christina (right) from CarNetNepal.

Ms Kumari clearly sees the value of the Learning Space to her personal growth, as much as children like Anita have been helped: “the learnings I have received in LS and from the child-friendly teaching training have helped me to unearth their (the children’s) abilities and excel. In these five years, I have had the opportunity to develop myself. If CarNetNepal had not intervened with this program in our village, I would not have had such an opportunity. Today, I can confidently say that I can teach children in a child-friendly and understanding way, and I convey my thanks to CarNetNepal for giving me this opportunity.”

Ms Kumari is not the only mentor who is helping to transform lives. Another is Teacher Chandra Maya Tamang, whose work with a young boy has made a huge difference in his life. Josh is a 7-year-old boy who studies in grade one. He lives with his mother, and his father works overseas. When he joined the Learning Space, Josh was very quiet and weak in studies, unable to hold a pencil. At first, his mentor, Chandra Maya Tamang herself was confused and did not comprehend the reason for his difficulty. Later, after receiving teacher training, Chandra Maya Tamang understood his situation as she realised Josh’s hand muscles were not fully developed. She shared the fact with his mother and encouraged her to be patient with her son’s writing skills, as she started involving Josh in activities to build his fine motor skills. Josh was taught the right way to hold a pencil, and quickly learned how to write, with Teacher Chandra praising him for his efforts. As his ability and confidence grew, he became less shy and now interacts more freely with friends.

Photo credit: CarNetNepal

Mentors are critical to the success of Learning Spaces because their attitude and skills enable the children to learn holistically, giving them confidence and ability, which will serve them well in the long term. Aside from the improvements in children’s academic ability - with many doing much better in exams than before - in recent months, children have learned about ‘Good Touch Bad Touch’, ‘Hygiene and Sanitation’, ‘Human Trafficking’, and ‘Discipline’. These beautiful and precious photos below are of pictures that were drawn by some learning space students to express their experiences in the Learning Space.

Photo credit: CarNetNepal

We at Viva are constantly encouraged by the incredible work CarNetNepal does and are glad we have been able to provide some funding to the Learning Spaces programme so that the network can train more mentors and provide more resources to help the children in these Spaces flourish. The Coach who supports CarNetNepal, Adrienne, finds it a great privilege to walk alongside Christina and her team as they work with these mentors and equip them to serve more children. “The Learning Spaces led by CarNetNepal is a beautiful model of what it looks like when educators, parents and caregivers cultivate a safe and nurturing environment for children to grow. I am thankful for how CarNet staff like Christina build relationships with Learning Space mentors and parents while finding creative ways to integrate child and youth participation in their activities.”