A FELLOW’S STORY

What subjects do you teach?

As a fellow, my main role at UWS Jaisithok is teaching English and Maths. There are different kinds of students in the school and they each have their own way of learning, some are kinetic learners, some are visual learners and others are verbal learners. I teach students using different kinds and materials, utilising what we have around us. I use paper a lot of the time, making flashcards and posters, and teaching by playing games. In some schools in Nepal it is still common for children to only be taught theoretically,  so I always try to make sure that my students are being taught practically and are actively learning. I sometimes make up songs because students learn much faster from songs.

What initiatives and roles have you been involved in at UWS Jaisithok School?

Beside teaching, I work with the school team. Ensuring that we work as a team, to continually improve the school. We have to work hard in order to make school better. We have to change the traditional way of teaching. 

I have been involved in forming different clubs at UWS Jaisithok School, such as the girls’ club and mothers’ club to empower girls and mobilise parents. I also helped to form a club for the children to develop leadership skills, like a student council. The Child Club is a group of students who are active members of their school community. They have responsibility for discussing the school environment and they are leaders to mobilise student power. The Club helps the children to understand their rights and their responsibilities. There is also the opportunity for the students to talk to local government figures about their school. 

An additional part of my role is community mobilisation, I’ve been doing home visits as home visits are the most effective way to mobilise a community. Home is the place where we get to understand the circumstances of each student. What problems the student could be facing, what things are blocking the child to grow. All these things can be understood from visiting a child’s home and speaking with their parents and/or guardians. I do home visits twice a week where I speak to parents about the importance of education and support them to make a child-friendly learning environment at home too.

“When I first joined the UWS teaching fellowship I knew that I would be teaching students who had struggled to receive a quality education. What I didn’t know was that I would get the chance to learn so many things which will be life time experience for me. Initially I thought only luxurious life can give satisfaction but the satisfaction that you get from the smiles of the little, innocent faces of the students – that can’t be compared to any other thing. This fellowship journey has made me stronger than ever, and, importantly, happier than ever.”