July 2026
Greetings!
My name is Sonika Gurung, For the past five months, I have been working with the children’s group in Beltar, Bhanu Municipality–2.
Today, I would like to share the changes I have observed during this period. Although it has only been five months, I have completed information-sharing meetings, a situation analysis meeting, and facilitated discussions on five learning topics: Nutrition, Responsible Citizenship, Vision Building, Hygiene, and Siblings’ Relationship.
After these sessions, I have witnessed many positive changes in the children.
The most noticeable improvement has been in personal hygiene. Children who previously came to the sessions without combing their hair or wearing dirty clothes now arrive neat and tidy. They regularly trim their nails, comb their hair, brush their teeth, and wash their hands with soap and water. Their personal cleanliness has improved significantly.
I have also seen positive changes in their nutrition practices. During a home visit, I noticed a child eating organic maize grown at home. When I spoke with the child’s mother, she shared that compared to before, the child now prefers homemade food and understands that eating too much outside food can harm health. The child even discusses healthy eating habits with family members.
After facilitating the session on Child Rights and Responsibilities, the children began to understand that even though they are young, they also have responsibilities. Parents have reported that their children now help with household chores, wash their own dishes and school uniforms, listen to their parents, follow school rules, and show greater respect toward others. These positive behaviours have become more visible both at home and at school.
One memorable experience came from the siblings’ relationship. During one session, I saw an older brother pulling his younger sister’s hair. I gently explained that he should love and care for his sister because if family members do not care for one another, others may not either. I also told him that hurting his sister was not the right thing to do. Two weeks later, during a home visit, his younger sister happily told me, “Miss, since that day my brother has stopped hitting and teasing me.” Since many children in this group have brothers and sisters, I have observed increased love, care, and stronger relationships among siblings after this session.
Although the children are still young, seeing such positive changes within a short period has been very encouraging. Parents often tell me, “Sonika, please continue teaching more useful topics like these.”
I have built close and trusting relationships with the children by creating a warm, family-like learning environment. At present, the children are taking their first-term examinations, so one planned session has been postponed.
Challenges Experienced During the Past Five Months
- Difficulty ensuring all children attend sessions on time.
- Irregular participation by some children.
- Managing noise and maintaining attention during sessions.
- At the beginning, many children were shy, afraid, and hesitant to interact with me.
Solutions Implemented
- Conducting regular follow-up with children and parents.
- Using more practical, interactive, and creative learning activities.
- Arranging and using more educational learning materials.
These are the major changes, challenges, and solutions I have experienced during my work with the children’s group. Although the journey has been short, I am happy to see meaningful improvements in the children’s behaviour and learning. I believe even greater positive changes will continue in the future.
Thank you.
Sonika Gurung
Local Program Leader
Tanahun