Samvad Strømme Foundation

The Strømme Foundation has received new funding from Kavli Trust to support its work empowering girls in Nepal to take charge of their own lives through the Samvad life skills programme. So far, 4,400 young people, the majority of them girls, have completed the programme.

About the Collaboration

The Strømme Foundation continues to receive support from Kavli Trust for its Samvad life skills programme, with NOK 5 million allocated through to autumn 2024.

So far, 4,400 young people—mostly girls, but also some boys—from impoverished areas of Nepal have completed the programme, which has been funded by Kavli Trust since 2019. Another 2,250 young people will now have the opportunity to participate.

Girls at Risk

Samvad, which means dialogue in Nepali, is a non-formal education programme designed for young people who have dropped out of school, are at risk of doing so, or have never attended school.

The programme operates in two of Nepal’s poorest districts, Rupandehi and Nawalparasi West, located in the south along the border with India. Around 240,000 people live in these districts, and the vast majority, 85 per cent, belong to poor and marginalised castes.

Although the caste system has been officially banned in Nepal since the 1960s, it continues to result in discrimination and exploitation of those at the bottom of the hierarchy.

According to Strømme Foundation, the consequences of poverty in these areas are severe: low school attendance, widespread child labour, and many arranged child marriages. One in six girls is forced into marriage before the age of 15, and nearly half are married before they turn 20. The organisation also notes that poor children, particularly girls, are more vulnerable to trafficking, abuse, and exploitation.

Consequences of the Pandemic

Strømme Foundation surveys conducted in 2021 indicate that the target group for the education programme experienced loss of income and educational opportunities during the pandemic. Many developed mental health challenges, and violence against women has begun to rise again. The programme has been adapted to pandemic conditions, including smaller group sizes, but school closures have caused delays in activities.

Tailored Support Makes a Difference

The tailored education programme is producing measurable results. Government data from Nepal shows that school enrolment has increased and dropout rates have decreased. Local surveys indicate a significant reduction in domestic abuse and violence. General and mental health outcomes have improved, including a marked decrease in suicides among girls. Child marriage has become virtually nonexistent following the introduction of Samvad.

Giving Girls a Voice

One of the key goals of Samvad is to teach girls in vulnerable situations to take charge of their own lives. Many of the young women who have completed the programme have since used their voices to advocate for new laws in Nepal. For instance, arranged marriages before the age of 20 are now prohibited.

Ramesh Shrestha, Country Coordinator in Nepal, has first-hand knowledge of the Samvad initiative:

“I have seen up close the power of the Samvad programme here in Nepal,” he says.

“Girls who previously had little hope for the future are gaining both the knowledge and the skills needed to create better lives for themselves. Strength lies in numbers, so by including more young people in the programme, we are building a stronger movement toward a better Nepal—a Nepal in which no one is left behind.”

Slowed by COVID

Erik Lunde, Secretary General of the Strømme Foundation, emphasises that the funding from Kavli Trust will strengthen support for the young people with the fewest opportunities in Nepalese society.

“The Samvad programme gives them self-confidence, knowledge of their rights, and the ability to earn their own income,” he says. “The results show that it works. We have examples of girls from marginalised castes who have become deputy mayors. By reaching even more vulnerable young people in Nepal, we increase the potential for systemic social change. We are deeply grateful and humbled by this funding.”

A Better Life

Over the years, Kavli Trust and the Strømme Foundation have achieved a great deal through their collaboration on school projects worldwide, including in Burkina Faso, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. Inger Elise Iversen, CEO of Kavli Trust, looks forward to continuing the partnership on the Samvad programme in Nepal.

“We see that Samvad helps provide thousands of girls and boys in Nepal with a better life,” she says.

“This project aligns perfectly with Kavli Trust’s priorities. One of our main goals is to support children and young people in developing stronger mental health, a sense of mastery, and inclusion.”