In a quiet corner of Janakpurdham, a city in south-eastern Nepal, where ancient temples cast long shadows and traditional Mithila art adorns the streets, a narrow lane winds toward a modest building.

From morning to dusk, children pass through its gate after completing household chores, returning from labor, or tending to livestock.

This building is the home of the Hanuman Community Learning Center (HCLC), a small but vibrant space that offers not just literacy, but safety, belonging, purpose and the chance to reclaim years out of school.

On this scorching afternoon, 20 children occupy the space; some are engaged in a lively carrom game, others are bent over notebooks as facilitators guide their learning.

Where change begins

Established in 2010, the Hanuman Community Learning Center has become a cornerstone for inclusive education in Janakpurdham.

As a member of the National Campaign for Education Nepal (NCE Nepal)—which is supported by Education Out Loud—HCLC receives support from NCE Nepal to implement sensitizing campaigns throughout the community to identify and support out-of-school children, particularly those from marginalized communities, and help them transition into formal schooling.

The center conducts four 2-hour learning sessions in a day, tailored to children’s schedules and capacities. Children undergo an initial assessment on joining and a follow-up after 60 days to track progress.

Facilitators conduct household surveys, raise awareness among parents, and escort children to schools, where busy roads pose a risk.

Bridging barriers to education

In the 2024/25 school year, 57 out-of-school children were enrolled in schools through HCLC, including 35 girls.

Among them is Shiwani Mahara, a 14-year-old girl who had dropped out of school to travel with her mother in search of job opportunities. For years, she stayed at home, hesitant to return to school.

Now at the learning center, she is not only learning to read and write again but has also grown comfortable studying alongside other children. And today she plans to re-join a formal school.

When facilitators from HCLC met Laxmi Mehstar, she was 10 years old and had never been to school because she had no birth certificate.

HCLC stepped in, persistently lobbying local authorities until she was issued official documents. For two years, Laxmi studied at the learning center. She eventually enrolled in grade 5 at Asarphi Basic School. Now 15, she has completed grade 8.

HCLC is also preparing some older children for vocational training in areas such as cooking and electrical work—formal school may not be a fit for everyone, but learning should still be accessible.

Advocacy in action

Since its inception, hundreds of children have attended the center and of those more than 250 enrolled in schools. Ms. Usha Shah, the HCLC chairperson, attributes part of the achievement to the support provided by NCE Nepal.

HCLC has received the technical support, visibility, and strategic guidance required to reach more children. NCE Nepal has consistently monitored the center’s progress, highlighted its success, and provided platforms for HCLC to participate in advocacy campaigns, policy dialogues, and education improvement efforts.

For example, NCE Nepal also supported HCLC to carrying out local-level lobbying and organizing child-led advocacy campaigns. In one powerful initiative, children showcased their artwork, crafts, and songs to Janakpur City officials to urge stronger action against child labor and demand every child’s right to education.

With NCE Nepal’s support, the center successfully facilitated the formation of Complaint Response Mechanisms, School Management Committees, and School Improvement Plans, reinforcing community ownership and accountability in education.

Moving forward

HCLC is just one of the centers supported by NCE Nepal. The coalition works nationwide to empower communities to set up similar centers.

It builds the advocacy capacity of facilitators through training, supports local campaigns to enroll out-of-school children, and connects community learning centers with government and civil society actors.

To ensure impact tracking, NCE Nepal is working toward adopting inclusive monitoring frameworks with indicators by age, gender, caste, and disability.

In addition, by facilitating learning-sharing events between these learning centers and local government actors, NCE Nepal promotes the replication of successful models.