Report on Celebration of National Children’s Day 2022

Association for Rural Development
Quality Education and Livelihood Support Programme
Event Report

Date: 14th September 2022
Field: Bethanchok RM, Ward 2, 3 and 5
Name: Sajana Acharya
Designation: Gender and Child Development Officer

Event Title: Joint Event from Association for Rural Development and Bethanchok Rural Municipality to Conduct “Secondary Level Quiz Competition Program” on the Occasion of 58th National Children’s Day

Background

In Nepal, National Children’s Day is being observed annually for more than 50 years. Nepal has been celebrating National Children’s Day on August 29 every year since ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 on September 14, 1990. This commemoration marks Nepal’s international commitment to issues like child development, the protection of child rights, and child participation.

During her visit to India, Ratna Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah saw that Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday was celebrated as Children’s Day in India and that India’s influential politicians were also active in social service. On Bhadra 4, 2021, the day of her birthday and immediately after her return from India, she founded Nepal Children Organization. Since then, she began safeguarding orphan children on her birthday through Bal Mandir. This day was declared National Children’s Day and since then, Children’s Day is been celebrated regularly every year. Initially celebrated on Bhadra 4th starting in 2021 BS, National Children’s Day is now being observed annually on Bhadra 29th since 2063 BS.

Children, who make up about half of Nepal’s population, celebrate this day, and hence this day remains very significant. Every year, a specific theme and a unique slogan are used to honour Children’s Day.” Foundation of Child-Friendly Society: Responsible Family, Accountable Government” is the slogan for this year. On Bhadra 29, 2079 BS, in the Assembly Hall of the Bethanchok Rural Executive, a secondary level quiz competition program was held with the aid from AEIN Luxembourg, jointly with the Association for Rural Development and the Women and Children Department of Bethanchok Rural Municipality. 

Objective of Event

• To enhance the intellectual capacity of students by conducting a Secondary Level Quiz Competition among students from 10 schools representing community schools of Bethanchok RM.

Methodology

A secondary level quiz competition event was held on Bhadra 29th, 2079, in honour of the 58th National Children’s Day, in collaboration with the Women, Children, and Senior Citizens Branch of Bethanchok Rural Municipality and the Association for Rural Development. Out of 10 invited secondary school students from Bethanchok RM, 7 schools’ participation was observed. There was the participation of students from Atmabikas Secondary School, Bhumimata Secondary School, Krishnagopal Secondary School, Saraswati Secondary School Parthali, Saraswati Secondary School Bhugdeu, Parvati Secondary School,  and Kalika Secondary School. Three students from each school participated in the competition, making a total of 21 students. The remaining 10 students and one supervising teacher from each school were also present. The quiz competition program was conducted by Sujatha Acharya, Head of Bethanchok Rural Municipality’s Women, Children, and Senior Citizens Department.

The quiz competition began once everyone had taken their places and after the welcome speech and guest greetings. During the welcome speech and introduction to the purpose of the program, Sajana Acharya, the Association for Rural Development’s Women and Children Officer, talked about the significance importance, and history of celebrating Children’s Day. Kuber Dhakal, the ward chairperson of Bethanchok RM ward number 3, gave a speech of congratulations and noted that this program was created to support students, and academic endeavours and that Bethanchok’s local government is responsible for the overall development of children. In addition, he encouraged all of the students to carry out their duties while also asking for their rights. Damodar Subedi, a teacher at Parvati Secondary School and the children’s club’s supervisory teacher, requested the Association for Rural Development and Bethanchok Rural Municipality to keep holding similar competitions to improve children’s futures during the speech of congratulations.

The quiz contest was split into two parts, lasting from 11:30 am until 4 pm. Seven groups were asked five questions each in the first stage for a total of 35 questions, while each group was asked six questions in the second stage for a total of 36 questions. A jury committee made up of five people was established to create quiz questions and rules. The head of the Bethanchok Rural Municipality’s accounting department, Bidur Giri, who was also in charge of coordinating the jury committee, explained the quiz’s regulations to all of the contestants and participants and facilitated by asking them questions. The students from Parvati Secondary School managed to earn a total of 10 points and place third out of competitors from seven other schools. As a result of earning 12 points, the students from Krishna Gopal Secondary School came in the second position. While the students from Atmavikas Secondary School scored 14 points and took first place. In the same way, each student from the third position received general knowledge books, a geometry box, a pen, copies and certificates. The award distribution was done by Tara Rana, vice chairperson of Bethanchok Rural Municipality, Mahanand Timalsina and Sajana Acharya, representatives of the Association for Rural Development and the ward chairpersons.

Tara Rana, the vice chairperson of Bethanchok village Rural Municipality, who was present as the chief guest of the program, said that the quiz competition program was organized to reveal the intellectual abilities of the students. According to her, despite the fact that Bethanchok Rural Municipality has declared a policy against child marriage and child abuse, the local authority is always prepared to take action because these issues still arise in some areas. She stated that she will proceed by coordinating with all the organizations working in the field of children in Bethanchok Rural Municipality in order to declare the municipality a child-friendly rural municipality. This program has been put together because interschool competitions of this kind help students discover their hidden potential and expand their intellectual capacity. The three schools that the Association for Rural Development supported for the children’s club won first, third, and third out of the seven competing schools. Hence, a successful quiz competition program with 141 participants was completed.

Achievements

1. The improved intellectual capacity of students through this program.
2. Students got aware of the significance of the National Children’s Day Celebration
3. The distribution of attractive prizes increased the sense of high competition among the students and encouraged them to study more in the future.
4. The achievements of the program can be directly felt because the schools supported by theAssociation for Rural Development came first, second and third position in the quiz competition.
5. Conveyed a positive message to all schools while conducting the program in coordination, cooperation and joint organization with the local level.

Challenges and Learnings

1. On the occasion of National Children’s Day on the 29th of Bhadra, a Secondary Level Interschool Quiz Competition Program was conducted for 10 schools within Bethanchok Rural Municipality on that day. Three of the schools decided not to participate. Due to the fact that the first terminal examination was being held at other schools, only seven schools participated in the competition. It has been noticed that the program needs to be set up so that all 10 schools may attend in the upcoming days so that none of the students misses such events.

Conclusion

Nepal has been celebrating Children’s Day for 58 years. The situation of children in rural areas has not much improved despite the passage of so much time. Children are still not regularly attending school, and children in the field area have a tendency to discontinue school. By exposing the students’ immense potential and supporting them in problem-solving, it appears that such programs have a significant impact on students’ capacity to strengthen their own willpower.

Annex

1. Details of Participants in the Program

2. Photos of the Program