The Civil Scholarship Project, aimed at supporting students with daily school lunches, uniforms, shoes, bags, and stationery, has faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Nepal experienced the peak of the crisis, schools transitioned to virtual learning, making some aspects of our support temporarily redundant.

After three years of successful operation, the scholarship’s distribution was put on hold. This decision came following a recommendation from the scholarship committee coordinator, who highlighted the need for a revised approach in light of the new circumstances.

On July 10, 2022, Civil Initiative convened a meeting with its board and scholarship management committee to deliberate on the project’s future. The committee engaged with the schools to ascertain the current status of our scholars. We discovered that several students had completed their schooling up to grade 10 and proceeded to higher education, often losing touch with their previous institutions. This shift made the resumption of scholarships for these students impractical.

In response, the Civil Initiative Board has commissioned a thorough review of the project. This evaluation will inform the conclusion of the current project and guide the development of future initiatives, incorporating lessons learned and considerations for pandemic-related contingencies. The question of extending support to grades 11 and 12 will also be examined.

We are committed to transparency and will share the comprehensive report once received from the committee. Additionally, the meeting underscored the importance of appointing a dedicated staff member to ensure the smooth operation of the project.

Despite these hurdles, the Civil Scholarship Fund continues to grow. We are dedicated to helping more students in need through innovative and adaptive projects.

For any inquiries regarding the project, please reach out to us at [email protected], with a cc to [email protected].