We often hear about learning fairs that are organized in the capital cities. But how many of us have heard of learning fairs that are organized by the public schools in the rural part of the country? Teach For Nepal Fellows (TFN) have been organizing learning fairs named Kshitiz Sikai Mela (Learning Fair) in Sindhupalchowk and Sunakhari Tulsipur Sikai Mela in Tulsipur to improve the performance of students as well as provide exposure and connection of their learning to real life. In the present scenario where technology is taking over education — be it skill-building programs in universities, real-world technical training, and learning of abstract concepts in school.

Kshitiz Learning Fair (KLF) is one of its kind annual events in Sindhupalchowk region where all the public schools come together and participate while Sunakhari Tulsipur Sikai Mela is organized in collaboration with the Tulsipur Municipality. Even though fairs like these do not get wide coverage in the media, their impact in the community is magnificent. These fairs have provided a platform for the students of the rural regions to showcase their learning achievements, talents, group coordination and help in creating multifaceted opportunities for the students in the respective region where these fairs are conducted.

“We had a total of 37 different project stalls in Sunakhari Fair ranging from career-fair stalls, business stalls, and STEM innovation stalls, where they presented a possible solution to the existing problem in their region” shares Santosh Lamsal, a TFN Fellow at Shree Ma. Vi. Balapur, Dang, Tulsipur. Stalls with scientific innovation mostly get attention in fairs like these as the audiences get to see something new every time. Along with showcasing talents, this is as well an opportunity for students to bond while sharing their learning during these fairs. “Our students as well performed a drama themed on child marriage which was another attraction at Sunakhari Sikai Mela” adds Lamsal. 

The students participating in both Kshitiz and Sunakhari Sikai Mela present different first-hand real-life problems faced by the students and also provide possible solutions. “Students who would never raise a question in the classroom or interact with their teachers were the one presenting and sharing the problems during the fair,” remembers Sama Dongol, who is another Fellow at Bhotang Devi Secondary School, Sindhupalchowk.

Reminiscing about last year’s Sikai Mela, Sama shares, “I was amazed seeing my student Milan presenting fluently in English who had been keeping his nose to the grindstone just a year ago when I began my Fellowship. Personally, it was like winning a good fight for me when I saw Milan giving a flawless presentation. He was also guiding his other friends on the process of how they could systematically present their ideas.”

Alongside the exposure of the students and making them more collaborative, the Fellows to learn a great deal in planning, coordination, and self-learning through these fairs. Ramesh Maharjan, Fellow at Sindhupalchowk says, “KLF provided an opportunity for most of us to understand the importance of self-learning. As we had to facilitate the students in presenting their ideas and help them develop various prototypes, we needed to understand how it is done in the first place.” The Fellows themselves went through various training programs for weeks on design thinking and self-study to improvise on how they can communicate better with the students. 

The skills of Fellows too have refined and have helped them become more confident and take their roles and responsibilities more seriously. “Sunakhari Sikhai Mela had a great impact on the first-year Fellows,” shares Madhav Prasad Devkota, Leadership Development Manager at TFN. Madhav, who himself played a key role in initiating the Kshitiz Learning Fair in Sindhupalchowk during his Fellowship in 2018 further shares, “Fellows in Dang took the responsibility of pre-event and their work was praiseworthy. The Fellows additionally learned a great deal about fundraising and dealing with people.” As this was happening for the first time in Dang, the Fellows had asked for the help of teachers from the community school to help them in the fundraising process. 

Learning Fairs like these are a great deal for Fellows, students and the community which helps them practically showcase what they have learned throughout the process. While the students got a platform to showcase and present their ideas and perform in front of the mass and develop confidence, the Fellow too got a learning opportunity to develop their communication, coordination and persuasion skills to make these events as successful as it has been. These events as well as help in enabling grasp and practice concepts more profoundly with examples from within the community so that the students can manipulate and observe in their learning space. 

Santosh Lamsal completed his Bachelor's of Information Management from St. Xavier's College and is currently teaching math in Secondary School in Dang. Sama Dongol completed her Bachelor's of Arts and Bachelor's of Law from National Law College and is currently teaching English in Raithane Secondary School in Panchpokhari, Thangpal Sindhupalchowk. Ramesh Maharjan completed her Bachelor of Technology in Food Tech from Central Campus, Tribhuvan University and is currently teaching Science in Bhotangdevi Secondary School. 

Like Santosh, Ramesh and Sama along with 64 other second-year Teach For Nepal Fellows are creating impacts through various learning fairs and providing exposure to the students.