Introduction:

With an average per capita GDP of US$ 260 (2004), Nepal remains the poorest country in South Asia and ranks as the twelfth poorest country in the world. Almost one third of population of Nepal is below poverty level. Most of the poor (about 80% of the total poor in the country) still make their living in agriculture as Self-employed and wage-earner. The average female literacy rate is only 42% (2001) with only 11% in tarai Dalits (untouchables) groups. The World Bank -Nepal Poverty Assessment report finds that the highest poverty rate is found in households whose head is illiterate. Attending primary school brings the probability of being poor down to 28%, attending lower secondary school brings it down to 23% and attending upper secondary school brings it down to 8.5 percent, the lowest poverty rate is among households headed by someone with a higher education (1.6%). Thus the report concludes that poverty declines with rising education.

Realizing the facts mentioned above, Lions Club of Kathmandu Samakhusi (LCKS) is deeply motivated to make its contribution in the sector of education that can help in alleviating poverty in its home country. In addition to this, as “The International Association of Lions Clubs” set the mission “To create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through involvement of community participation and international cooperation”. Therefore, apparently, it comes to be the responsibility of each club to internalize the theme of this statement and put efforts to materialize the mission. Hence, in the pursuance of the theme of the mission and LCKS's interest, Samakhusi Lions Club has decided to help poor children for their education through scholarship program by its members as a voluntary service.

Broad Objective:

To provide educational opportunity for poor and deprived children from marginalized communities through scholarship program.

Financial Resource:Initially, the required fund will be collected from the LCKS members voluntarily and deposit in a separate fund for this program. However, seeking fund will not be limited to the members; any one from any sector can contribute to this fund. Additionally, proceeds from various fund raising activities can be generated within the club or outside.

The members who are committed so far to contribute in this fund in yearly basis are as follows:

Level of Support:
This program will start with the support of Rs. 4,000 (Rupees four thousand only) or materials equivalent to Rs. 4,000 (US$ 60) for a child. However, depending upon the resources available and the need of the children, the Scholarship Committee may revise the support level to achieve the result of this program in future.

Implementation Strategy:
A scholarship committee from within the club will be formed comprising of seven members having A Chairperson; one Secretary; one Treasurer; and the rest as Members. This committee comes into being as an entity only after the concurrence of the Home Club. The committee gets reformed every year and this will have an authority to select, reject and withhold any or all application/s for scholarship.

Selection Criteria:
•  the children should be from economically poor family (under poverty line);
•  the children should have enrolled in public (government) school;
•  orphan and handicapped children should be given especial priority;
•  children from Dalit and ethnic minority communities should be given special priority;
•  priority should be given to intelligent but poor children;
•  children shouldn't be direct relatives of the club members;

Selection and Implementation Procedure:
•  scholarship committee should inform the concerned people and call for scholarship;
•  application for scholarship detailing the status of the children should be submitted by the children or their guardian through club members;
•  the concerned club member should make a recommendation assuring them that support provided will be utilized properly;
•  scholarship committee should prepare list of children applying for scholarship;
•  scholarship committee should analyze the list and prioritize the children based on the set criteria;
•  selected children will receive support through the same member who recommended for support and monitor the use of the fund;
•  the concerned club member will report the progress of the child to the scholarship committee;

Reporting and Publication:

Secretary of the committee will prepare an Annual Progress Report of the program and submit it to the scholarship committee. The committee will then report to the Home Club. The club shall take initiatives to publish the news in the national and international newspapers or magazines as much as possible .