To mark International Women's Day 2017 we want to #BeBoldForChange by raising funds for our scholarship program for girls education in Nepal.

These scholarships will ensure that girls do not miss out on their education and will give them the chance of a brighter future. Supported by our efforts to build girls hostels in the Helambu region, these scholarships will help us to ensure equality of opportunity for all students.

In Nepal education is free until students complete the equivalent of GCSE (SLC- Standard Leaver’s Certificate). After this, education becomes expensive; preventing many from continuing their studies. School leavers with just the SLC have few options. Most have to work on their family farms, which barely produce enough food to make a living, or are forced to look for manual jobs abroad. For girls, there is also the risk of early or forced marriage.

HELP scholarships support promising students who cannot afford the tuition fees beyond the SLC from government schools in the Helambu region. The scholarship enables them to continue their education and take the Plus 2 (the equivalent to A levels). The scholarship support covers the tuition fees, books and uniform for students.

These scholarships have an unbelievable impact on the students they support, and some of the success stories from previous scholarship rounds can be found at:

http://www.mondochallengefoundation.org/2013-scholarship-case-studies.html

After they complete their studies, recipients are expected to undertake a minimum of three months of volunteering work in their local communities. Many of the students help to teach at schools in their home villages, something that is crucial to helping these schools improve their standards of education. We are also able to help some of the students with internships after their courses have finished.

Just £150 will fund a student for a full year, and £300 for the full two year programme.

Join us in being bold for change by enabling brighter futures for girls in the Helambu region of Nepal. Thank you.