Literary classes for children working in hotels

TANAHU, Feb 28: Ram Bahadur Kumal, 13, who works at Hotel Chautari in Damauli market, rushes to Bal Kalyan Committee at eleven every morning after washing dishes to attend literacy classes, thanks to Bal Kalyan Committee, Tanahu which has been running informal literacy classes for child laborers working in the hotels of Damauli, the district headquarters.



Twelve children working in various hotels have been attending the literacy classes since February 1, informed Muna Tamang, who has been working as a facilitator.[break]



"I finish my morning work and go to the centre to attend the literacy class. I then return to work," said Kumal. Dev Basnet, 11, who also works in a hotel, attends the class every day.



Tamang shared that the classes run from 11 in the morning to 1 in the afternoon. The committee has provided bags, textbooks and stationery to the students. “I have been enjoying teaching these students,” said Tamang.



This literacy classes were started after consulting the hoteliers in Damauli market, informed program coordinator of Bal Kalyan Committee Santosh Godar. “This is a collective effort and some of the hoteliers have still not agreed to send the child workers to literacy classes,” said Godar.



The committee said there are around 30 children working in hotels in the district headquarters.

Related story

Worth of stories