Introduction
Child participation is a cornerstone of child rights, leadership, and empowerment. In Nepal, many children face significant challenges, including limited awareness of their rights, minimal opportunities to express themselves, and very little involvement in decision-making processes within schools and communities. Recognizing these challenges, Ekata Foundation Nepal introduced the Child-Led Child Club Mobilization innovation. This initiative is designed to empower children to actively participate not only in their own development but also in the improvement of their communities. It encourages leadership, responsibility, and awareness of child rights while fostering practical skills that children can apply in real-life situations.
Rationale behind the Innovation
Traditionally, child clubs in schools and communities have been adult-led, with teachers, social workers, or community leaders directing activities. While these clubs provided some exposure to group work, children rarely had the chance to take initiative, make decisions, or lead activities. As a result, they lacked opportunities to develop leadership, problem-solving, advocacy, and teamwork skills. The Child-Led Child Club Mobilization addresses these gaps by placing children at the center of planning and implementation. It empowers them to express opinions, organize activities and contribute to social change, ensuring that children become confident, responsible and active young leaders in their community.
In practice, the Child-Led Child Club Mobilization by Ekata Foundation Nepal transforms traditional child clubs into platforms where children take the lead. Instead of adults directing all activities, children are actively involved in planning, decision-making, and implementation. Clubs meet regularly in schools or community spaces, where children discuss issues affecting them, such as education, health, safety, and child rights.
Children elect leaders among themselves, form committees for specific tasks, and organize activities such as awareness campaigns, peer education sessions, and community events. They also identify local challenges, propose solutions, and take practical steps to address them, with adults acting only as facilitators or mentors. This approach ensures that children learn to collaborate, manage projects, and communicate effectively.
In addition, the innovation emphasizes the protection and well-being of all members, teaching children about safeguarding, child rights, and how to respond to abuse or exploitation. They also learn to use complaint and response mechanisms when problems arise.
Through this hands-on approach, children gain confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of responsibility while contributing positively to their communities. The innovation not only empowers individual children but also strengthens the overall culture of child participation in Nepal.
The Child-Led Child Club Mobilization innovation by Ekata Foundation Nepal has been gradually expanding across schools and communities in various districts. The approach relies on training both children and teachers or facilitators, creating a strong foundation for replication. Initially piloted in select schools, the program demonstrated positive results in child engagement, leadership, and awareness of child rights, which encouraged other schools to adopt the model.
Ekata Foundation Nepal organizes orientation sessions, workshops, and capacity-building programs for teachers, local leaders, and children, highlighting the benefits of child-led initiatives. Children who experience success in their clubs become role models for peers in other schools, spreading interest and enthusiasm for starting similar clubs. Community members also observe the impact of active child participation and support the formation of new clubs.
Additionally, local government bodies, NGOs, and child protection networks have been informed about the innovation, fostering collaboration and wider implementation. Regular monitoring, sharing of best practices, and public recognition of successful clubs further motivate schools and communities to adopt the model.
Through these combined efforts, the innovation is expanding steadily, empowering more children, strengthening child participation, and promoting awareness of rights across a growing number of communities in Nepal.
Since its initial implementation, the Child-Led Child Club Mobilization innovation by Ekata Foundation Nepal has undergone several modifications to enhance effectiveness and reach. Initially, the focus was mainly on forming child clubs and encouraging participation. However, it became clear that children needed more structured guidance, practical activities, and leadership opportunities to fully develop their skills.
To address this, the innovation now includes training modules for children on leadership, communication, problem-solving, and advocacy. Teachers and facilitators receive updated guidance on supporting children without dominating decision-making, ensuring the clubs remain genuinely child-led. Child-friendly manuals, activity guides, and simple reporting systems have been introduced to help children plan, implement, and monitor their initiatives.
Additionally, the innovation has expanded to include awareness campaigns on child rights, safeguarding, and protection against abuse, bullying, and exploitation. Complaint and response mechanisms are integrated, allowing children to safely report concerns.
These adaptations make the model more inclusive, practical, and responsive to children’s needs. By continuously refining the approach based on feedback from children, teachers, and communities, the innovation remains dynamic, effective, and scalable, empowering more children to actively participate and lead positive change in their schools and communities.
If you want to try the Child-Led Child Club Mobilization innovation, the first step is to understand its core principles: child participation, leadership, and safeguarding. Start by identifying a group of children aged 6–18 who are interested in forming a child club in your school or community. Ensure that the environment is safe, inclusive, and supportive, allowing every child to express their ideas freely.
Next, organize an orientation session for both children and facilitators. Introduce children to the concepts of leadership, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and advocacy. Facilitators, such as teachers or community volunteers, should learn how to guide children without taking control of decision-making.
Provide children with child-friendly manuals and activity guides to plan and implement their club initiatives. Encourage them to organize activities, awareness campaigns, or community projects while practicing leadership and responsibility. Introduce complaint and response mechanisms so that children can safely report any concerns regarding abuse, bullying, or exploitation.
Regularly monitor and support the club’s activities, while collecting feedback from children to refine the approach. By following these steps, you can create a dynamic, child-led environment that empowers children to actively participate, develop essential life skills, and lead positive change in their schools and communities.
