In rural areas of Nepal, there are several adolescent and sexual reproductive health (ASRH) problems especially related with the adolescent girls i.e. lack of effective menstrual hygiene practices, gender sensitive sanitation facilities, respective education as well as pain relief, social stigma of menstruation, early marriage, early pregnancy, unsafe abortion, sexual abuse etc. Due to the unsecure and unsafe school environment, irregularity in school attendance of adolescent girls is highly prevailed. ASRH education is not promoted at school and even there is no friendly environment between teachers and students to discuss ASRH issues.

Like other remote districts, such situation is prevailed in Khotang district. Adolescent girls still use cloth pieces during periods and this is due to lack of menstrual hygiene awareness. Teenage girls, even women have no knowledge regarding the menstrual process and reproductive hygiene as well.

The project area is Rawabesi Rural Municipality lying in south east part of the district. It is multi-ethnic – local population comprises Rai, Tamang, Brahmin, Chhetri, Dalit and other minorities. The local inhabitants are much marginalized from development aspects like accessibility of safe drinking water, sanitaiton and hygiene facilities. The programme targets 2564 school children (1317 boys and 1247 girls) of 10 schools especially focusing on 1659 (64.70%) adolescent girls and boys.

This work has continued with a similar focus in Achham District, Far Western Region, since 2021. In total 34 schools, 197 teachers and 5612 young people will be reached with sexual and reproductive health education. 

The two-year project focuses particularly on improving the situation of young sexually mature girls and on health aspects such as menstrual hygiene. The menstrual cycle is still very much a taboo in the remote mountain regions. Presenting these connections and eliminating the tradition of menstrual exile for women (called Chhaupadhi), which is widespread in society, are focal points of the educational work. In order to prevent this exclusion, retreats for girls and sanitary facilities are built in the schools, which are financed by the local government.

All costs for education and training measures within the framework of these projects are borne by the Salzburg provincial government.