Milky Way School is an alternative learning program for children of carpet factory workers and other poor families in the Arubari section of Kathmandu, Nepal. Milky Way School was opened in 2008 by Naresh Dangol, with support from Global Alternative Learning Alliance, to give the children of carpet factory workers and of other poor families in Arubari the opportunity to go to school.

Many of the children who live in Arubari do not attend school because the cost of books, supplies, and uniforms required by the government schools are prohibitively expensive for many of the area’s families. Child labor is also a big problem in Arubari. Many children, even at the age of five or six, work with their parents instead of going to school.

All students and their families are seen and treated as part of the larger Milky Way School family. Once a month, all the student’s families are invited to the school for discussions on parenting and also to figure out how to solve their problems, especially those that impact the children. The school’s staff also reaches out to a student’s parents whenever a situation arises that affects the ability of the child to attend school. For example, the Milky Way School’s staff has helped children and their families get medical care and have also helped homeless families find a place to live.

Milky Way School’s program aims to create a joyful, safe, and healthy environment where the children can learn and develop confidence and positive self-esteem. The school has four classrooms for 60 children from nursery school to second grade, and a small playground. Regular school activities include music, dancing, and art, in addition to instruction in reading, writing, science, English, and math. The school provides for all the children’s school needs as well as daily lunch. Teachers at Milky Way School offer encouragement and rewards, communicate with children in a warm manner, and respond to their needs. Teacher training at the school emphasizes the use of developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate teaching approaches.

In the future Milky Way School will add one grade each year so it can accommodate more children and continue to educate its current students. This is especially important since, for financial reasons, many of the school’s students would not be able to attend other schools after leaving Milky Way School.

Milky Way School is committed to making the opportunity of going to school a reality for all the children of Arubari.