"Before our mothers used to teach us," says Sarishma Shrestha, a teacher from Arughat, Gorkha, "Now I am happy that we are teaching them." Shrestha has been teaching her 52 year old mother Mina in grade five.

At Nabchetana Women's School, there are a total of 66 students, aged from 17 to 73 in grade one to eight, taught by two women teachers. The school was established by women who were too old to attend regular schools, but wanted to study. Many community groups, such as Himali Sector Development Centre's Hope program, Aruchanaute VDC, Janpriya Mothers group, Janshramdan and Kopila Nepal, have given financial support and donated furniture.

Although a good initiative, attendance is still poor at the school because rural women still face the problem of getting to go to school only after finishing their housework. However, this is a start. "Not being able to read a word when going to cities has been the incentive to study," says Santa Kumari Baram, 43. Now, many men in the area are becoming inspired to study as well after seeing the women's progress.