RUPANTARAN

A holistic adolescent and youth empowerment package.

Rupantaran is a holistic adolescent development social and financial skills package; with focus on two age groups (i.e. 10-14 years and 15-19 years) separately, is fully tested with and among adolescents and adults. The package comprising of 15 modules has been designed in partnership and consultation with various UN Agencies such as UNICEF, UNFPA and international and national non-governmental organization and has been endorsed by Nepal Government.

Restless Development Nepal has been working as a hub of Rupantaran by providing capacity building initiatives. In more than 30 districts, Restless Development Nepal has been working to strengthen the capacity of adolescence in collaboration with Department of Women and Children, District Women and Children Office, Ministry of Youth and Sports, UN agencies such as UN Women, UNICEF and UNFPA and other I/NGOs.

I used to believe that menstruation is a sin from the past. Rupantaran sessions truly changed my perception. It made me understand that it is possible to challenge outdated perception and practices such as discrimination during menstruation.

Anita Baniya, Rupantaran Trainer

Rupantaran is one of the major tools of Restless Development Nepal being rolled out in all its programs through the pool of trainers and young leaders.

The Rupantaran package includes six crucial areas which were identified by the National Planning Commission (NPC) as holistic adolescent development and are now included in the National Plan of Action. These areas are life skills, leadership, livelihood, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and micro-enterprise development training.

Key results of the project include stopping child marriages and improving livelihood skills to help women sex workers change careers and protect their health. Restless Development worked as a hub to deliver the Rupantaran training through a pool of master trainers. These trainers then delivered sessions for groups including the Department of Women and Children, UNICEF, Save the Children, Nepal Red Cross Society, and many others.

Rupantaran Training packages have been adopted and are still in use in many local and international organizations.