With government systems over-burdened and slow to change, ActionAid developed non-formal education centres in the poorest communities. Our involvement can range from developing basic infrastructure and training local people to providing materials and adapting existing curricula.

To avoid working in parallel to the formal education system, we developed Access, an approach that mainstreams the best of non-formal education into the formal system.

How do we work?

We either seek to get government recognition for existing centres by converting them into feeder schools or collaborate with governments to create an education system that is flexible and responsive to local needs. These might include: child-centred learning methods, greater parental involvement and flexible calendars.

Access gives poor children, especially girls in the poorest or most remote communities, access to education. Also known as shepherd schools in some contexts, they are managed by local people and subjects are taught in a way that is relevant to local needs. They adjust their calendar to the agricultural seasons and their daily timetables to fit around children's household and farming duties.

Vocational training

We also work with young people to help them gain the skills they need to earn a living.

Examples include: life-skills, tailoring, handicrafts, veterinary care, dairy management, goat rearing, bakery, mechanics, typing and computing courses, and vegetable growing. These activities are sometimes targeted at specific groups, such as women, young people with disabilities or farmers.

The training is often linked to savings and credit programmes, giving members access to affordable loans to buy the tools they need to earn a living, such as a sewing machine.

A sense of purpose

Some education programmes for young people go beyond vocational education or training, and include:

• support for cultural activities such as drama, sports, films, and debating
• organising youth fairs or competitions run by young people for local children
• educational tours for boys and girls to nearby towns and new places

These programmes give young people a greater sense of purpose and a positive environment that emphasises democratic norms and tolerance. In some cases this youth education work takes place at special youth camps in rural areas where young people can come together for a few days or weeks to find space and time to change their lives.