STEPPING WITH HOPE: VISITING UCEP NEPAL SANOTHIMI

23 Jun, 2025

On 18^th of June, 2025 I visited Sanothimi as part of an educational delegation, eager to explore how UCEP blends vocational training with social support. Once marginalized children, youth, and woman, clutching dreams bigger than their station, step into state of the art workshops. UCEP Nepal focuses on providing technical and vocational education and training to underprivileged children and youth. They also run child rights and child protection programs and engage in advocacy and networking for child rights.

During our visit from Samriddhi College, one of the best bachelor college in Bhaktapur, we explored workshops offering training in fields like plumbing, electronics, auto mechanics, excavation operation, mobile repair, tailoring, and more. These short-term CTEVT affiliated courses ranging from 3 month to 1 year combine theory with intensive practical work. UCEP’s model is holistic combining education, vocational training, protection, under one roof. Affiliation with CTEVT ensures nationally recognized certifications, while partnerships with organizations like GIZ and Jaquar enhance facilities and curriculum. The 80% job placement rate and countless success stories reflect UCEP’s practical effectiveness.

BAL SUDHAR GRIHA: CORRECTIONAL HOME UCEP

UCEP Nepal is also entrusted by the government to take physical custody of delinquent teenagers below the age of sixteen who are in conflict with law. The correctional home offers a holistic rehabilitative environment through education, counselling, personality building activities, vocational training, moral guidance, and family reintegration support. UCEP‑Nepal collaborates with the Ministry of Women, Children & Senior Citizens, the Department of Prison Management, and the Central Child Justice Secretariat to improve and expand facilities. A key goal is to ensure child-centered, rights-based rehabilitation in line with national and international standards. Samriddhi BA Psychology and BSW major team limited the participated in interaction with psychologist and social workers of Bal Sudhar Griha as physical visit inside was restricted due to security and confidentiality reasons.

My visit to Sanothimi confirmed that vocational training is more than a skill; it is a beacon of hope. When youth are given tools, mentorship, and equitable opportunity, they build reputations more durable than bricks or steel, they build dignity and dreams. UCEP Nepal Sanothimi is a story of regeneration where every hand that hammers, welds, or tightens a bolt reshapes their future, and in turn, reshapes the future of Nepal.

The interaction program with social workers, psychologist, and the administration has broaden my mind in the wide scope of Social work and Psychology as well. The thing we encoded to our mind inside classroom was visible; the work ethics, practices of varieties of tools, counseling, psychological disorders and many more, which has stroked my mind regarding my career in this field. I, personally, was very positive about my future in the sector of welfare of human. I would like to thank Samriddhi College, one of the best college in Bhaktapur for IT, management, Social work, and Psychology. Our college has been running Bachelor Degree with finest teaching faculties. I am grateful for such exposure in Social Work (BSW) and Psychology (BA Psychology). Our college believe in practical exposure which has let it become one of the top and best college in Kathmandu as well.

Monica Dahal

 BASW 2^nd year 2025