Children in Technology: Dawn in The Eastern Plains

As we entered the school, a hum of curiosity echoed off the yellow walls, decorated with lively paintings of red rhododendrons. The young students exchanged eager glances, and their inquisitive eyes followed our every step, silently questioning our presence — perhaps hoping for an unexpected break from their usual routine. Well, it wasn’t an unfamiliar sight to us; once upon a time, we had been on the other side of those curious gazes. Within these walls, amidst these whispers, the journey of Children in Technology began to take shape.

Alongside us, five other teams were on their own parallel journeys, united by a shared quest. However, our journey began long before we gathered a cohort of 5000 students from 70 schools spanning 19 districts covering all 7 states of Nepal. Our initial endeavor kicked off in the Kathmandu Valley.

Kathmandu

We visited 13 government schools in the valley, where we taught students in grades 8, 9, and 10 about how the Internet works and the fundamental concepts of hardware and software. Interacting with the students, we learned that these young minds were fully immersed in the online sphere and social media. Yet, they may not fully appreciate how lucky we are to be born in these exciting times brimming with innovation and endless possibilities. How can they fathom that the ChatGPT they casually interact with is built on ingenious concepts like backpropagation if they aren’t aware of what an algorithm is in the first place? It’s crazy to ponder how someone even came up with these mind-boggling ideas. But to grasp the intricacies, one must first understand the basics. Sadly, the absence of computer science education in the school curriculum has kept this fundamental knowledge in the shadows. Also, it is equally important to instill awareness among young students about the potential dangers lurking behind the tech they use daily.

With a clear purpose in mind, we then set out to different corners of Nepal. Fast forward to our team: Team Koshi and Madhesh Pradesh, we geared up for the eastern escapade. After the exhaustive 18-hour bus ride, we finally arrived in Dharan. The city greeted us with its vibrant clock tower, standing tall against the backdrop of bustling streets and tempting food stalls. Unable to resist the temptation, we dived into some mouth-watering treats (a must-try, trust me!).

Later, we quickly revised our plan for the next day and further split into two teams that would be visiting schools in two different cities. As night draped its cloak, we hit the sack, ready for the adventure awaiting us at dawn.

Biratnagar

Bright and early, 5 a.m. to be precise, Team Biratnagar, yours truly included, sprang into action. Upon arriving at our destination school, a peculiar sight greeted us: rows of bicycles lined up neatly. Who knew these kids had a different mode of travel to school? For someone accustomed to the sight of bustling buses and roaring motorbikes in Kathmandu, this was a refreshing surprise.

Then began the real deal. We kicked off by diving into lessons about the intricate cables of the Internet. From there, we discussed various internet scams and crimes, emphasizing the importance of safety measures while surfing the web. Next, we introduced programming and also delved into the hardware components inside our devices. Lastly, we gave a glimpse into the exciting career opportunities in technology and engineering, encouraging the students to think about what they might build and innovate in the future.

The session lasted about 2.5 hours. Throughout, we made sure to engage them, asking about their current knowledge and building on it, keeping the learning process interactive. We didn't dive deeply into any specific topic, but our goal was to introduce them to the vast field of technology and hopefully inspire them to see the possibilities for their futures in tech.

Now, let’s talk tips and tricks for a smashing session:

Pre-event informal chats to break the ice? Check.

Captivating video lessons in between? Oh, absolutely!

Quizzes and prizes? Bingo!

And guess what steals the show? Bringing in hardware components and projects like our Bluetooth-controlled car—the ultimate attention grabber!

In between this, we had the challenge of balancing the buzzing excitement with moments where we needed to play the ‘quiet police’ and then switch gears to make our young audience feel both comfortable and engaged. Throughout these sessions, we met a diverse spectrum of learners: some who could breeze through an Arduino class, others inquiring about how VPNs worked (especially for sneaky TikTok access), and others who grappled with the absence of internet access at home. Yet, in each interaction, we witnessed a common thread—the spark of curiosity. Of course, there always was that noisy, mischievous bunch at the back, giving us a flashback to the havoc we once probably caused for our own teachers. Nevertheless, joining in their banter and playful exchanges turned out to be rather fun.

Just as we thought we had it all set, our next scheduled school was called off due to a timing issue. Then began the spontaneous search for a new school—time to get lost in the similar-looking alleys of the scorching hot Biratnagar. Luckily, we found a school nearby, swooped in and conducted the session with the eager minds there too.

Inaruwa

From there, we made our way to Itahari and Inaruwa. The children there took charge, cleaning classrooms before our lessons began. Such sincerity, discipline, and simplicity. We stayed an hour extra as the students wanted to learn more about what’s happening in tech these days.

However, in one school in Inaruwa, only half of the total students were present. The other half were absent, toiling away in the fields harvesting rice instead of being in the classrooms where they rightfully belonged. It hit hard to see the kids missing out on school because they had to work. This stark display of economic disparity left us questioning: How can we ease this burden for these children and their families? Who bears the responsibility when carefree childhoods are cut short by circumstances beyond their control?

Janakpur

Passing the Koshi Barrage, we witnessed the vast fields, covered in lush greenery with occasional golden crops swaying gently in the breeze, all under the watchful eyes of the silent scarecrows. The ‘Sayathari Baja Eutai Taal’ song played in the background, matching the rhythm of Terai. This long bus ride to Janakpur gave us enough time to share stories about our own childhoods. Along the way, we also saw dozens of “Asali Budo Baje ko Peda Bhandar”. Quick question: how do you spot the “asali” one among them?

While conducting a session for grade 10 students, little kids from grade 1, wearing colorful tracksuits from their respective houses, gathered around and peered through the window bars to catch a glimpse of our class. The microphone had stopped working, and my friend was delivering the lesson as loudly as he could. As adorable as it was to have the little ones spying on us, we had to take them aside to maintain some much-needed silence inside the classroom.

So, we herded the kids for a spontaneous quiz: “Name an internet provider and win a pen!” Blank stares.

"Alright, find a word around you!” I hinted.

One of them looked at my t-shirt and yelled, “Worldlink!”

After explaining a bit about what an ISP is and available ISPs in Nepal, we happily gave the little body his prize.

It was our final school visit, and as we left the school grounds, we boarded a train from Janakpur to Jainagar, India. Economy class on a train? It’s an adventure on its own! There were squabbles over seats, that hustle-bustle of daily commuters, and the drama with the snack seller trying to outsmart us. And the mad rush to get off at the stop? Phew! At times, we wondered why we even hopped on this train. But hey, we went from babbling and playing with a one-year-old child and returned while listening to the interesting life stories of an 80-year-old elderly amidst all the chaos, and it became a story we won’t forget.

As we concluded the journey, leaving behind smiles, wonder, and, who knows, maybe a future Elon Musk or two in the making, we encountered a classic twist — we couldn’t find our bus back from Janakpur to KTM. Waiting for hours in the streets in the cold night, navigating through buses, encountering a small scuffle, but eventually reaching Kathmandu the next day.

On our way back, the question that lingered wasn’t about circuits or code, but a simple query from young voices: ‘When are you coming back?’ It struck us then that our journey wasn’t just about tech — it was about kindling curiosity and sharing a connection that went beyond technology, a shared excitement for the desire to explore and learn more.

The LOCUS 2024 Children in Technology program was supported by WorldLink Communications. As a part of the program, we introduced children to the workings of the Internet, programming, and various hardware components that power our digital world. We also discussed topics like online abuse, scams, and secure Internet use. The program was conducted in 70 schools spanning 19 districts, covering all 7 provinces of Nepal.