In Nepal, nearly one third of girls aged 15 to 19 are married, and about 22 per cent are involved in child labour. After COVID-19 began to spread, rates of child marriage, gender-based violence and child labour in Nepal have increased, as did severe mental and psychosocial health issues among children.  

In this episode, Rabindra Gautam, Child Rights Governance and Child Protection Adviser at Save the Children Nepal-Bhutan, highlights the innovations and adaptations his office made to reach children during an increasingly difficult time. To address the elevating protection risks – and the compounding challenges of engaging with children directly – the country office leveraged digital platforms, including social media, to ensure children had a space for their voices to be heard, especially when it mattered most. Gautam also highlights the way technology was used to amplify children’s experiences, and bring their recommendations to policymakers, practitioners, and decision-makers across the country.