Transforming a Community through Legal Education
Educating Dalit Lawyers (EDL) is a program designed to empower 31 exceptional Dalit youth with full scholarships for a five-year BALLB program at various colleges under Tribhuvan University.
This comprehensive scholarship covers all essential expenses, including admission fees, tuition, a monthly stipend, a laptop, health insurance, and personalized mentorship for each student.
The ultimate goal is to prepare competent human rights lawyers from the Dalit community
EDL IS A LIFE CHANGING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH IN NEPAL’S DALIT COMMUNITY
- Despite making up 13.4% of the population, Dalits are significantly underrepresented in the legal profession, with less than 1% of lawyers are from Dalit community. In the past 75 years, the judiciary has seen only a handful of Dalit judges, highlighting systemic barriers that hinder access to law school and the legal system.
- This program is implemented by the Dignity Initiative in partnership with the Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF). NYF has over three decade of long-standing commitment to supporting children and youth in Nepal through initiatives focused on education, health, shelter, freedom, and emergency relief during times of critical need.
- This initiative aims to rectify the imbalance in legal representation and underscores our belief that “representation matters.” By fostering legal professionals from the Dalit community, we ensure that all voices are heard and reflected in the justice system.
How were students selected?
The program selected students through a rigorous assessment process, culminating in-person interviews held across the country, previous academic performance and socio-economic status. Those who succeed in the entrance exams were granted full scholarships to pursue their legal education. After the preliminary selection, the students were trained for competitive entrance exam preparation.
Ensuring inclusion
Among the 31 law students, 16 are male and 15 are female, representing diverse castes from all provinces. Currently, 10 students are studying at the Prithvi Narayan Campus in Pokhara, while the remaining 21 are at the Nepal Law Campus and National Law Colleges in Kathmandu.
What can students expect to take out of the program?
- Recognizing that many of these students are first-generation college attendees, the program provides dedicated mentors to help bridge the knowledge gap. Students will not only earn their law degrees but will also learn about the structural and systematic caste system, biases, cross-cultural competency, and the impact of casteism.
- Students will learn the law at the university; the program will teach them how caste, society, and the state interact to perpetuate caste and social exclusion. Beyond academics, the program equips students with crucial knowledge and skills through leadership development, discussions, and mentorship.
