We talked to over 250 Indigenous Knowledge holders from the Tharu and Limbu language communities and recorded over 90 Tharu and Limbu stories and songs. We held meetings with communities and teachers. We listened and learnt. ”I now understand that other languages are also good and we can share with them. These differences are beautiful. ” Said a teacher from a primary school full of Tharu children. Others said, “I learned that education is never neutral and learned about the culture of oppression and how to identify it.
We also learnt that many traditional songs are difficult for adults to fully understand and as a result we are in the process of selecting Tharu and Limbu materials that are suitable for children. We are encouraged by the Tharu community has formed a Multilingual Education Concern Group to lunch Multilingual Education in nine primary schools and need the materials that we are producing.