This paper examines how local action to reduce poverty and broader transformational change in the mountainous regions of Nepal has been informed by children's perspectives. In 2000, research was carried out with children to evaluate a local organisation's community development programme. The author revisited researchers, managers and former child club members in 2008 in order to explore how children's participation in rights-based evaluation had translated into outcomes. With conflict and a changing understanding of rights within Nepal forming the backdrop, political and structural dimensions had to be considered to understand the changing lives of boys and girls. Children's perspectives in turn need to inform rights‐based policies and programmes to improve wellbeing and address social injustice. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.