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| One of our classes |
What
We’re Up To
First
of all, we would like to thank all of you for your generosity, concern and well
wishes in the aftermath of the terrible earthquake that struck Nepal last
month. The aftershocks are continuing and there’s more work to be done, but
we’re so grateful that our supporters came through for the country and people
we love with donations and messages of hope.
Fortunately
for our staff and women’s groups, WELNepal is headquartered in Chitwan — a
lowland area largely unaffected by the quake and subsequent tremors. A lot of
our people have friends and families who lost livestock and homes and we’re
continuing to reach out for support on behalf of those who are suffering. That
said, we also know how important it is to continue spreading literacy and
independence in our project area and that’s just what we’re doing.
Here’s
a little rundown of what we’ve been up to lately.
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| From left to right: Santos, Sita and Man Bahadur |
Madi,
previously inaccessible during monsoon season, now has a bridge connecting it
to the rest of Nepal. Hydro polls are also being constructed so the district
can finally receive electricity. Madi is
joining the 21st century and we want the women to be ready. Of course adding roads may take a little
longer, but progress is progress and we’re thrilled.
This
year, 10 groups will be involved in our six-month Advanced Literacy class and
we have started eight new eight-month Basic Literacy classes. Sadly, we had to
turn down many more groups due to budgetary restrictions. It is very difficult to have to tell women
that they will have to stay illiterate and alone until next year, when we hope
to collect enough funds for them to learn to read and write in their language
for the first time in their lives.
Continuing Education
Classes
Our
weekly “book club” project is gaining popularity. This year, we are funding 11
groups from the 16 groups of women that completed our two-year literacy course
last year. There were also nine other
groups of women who completed a government literacy course who asked to take
part. Continuing Education involves women meeting once a week to read pertinent
articles and discuss them. Can you
imagine the discussion taking place when the women read a story and learn about
women like Malala Yousafzai?
WELNepal’s Bursary
Program
WELNepal
continues to financially support young women who are gifted scholars but come
from families that are either too poor to fund their higher education or believe
that a girl’s place is not in school. This year, WELNepal is helping 26 students
stay in school and out of unwanted arranged marriages.
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| Bursary students Laxmi, Anita and Kabita |
Income Generating
Programs
All
of our women’s groups want to make money. Money buys freedom and that is what
the women want. We know that women use
the money to better the lives of their children because studies show that women
spend close to 90 per cent of their money on their families.
Our
pesticide/insecticide-free farming project is a great success. Out of the 12 groups we funded to grow and
sell their produce, eight are flourishing. Some of the women’s groups are
renting bigger plots of land to grow and sell their produce and some groups are
finding new ways of marketing their vegetables.
One group even loaned out their profit at interest. That’s the
entrepreneurial spirit! Our women’s groups are also making, growing and selling
candles, soaps and mushrooms. We’re also pleased to report that the women
involved in our sewing machine project, generously supported by WELNepal’s good
friend L.M. Clark Customs Broker Ltd, are doing well.
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| Insecticide/pesticide-free farming group from Kathar |
As
important as making money is, what’s most amazing is how these women are
working together, making plans, setting rules and sticking to them. The seeds
of organization are well planted along with their carrots and onions. Sadly,
WELNepal does not yet have the financial resources to help the growing number
of women who desperately need and want our help. Every year, we have to tell
more women to wait another year for literacy and income-generating training.
With a little bit of help from everyone, we might be able to expand our programs
and help all the interested women immediately. To gift the gift of literacy,
please donate. A little goes a long way in Nepal.
