The northwest of Nepal is an extremely disadvantaged region by any criteria. In addition to widespread structural poverty, women in particular suffer from societal traditions that severely restrict their participation in society and their life opportunities, including early (forced) marriage, menstrual exclusion, and lack of education.
The project aims to contribute to reducing the negative impacts of lack of knowledge and education on the life opportunities of women and girls in all areas – from access to (reproductive) health to child and forced marriage and the trafficking of girls and women – by empowering and educating women and girls in the community of Maila (Tanjakot Gaunpalika, Humla district). It seeks to offer the women and girls of the community tools to lead self-determined lives and thereby advance the empowerment of women and girls in the region.
One hundred women will not only learn basic literacy and numeracy skills, but also gain self-confidence and independence. Empowerment workshops for one hundred girls, focusing on women’s and girls’ rights, will expand participants’ knowledge about legal, medical, and social conditions while also strengthening the girls’ self-confidence and improving their educational and life opportunities.
By involving community opinion leaders and representative bodies (parent-teacher associations, school management committees, political representatives, teachers) as well as parents, knowledge and awareness of gender equality will be strengthened within the community, and the societal exclusion mechanisms affecting women and limiting their life opportunities will be addressed.
The women of the community will also be supported through psychosocial health orientations (including self-care, mental health, emotional well-being, self-confidence, and gender equality) and through the formation of women’s groups for mutual support.
In addition, schools in the community will be provided with materials to improve the learning environment – for example, tables, benches, and teaching materials – and the schools’ teachers will receive a training focused on gender-sensitive and inclusive teaching methods. To raise awareness of gender equality within the community, an education officer will work closely with elected representatives and other community leaders.
We would like to the City of Vienna for supporting this project!