TAKING A BREAK FROM A GIRLS EMPOWERMENT FOCUS GROUP
2018 YEAR END OVERVIEW.
After kicking off our program in March of 2018 we have seen big improvements in many areas, not only with the girls on our project, but also the perception and treatment of women and girls in the areas in which we work as a whole.
The first program of its kind in this district was faced with not insignificant challenges in the early stages when dealing with deep routed beliefs and practices that are aimed at or inadvertently contribute to the suppression and abuse of women both young and old.
Gaining much needed support from district officials, police and community elders and demonstrating the essential need for the work we are doing, along with showing the villagers and families the fiscal benefit of a healthy educated female community we have established a network truly devoted to empowering and increasing the life opportunities of the female population of the area.
Coming from some often very tragic personal situations with no support network or platform to ask for help these girls lacking in confidence, unable to speak up in general, talk to men or discuss their personal issues regarding female hygiene and domestic violence are now taking on government officials in TV interviews, writing articles for National Media about girls rights and taking what they have learned out in to very remote areas of Nepal to share their knowledge and passion with other girls. In November alone the girls reached out and met with over 350 individuals in these areas.
Thanks to your support the program is off to a very strong start, within budget and on track. We are delighted with the results from just 9 months of 2018 and are very much looking forward to the progress we can make in the years ahead.
Wishing you all the very best for 2019!