By Roshani Thapa | Philanthropy Manager
Natural Disaster has always brought difficult times to the community and it has always left women vulnerable to gender based violence, but however this type of violence is also linked to cultural stereotype and lack of knowledge as well. This was exactly the situation of women in Dharmasthali. They were far behind the knowledge of women issues and women rights.
On July 2015 women gather in Dharmasthali to learn more about relief, services and about women's rights. Converting this gather into opportunity our Shadow Barefoot Volunteers working at Dharmasthali encouraged to form women's group, therefore "Srijansheel Mahila Samaj" is one being out of many other women's group formed during our volunteers work. Initially they formed a saving group and with the support from our volunteers the organization completed all the processes for its legal registration. The organization is at Milanbasti, Dharmasthali which is a new residential area where people have migrated from Nuwakot, Dhading and Sindhuli Districts. The majority of women in this area are home makers. The organization is working for the community women and conduct programs on women empowerment. Their first grant was awarded by Tewa in 2016/17 for economic empowerment and leadership development.
Sushma, President of Srijansheel Mahila Samaj- is a very hard working woman who has proved that if one has zeal to work for the community, challenges are not bars. In a short period of time, she has established the organization as an outstanding model working for skill development and income generating programs for durable development of women. Her concept of soap making by women have created job employment for the community women and these women now can enjoy the rights of the resources earned by their hard work. She also gives the knowledge regarding the rights and current issues of women through feminist lens. With the support from the organizational team she has strengthen her network with local government bodies, community organizations and women's group. Along with the empowerment of women Sushma has always dreamed to do something related with waste materials, hence her passion drove her to introduce the concept of "Waste Management." With the several meetings with municipality she has now started collecting the garbage of the community from which the team now is making fertilizers for their own consumptions.
She says that "although the earthquake 2015 was a dark day for us Nepalis but it also brought hopes in the lives of Nepali women to do something better for the community". She again adds, "Although women’s social, economic and political position in society makes us more vulnerable to natural hazards, we are not helpless victims. Women are important agents for change and need to be further strengthened as such". Furthermore, from the earthquake 2015 we learned that self-reliant is the most important key factor for success. Therefore, now Srijansheel Mahila Samaj knows the essence of self reliant and hence the organization is doing small level of local fundraising following the Tewa's model. Apart from the organization's members Sushma encouraged the community women to collect the metal waste from their neighborhood for which those women are getting paid and organization itself is selling it and generating funds.
By Roshani Thapa | Philanthropy Manager
By Roshani Thapa | Philanthropy Manager
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