Help 100 women suffering from violence in Nepal

KOSHISH has been continuously providing psychosocial support and care to women and girls with mental health condition and psychosocial disability (MHPSD). As the COVID-19 pandemic still has impact so the beneficiaries are first accommodate in quarantine house of KOSHISH and then to the main transit home for further support. During rescue some of the beneficiaries are tested COVID-19 positive as well. They are provided with extra nutritional diet and care for quick recovery. KOSHISH was able to provide psychosocial support and specialized care to the beneficiaries through the generous support raised via The GlobalGiving. More women require specialized care and it would only be possible with more helping hands.

In three month time period, with the help of this campaign, KOSHISH has been able to provide specialized care to 18 women and girls who experienced violence and developed MHPSD. Among them, 7 have been reintegrated into their own family while 11 are under treatment. Those who have been reintegrated are in continuous follow up by outreach team. During follow up it was found that all the beneficiaries are involved in the household activities and taking their medication regularly which has helped in their recovery.

Success Story

 I am hopeful about my future

33 years-old Rama Danuwar (pseudonym) from Panchkhal who was once contempt by her husband and the society is now self-empowered and independent. She grew up with her single mother as her father died in her childhood. Her mother raised her with much love and care. She had a happy married life but after experiencing mental health problems, her husband abused her and left her. Her mother was unaware of her problems and tried to take her to traditional healers but her problems increased.

KOSHISH knew about her from the community-based organization and rescued her for residential psycho-social support. She was provided with therapeutic care and psychiatric consultation at the transit home of KOSHISH. After recovery, she was reintegrated into her mother’s house. Her mother took good care of her. The outreach workers of KOSHISH continued to follow-up and home-visits.

During a recent home visit, it was seen that her condition was improving and she was on regular medication as well. These days, she is actively involved in agriculture as well as household works. She grows vegetables like cauliflower and potato, from where she has already saved NPR 60,000. She says, “I can save more than 50,000 to 60,000 by growing crops and vegetables in a season.” From success in agriculture, she has been planning to take more lands in the lease to grow more vegetables. She has become a perfect example for people who think that mental health issues cannot be cured.

“KOSHISH’s staffs have changed our life. The follow-ups from the staff have not only helped us but also changed the perspective of neighbors towards us. Those neighbors, who treated us in the wrong way before, now include us in all major decisions in the community. ” her mother shared.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many challenges that have serious implications in many domains of health and well-being. This has created a barrier for women with mental health and psychosocial issues (MHPSI) and made them more vulnerable as they are being deprived of the immediate psychosocial support that they needed. KOSHISH has continued its services even during the pandemic situation. The new beneficiaries who are rescued are at first accommodating in the holding center of KOSHISH for 14 days under observation and shifted to the main transit care service center after confirmation of the COVID-19 negative test.

In three months period, with the help of this campaign, KOSHISH has been able to provide specialized care to 25 women and girls who experienced violence and developed MHPSI. Among them, 16 have been reintegrated into their own family while 9 are under treatment. All of the reintegrated beneficiaries are in a continuous phone follow-up by the outreach team. During phone follow up it was found that all the beneficiaries are involved in the household activities and taking their medication regularly which has helped in their recovery. Also, it was found that 4 of them are engaged in income-generating activities.

KOSHISH was able to provide psychosocial support and specialized care to them through the generous support raised via The GlobalGiving. More women require specialized care and it would only be possible with more helping hands.

Success Story

Paradigm shift

Garima (pseudonym) – 33 years old from Kavre, is leading a sustainable life today. The situation was not the same some time back. After she gave birth to a girl, she was mistreated by her husband and in-laws. Her husband married another woman and started abusing her which affected her mental health condition. She lost her mother in childhood and her sister-in-law was not much positive about her.

Garima was left behind by her family, including her husband, who was unsupportive and showed discriminative behavior. Due to the violence, rejection from her husband and parental family, she mental health conditions got worst.

She received short-term residential psychosocial support in the transit home service center of KOSHISH. Her aunt stepped forward and took the initiative to reintegrate her back at her place when no one from her husband’s family or her own family was ready to accept her. Due to her aunt’s positive behavior, her mental health condition is improving.

As a part of a regular home visit by the outreach team of KOSHISH, the team found that she had now started to be self-reliant. She started goat farming and started earning, sustaining her daily life, and managing her treatment cost.

Garima shared, "I have gone through different stages in my life; from hatred, abuse to violence. But after getting support from my aunt and KOSHISH, I feel like I can have better life than the earlier one. The only thing is I have to work hard and live my life happily."

"I was mesmerized by the change I saw in her. I am glad to see her changes, and I am hopeful for the betterment of her future. -Her Aunt ”