NEPAL – WOMAN TO WOMAN SUCCESS – VILLAGE WOMEN EMERGING FROM POVERTY TO BETTER SKILLS & PAY, SOCIAL PROGRESS & STATUS
by Prativa Subedi, founding President of Women Awareness Centre Nepal. Women Awareness Center Nepal (WACN) is a social and
economic justice non-profit organization entirely run by women which promotes
social and economic empowerment, development opportunities and equality for
Nepali women since 1991.
economic justice non-profit organization entirely run by women which promotes
social and economic empowerment, development opportunities and equality for
Nepali women since 1991.
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Photo of Nepal Village Women Agriculture Training
WACN works for the elimination of all forms of
discrimination, and violence through action programs designed to eliminate the
roots of these issues, mainly poverty and women’s lack of social, economic and
political status. WACN works with villagers to implements its programs, which
are tailored to the specific needs of each community. WACN advocates for equal
rights, as equal pay, and works in stopping migration from villages to cities
or abroad to search jobs. Specifically, WACN helps rural women to start
community development activities together with savings and credit schemes
agriculture, advocacy, and health. Many parents and children are making their
livelihood working in the brick factories in Bhaktapur. They migrate to the
brick factories to earn money. Therefore, WACN wants to promote livelihood by
freeing them from exploiting labor. Furthermore, the children will drop out
from school to go to brick factories.
discrimination, and violence through action programs designed to eliminate the
roots of these issues, mainly poverty and women’s lack of social, economic and
political status. WACN works with villagers to implements its programs, which
are tailored to the specific needs of each community. WACN advocates for equal
rights, as equal pay, and works in stopping migration from villages to cities
or abroad to search jobs. Specifically, WACN helps rural women to start
community development activities together with savings and credit schemes
agriculture, advocacy, and health. Many parents and children are making their
livelihood working in the brick factories in Bhaktapur. They migrate to the
brick factories to earn money. Therefore, WACN wants to promote livelihood by
freeing them from exploiting labor. Furthermore, the children will drop out
from school to go to brick factories.
Gamala Tamang Story: Nepal Woman Moving Towards Self-Reliance
Gamala Tamang is a permanent resident of Pipaldada, Panchkal
municipality of Kavre district. Gamala is 30 years old. She has a 13 years old
son, Abhishek Tamang. Gamala has been working in brick factory since she was 12
years old. When she was young, she used to go to the brick factory with her
parents. Now she and her husband also go to work at the brick factory. Gamal
said that it was very hard to sustain their living only on the wages they
received from their work at the brick factory. Even during her pregnancy, she
worked at the brick factory due to financial crisis in the family. She even
gave birth to her son in the brick factory itself. Life is very hard for her.
She has to work in the brick factory from 2 am until 7 pm and sometimes until
10 pm. She has no alternative sources of income other than going to the brick
factory. She did subsistence farming when she used to be back to her village
for six months. But there is scarcity of water in the village where she lives.
She has to walk for an hour to fetch water. Due to scarcity of water, she could
not depend on her own farm produce and had to buy vegetables from the market.
municipality of Kavre district. Gamala is 30 years old. She has a 13 years old
son, Abhishek Tamang. Gamala has been working in brick factory since she was 12
years old. When she was young, she used to go to the brick factory with her
parents. Now she and her husband also go to work at the brick factory. Gamal
said that it was very hard to sustain their living only on the wages they
received from their work at the brick factory. Even during her pregnancy, she
worked at the brick factory due to financial crisis in the family. She even
gave birth to her son in the brick factory itself. Life is very hard for her.
She has to work in the brick factory from 2 am until 7 pm and sometimes until
10 pm. She has no alternative sources of income other than going to the brick
factory. She did subsistence farming when she used to be back to her village
for six months. But there is scarcity of water in the village where she lives.
She has to walk for an hour to fetch water. Due to scarcity of water, she could
not depend on her own farm produce and had to buy vegetables from the market.
Gamala got the opportunity to participate in Farmers Field School
Program organized by Women Awareness Centre Nepal (WACN) in collaboration with
World Education International. The training helped her to gain knowledge and
skills on different farming techniques. She felt that the life has become
easier than before after participating in the training. Now her farming and
marketing skills have been enhanced. She has also opened a small vegetable
stall on the road side where she sells her vegetables. She also collects
vegetables from her sister and neighbors and sells them. From selling
vegetables, she earned NRs. 70,000 in 3 months. WACN supported Gamala’s family
in making plastic ponds for rain water collection, which helped her in
irrigation.
Program organized by Women Awareness Centre Nepal (WACN) in collaboration with
World Education International. The training helped her to gain knowledge and
skills on different farming techniques. She felt that the life has become
easier than before after participating in the training. Now her farming and
marketing skills have been enhanced. She has also opened a small vegetable
stall on the road side where she sells her vegetables. She also collects
vegetables from her sister and neighbors and sells them. From selling
vegetables, she earned NRs. 70,000 in 3 months. WACN supported Gamala’s family
in making plastic ponds for rain water collection, which helped her in
irrigation.
At present, Gamala not only collects the rain water but also the waste
water from washing dishes and laundry. Gamala also makes organic natural
fertilizers made of animal manure, and plants. Participants who have
participated in IPM training have formed a women’s group. She said that the
training has changed her life and she is now a lead farmer after attending 20
trainings on agriculture. She has now become financially independent. She also
said that after paying all her debt she will stop going to the brick factory.
Before participating in WACN’s activities, she used to take her son to the
brick factory. Her son had to leave his studies for 6 months. Now that
she is economically independent, her son can go to school instead of working in
the brick factory.
water from washing dishes and laundry. Gamala also makes organic natural
fertilizers made of animal manure, and plants. Participants who have
participated in IPM training have formed a women’s group. She said that the
training has changed her life and she is now a lead farmer after attending 20
trainings on agriculture. She has now become financially independent. She also
said that after paying all her debt she will stop going to the brick factory.
Before participating in WACN’s activities, she used to take her son to the
brick factory. Her son had to leave his studies for 6 months. Now that
she is economically independent, her son can go to school instead of working in
the brick factory.
Gamala was also victim of the
devastating earthquake of April 25, 2015. Her house totally collapsed during
the earthquake. WACN supported her by providing her zinc sheet.
devastating earthquake of April 25, 2015. Her house totally collapsed during
the earthquake. WACN supported her by providing her zinc sheet.
