Justice and Human Rights Nepal Project #61494

She Belongs: A Daughter's Right to Be Family

by Console Mission

Project Report | Mar 3, 2025
Progress of Console Mission's Project in Nepal

By Sony Shah | Immediate Chairperson

Getting married in her teenage years was not her c

Progress of Console Mission's Project in Nepal

Console Mission: An Independent NGO

Project Title: A Home for Teenage Girls Forced into Marriage

This project requires its own building for two key reasons:

Cultural Defiance: Teenage girls forced into marriage face a critical decision if they choose to reject it, as it means defying their cultural norms. They need help and a place to live because they often have to leave their homes. They cannot stay with relatives or friends.
Cost and Availability: Renting a house is costly and difficult to find.

Therefore, the budget for the project was set at $51,000. However, only 0.23% of this amount has been collected. The project has been open for funding for a year.

Project Implementation

The implementation of this project was based on the identified need. Console Mission had previously operated a type of hostel for girls. There were nine girls who completed their studies, primarily three of them. For the others, we managed appropriate placements at the conclusion of the test project, which was called Self Managed Home.

Main Issue: Gender Equality

Girls are vulnerable not only during their teenage years but even before birth. Many are raped by their fathers. To manage this situation, if the father is a drunkard, the mother often motivates or shows the way for their daughter to leave (based on the study of Console Mission from 2010 to 2024 in rural communities of Nepal). When these girls were with Console Mission at Self Managed Home, they were unsure of their future. There were many times during festivals when they preferred not to go home because they found a homely and loving environment living with their friends at Self Managed Home.

It is called Self Managed Home because Console Mission wanted the girls to become independent individuals. If we operated a hostel, Console Mission, based on the law of Nepal, could not keep them after they reached eighteen. Console Mission found that teenagers, after reaching adulthood, often leave the place where they have been living for a long time and, lacking knowledge to deal with the outside world, face problems. Therefore, at Self Managed Home, the beneficiaries are the ones who must run the home by managing everything together, following a routine that includes cleaning, shopping for food, cooking, and adhering to their personal timetables.

Challenges and Solutions

There were times when some girls from rural areas, studying in urban settings related to Console Mission's project called Our Study Place (a community learning center), did not perform well in their first year of college. They wanted to stop studying. They were then invited to stay at Self Managed Home for a month, during which they learned to manage their time and acquired proper life skills.

Future Plans

Through this project, Console Mission plans to establish a place in an urban area where children from rural regions, mainly girls facing financial issues, can be supported. This includes those who come to the main city of Nepal, Lalitpur Metropolitan City, where Console Mission's office is located. Console Mission aims to support these outsiders, whether they come alone or in groups, and are staying in rented rooms or with relatives or people from their own area.

Addressing Urban Challenges

Upon entering the city, they are often attracted to materialistic pursuits and spend their time looking for jobs instead of focusing on studies. Additionally, parents are often unwilling to send money regularly. Finding a suitable place to stay is not easy for them. Therefore, it is necessary for someone to monitor and guide them beyond the institutions where they study. Many schools and colleges do not care about their personal lives or their attendance.

Conclusion

Through this project, Console Mission aims to convey the idea that responsible stakeholders must understand the importance of properly monitoring and guiding teenagers. Console Mission served as a local guardian for children residing at Self Managed Home. With the support of scholarships from relevant organizations, a place to stay, assistance in managing time, and fostering relationships with their institutes, the children thrived. There were undoubtedly times when they were unwilling and considered abandoning their studies. However, the presence of Console Mission ensured they remained on their planned path.

The fund is not utilized, but Console Mission is consulting the rural areas of Lalitpur district. There are three rural municipalities, and Console Mission has shared ideas with both, such as investing in private colleges to start residential facilities in rural areas. This would provide space for children in rural areas to continue their studies without having to move to areas. However, the reality is that teenagers and young adults from around the country enter Lalitpur Metropolitan City for educational purposes, and this trend will not cease. Therefore, it is essential that the main stakeholders, including the Education and Home Ministries and the Finance Ministry, consider this issue and develop a sound plan. Investing in education benefits the country. Securing $51,000 is no small feat; is the minimum amount planned by Console Mission. Console Mission believes that if the plan is implemented, it will positively impact the development of young people. Consequently there will be no need for hostel-residing youngsters to resort to suicide or selling themselves to cover living expenses.

Links:

A girl reads a story about a resilient mother

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Nov 4, 2024
Project Progress Report

By Rajin Maharjan | Program Executive

Living with SMH has presented many opportunities.

A home should be free from fear and doubt. However, in societies burdened by cultural pressures, girls often live with the looming fear of being forced out due to societal expectations, especially after reaching puberty. The financial strain on parents becomes apparent after their children complete grade 10, with the costs of education deemed wasteful for daughters who are expected to marry and leave. Education is crucial for empowerment, and Console Mission (CoMi) emphasizes this, but the push towards marriage perpetuates a cycle of illiteracy. The expenses of higher education post-grade 10 or 12, including rent, travel, and tuition, add to the burden, especially when daughters also contribute to household and agricultural work. Government support covers education until grade 12, but the sudden financial demands thereafter can be overwhelming.

From 2019 to mid-2023, CoMi's Self-Managed Home (SMH) project provided rural girls with a place to continue their studies. Some initially struggled with the costs of hostels or the distractions of living with relatives. SMH supported 9-12 girls directly, creating an environment conducive to learning. This initiative, along with community engagement, has highlighted the value of education in rural areas of Lalitpur district, Bagmati Rural Municipality (BRM), and Konjyosom Rural Municipality (KRM).

In the area, various initiatives are underway to ensure that children continue their education, such as providing access to quality learning materials, improving school infrastructure, and offering support programs for students and teachers.

We are creating a learning environment within the village community, named Our Study Place (OSP), a community learning center currently operating in two villages. Here, children have the opportunity to study together for two hours daily, either in peer groups or through self-study.
We advocate for the needs of the children, such as arranging transportation for those who walk more than an hour to school, which consumes much of their time.
Additionally, we assist teachers in fostering communication between parents and children who have ceased attending school.

Achievements:

A scholarship fund was initiated by a ward of KRM, as conveyed by the chairperson. Additionally, since 2019, BRM has been providing a scholarship fund for children, offering larger amounts to technical students (3-year course) and essential amounts to those joining higher secondary education (i.e., grades 11 and 12).
CoMi is focusing on three rural municipalities: KRM, BRM, and Mahankal Rural Municipality (MRM), which encompass a total of 18 wards. The chairpersons of these wards engaged in a program on June 11, 2023, where they discussed the successes and the link between the community learning center OSP, scholarships, and SMH. Out of the 18 wards, 15 expressed interest and were welcoming.
Currently, there are two community learning centers serving a total of 48 students. The management of this center involves four types of human resources: project coordinator, project assistant, caretaker, and volunteer.

Self-Managed Home (SMH):

From 2019 to mid-2023, SMH operated in a rented apartment featuring four rooms, each with an attached toilet and bathroom. One room served as the office for CoMi, another was designated for Skill Tailoring Training, and the largest room, which included the training area (active two days a week from 10 am to 3 pm), also functioned as a kitchen for the beneficiaries residing at SMH.
Subsequently, a hiatus was observed to comprehend the significance of SMH. The lack of SMH sidelined many girls who had moved to the town for continuation of their studies. However, due to their parents' inability to afford consistent rent, they were compelled to return to their villages, resulting in the discontinuation of their education. One such girl, aged 17, migrated to become a worker, and another is contemplating a similar move.
In addition to other cases, two girls from the eighth grade dropped out of school to get married. This decision was influenced by the fact that a senior from their village was unable to continue her education and the lack of facilities like SMH. They chose not to waste time and instead fulfill the expectations of their parents and society. Having reached puberty and being deemed capable of reproduction and managing a husband's household, they were married off.
CoMi is currently seeking a flat for rent in a semi-urban area near the rural region where children and students come to study. Recognizing the need, CoMi established partnerships with scholarship providers and local governments, continuously securing scholarships to ensure that students coming to study in urban areas can support their needs throughout their education.

The aim of SMH is to provide a supportive environment for rural students, especially girls, to continue their education. This initiative will be made known to students at the school level to prevent dropouts. It is crucial that all levels of government, the education sector, and the Ministry of Education recognize and address the needs of these students.

(In Photo: A technical student has been accompanied by CoMi since her eighth grade, overcoming obstacles and, with CoMi's support, completed her Diploma in Food and Dairy Technology from CAFODAT. CoMi, serving in a parental role, helped her secure a consulting position with her college's officials. Subsequently, she obtained an internship at the Chaudhary Group's plant. She is holding a box of noodles.)

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Jul 8, 2024
Progress of initiative

By Sarmila Rayamajhi | Founder Member

Seeking a place for her child to continue studies

For Console Mission (CoMi), it is crucial to conduct tests before seeking donations. A four-month testing phase can yield unexpected results, both positive and negative. Initially, an NGO's tasks are influenced by the issues they encounter firsthand. These could be global issues, often reflecting local problems that have worldwide implications. Political issues, for instance, are perennial; after every election, the winning party is often accused of vote manipulation. This phenomenon is not isolated; smooth elections without allegations are rare. Such events reflect the nation's image. Third-world countries continue to grapple with social challenges, which seem unending, necessitating significant change. Acknowledging these facts, and despite the challenges and risks associated with travel in difficult terrains, CoMi initiated a project named SMH, providing accommodation, food, and essentials to seven girls. Four were over 15, and their parents had little expectation of their return. However, by visiting their homes and sharing the girls' progress in education and financial contributions to their families, perceptions changed. The parents saw the value in supporting their daughters' education and even sought funds to enable their college studies.

Girls, particularly after menstruation, face societal distractions, yet they require support to continue their education. CoMi has played this role effectively, with all but one girl continuing her education and succeeding, even securing jobs related to their qualifications.

CoMi is located in the country's central city, attracting many young people seeking further education. However, many are tempted to earn money through socially frowned upon jobs, such as waitressing or dancing in bars. Parents are pleased when their children stop requesting money and start sending it home.

For CoMi, the role of girls is crucial for sustainable development. As future mothers, they become pivotal family members. CoMi has raised awareness among stakeholders to support girls and students post-schooling, with SMH being a prime example. CoMi believes such programs should be widespread, promoting gender equality and balance. CoMi's efforts have set a precedent, and with its own space, it could make a nationwide impact. Thus, CoMi has proposed this idea, proven successful in a pilot, and is now seeking funds to launch it on a larger scale.

SMH: Self Managed Home

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Blogs, stories and more about Console Mission

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