Girls: Better after quake

The Empowered Chepang Girls Initiative aims to empower adolescents from the Chepang community residing in Wards 1, 2, 6, and 7 of Gandaki Rural Municipality to advocate for their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). The initiative places particular emphasis on addressing child marriage, teenage pregnancy, family planning, safe abortion, menstrual health, and gender-based violence. Beyond strengthening adolescent’s knowledge and understanding of SRHR, the initiative also seeks to support their educational advancement and economic independence through skill-based training and opportunities for further education, enabling them to make informed decisions and explore pathways towards a more secure future. 

As part of its commitment to promoting economic independence, the initiative provided a 30-day sewing training to six former Youth Champions, including three from Ward No. 1 and three from Ward No. 2. Facilitated by skilled individuals from the Chepang community, the training created an opportunity for local knowledge and expertise to be shared while strengthening the practical skills of the participants. Through hands-on learning, the Youth Champions gained basic sewing skills to produce everyday clothing, which could potentially serve as a source of income. This initiative aimed to encourage self-reliance, build confidence, and create opportunities for future income generation. 

Alongside developing practical skills for economic empowerment, the initiative has continued to support the educational and career aspirations of adolescent girls. To this end, former Youth Champions were connected with an educational institution to facilitate their enrolment in a computer diploma course. The course is designed to strengthen their digital literacy and provide practical knowledge of computers and relevant software, including accounting software such as Tally, photo-editing tools, and graphic design applications. These skills are expected to broaden career prospects, improve readiness for further education and employment, and enable our youth champion to explore new opportunities in an increasingly digital world. 

In parallel with these efforts to strengthen individual capacities, the initiative continues to promote SRHR awareness at the community level. Former Youth Champions, now serving as Local Coordinators, have continued facilitating school- and community-based sessions to engage adolescents and community members in discussions on SRHR and related issues. To date, an additional nine sessions have been conducted beyond those reported previously, reaching 232 community members. These sessions provide opportunities to share accurate information, encourage informed decision-making, and challenge harmful social norms that affect adolescents’ health, rights, and well-being. 

Recognizing that sustained community engagement requires collaboration with local stakeholders, the initiative also organized a project progress-sharing meeting with the participation of the Municipal Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Chief Administrative Officer, Ward Chairpersons, school principals, and other representatives of Gandaki Rural Municipality. The meeting provided a platform to share the progress achieved, reflect on implementation experiences, and identify areas requiring further attention to improve the effectiveness of project activities. Discussions also focused on upcoming activities and planned interventions, reinforcing the importance of transparency, accountability, and collective ownership. Furthermore, the meeting also highlighted the recruitment of a new batch of Youth Champions and Local Coordinators. 

Building on these discussions, 20 new Youth Champions and 4 Local Coordinators were recruited to strengthen the initiative’s community-level presence and ensure continuity in its activities. Former Youth Champions were given the opportunity to take on Local Coordinator roles, recognizing their experience, commitment, and familiarity with the communities they serve. At the same time, five new Youth Champions were selected from each of the four project wards, ensuring representation across all intervention areas. This approach not only expands the initiative’s reach but also creates opportunities for experienced participants to take on leadership responsibilities while encouraging new adolescents to become advocates for SRHR within their communities. 

To prepare the newly recruited Youth Champions and Local Coordinators for these responsibilities, a three-day intensive bootcamp was organized to strengthen their knowledge and capacity to promote SRHR. The training covered key SRHR concepts, with particular emphasis on preventing child marriage and teenage pregnancy, addressing gender-based violence, challenging stigma surrounding menstruation and safe abortion, and promoting awareness of family planning. Through this capacity-building initiative, participants were expected to develop the knowledge and confidence needed to facilitate community discussions, challenge harmful social norms, and share accurate SRHR information with their peers. 

However, the bootcamp had to be interrupted before completion due to a climate-related crisis in Nepal. Despite this unforeseen disruption, the initiative remains committed to supporting the development of Youth Champions and Local Coordinators through continued capacity-building opportunities. By combining SRHR education, practical skills development, access to further education, community engagement, and local stakeholder collaboration, the Empowered Chepang Girls Initiative continues to work towards creating an environment in which adolescents from the Chepang community can exercise their rights, strengthen their independence, and pursue healthier and more promising futures. 

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