Literacy and Livelihoods for 445 Women in Nepal

Shari Davis & Ellen Currin are InTheField Travelers with GlobalGiving who are visiting our partners’ projects throughout Nepal. Their “Postcard” from their most recent visit in Nepal:

Families and farm animals dotted the countryside of Dang Valley where most people were out in the fields, planting rice for the next harvest. We were on the back of motorcycles driven by the staff of Language Development Center, who were leading us to visit three of the 55 villages their project currently supports. 

We visited three of the many communities where Language Development Center works. At each one, we were brought to a Community Literacy Center (CLC) where the project helps support literacy training, farming and livelihood initiatives, and micro financing programs run by women of the CLC. The groups we visited ranged in size from 40 members to over 70, though most members were busy in the fields and would resume CLC activities after the August planting season. Each CLC had a building to run their activities; the supplies were partially funded by Language Development Center though the labor came from the communities themselves. The enthusiastic project leader Pushker, led us to each of these villages and arranged meetings with people of the CLC who came from the fields to speak with us. 

The women sat on rugs or blankets in a circle and spoke of the bonds created through working together as a group, and the impact of the get one, give one program, where families are given goats, and in turn are expected to gift goats to other families once theirs are bred. This program has been very successful according to the women of the CLC and they are now in the 4^th generation of “goat giving,” providing livelihood to more and more members of their communities. The women also spoke about running a micro lending program for members of their community and two of the CLCs were currently in the process of being established as formal cooperatives with the government. In the final village we visited, the women hoped to use their cooperative farming skills to open a grocery store in the near future, selling their extra produce as additional income.

It can be easily said that we only saw a glimpse into the work and impact of Language Development Center. From the energetic and spirited project leader, to his dedicated staff, to the many women who came from the fields to speak of their group’s activities and community impact, we had a truly memorable visit.

We know that women who can read and write have more self-confidence and have stronger families.  By the end of March, 128 Tharu women had completed the literacy classes in their own language. This is the first step to becoming literate in the national language and a huge step for these women.  

In tandem with the literacy program, our project also extended into sustainable livelihoods.  We were able to provide sixty Tharu families with a baby goat or piglet to breed and eventually to sell for additional income for their families.  Every family has agreed to donate the first offspring to another family in their village.   We would love to expand this component of the project.

To work towards financial stability for families, seven villages formed women led finance groups. The 250 women in these groups have made an impact on not only individual families but on each village. We provide training for these women to learn, save and give loans within their group - $2000 to date.  This has strengthened an environment where community members work together to make their villages a better place.

One village concluded that they needed their own community centre for their literacy classes, as well as a library and a meeting place accessible to the entire village.  A community effort has been organized to clear the land, make mud bricks and build the walls. They are asking for help to buy tin sheets for the roof. Ideally we would like to not only provide the roof, but help them and five other groups buy books for their library.

Your previous support to these Tharu women helped them embrace new ideas, develop new skills and increase their confidence and ability to tackle many hardships. Our next phase consists of the following:

• Purchasing books - $200 per group 
• Buying tin sheets for the roof of their self-built community center - $500
• Buying baby goats and piglets - $45 per animal

Your part in the project has made a huge difference for these families and communities.  This has provided essential tools for grassroots capacity building initiatives.  Thank you.   

Please consider passing on this opportunity to build a better future for these Tharu women, their families and communities to others you know.