Literacy and Livelihoods for 445 Women in Nepal

Help Society Nepal, Dang is implementing Land and Food Security Program, where Language Development Centre Nepal is providing consultative and small financial support.  The program is implemented through local community groups in Dang, Bardiya and Kailali districts.

I am delighted to share an entrepreneurship and business planning training was successfully held in Bardiya [27 Oct to 3 Nov 2017] where 63 people [Female: 50 & Male: 13] were participated from different two groups.

Objective of training:

To develop entrepreneur and planning skills of participants to start family-based business in their own community.

Achievements:

• All participants are committed to use the skills what they learned during the training
• At the end of the training 25 participants are presented their draft business plan [Pig farming, Poultry farming, Tea shop, Retail shop and Mobile repair centre] and committed to start business within few weeks.
• Local government representatives [ward chairperson and ward secretary] are ready to facilitate to ensure identity cards for missing Kamaiya and Kamlahari.

Padam Bahadur Aire, ward no 10, Chairperson said, "Gauriganga Municipality has allocated the budget Rs 500,000 for roads, provide drinking water and electricity and livelihoods activities for freed Kamaiya and Kamlahari to improve their life situation."

Kamal Chaudhary, ward no 7, Chairperson said, "Kailari Village Council is working to develop an integrated plan to address freed Kamaiya and Kamlahari family's issues."

"We are anticipating seed money to initiate the business because our financial capacity is not sound to make required investment as our business plan." [Collective voice from participants] 

Challenges:

• Participant's poor literacy level is indicating that they need entrepreneurship [Financial] literacy programs to make them successful in their business.
• We do not have capacity to provide seed money to all families to initiate their business.

We had a fruitful training and conversation with participants and local government representatives. They are enthusiastic and creative to change the situation with wise plan and activities. We found that the participants are motivated to manage their resources to setup new business as their plan. 

We believe that their dream will make change in their life because of self employment and family-based business plan is prepared by themselves. So "Financial literacy or self education will make us more prudent and efficient to deal our life issues." [P. Kadel, Nov 2017]

I would like to contribute myself with your great cooperation through the Language Development Centre Nepal.

We are grateful for your support. Thank you.