Outreach for Women and Girls in Post-Quake Nepal

We believe a determined woman is one of the most powerful forces on earth.

“We should not have to bear these problems any longer – we should stand up and speak up!”

These are the empowered words of 25-year-old Shakti.

Shakti is the mother of two young children and a passionate participant of our Outreach program. As the Secretary of her community’s Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Watch Group, which is an Outreach initiative, Shakti is now a strong advocate for anti-violence and women’s rights.

She also shares much of what she is learning about GBV, gender equality, and the legal rights of women with her husband, who is beginning to talk more openly about the issues affecting their family, including violence.

We are in awe of Shakti’s strength and determination. 

The GBV Watch Group is an integral part of Aura Freedom's Outreach program. A Watch Group is formed in each of the communities we work in. Members of the group are residents of the community who show interest in GBV prevention activities and their participation is completely voluntary. The Watch Group size varies depending on the community size and the different groups within the community, but are typically comprised of 10-15 members. The criteria are that the groups have 75%-90% female participation from different age groups and ethnic backgrounds based on community demographics. The remaining 10-25% male participation is selected by the female group members themselves. When possible, an adolescent boy and girl are included in the Group.

The Watch Groups are given specific training by our staff on identifying different forms of gender-based violence, legal provisions related to GBV, and referral networks. Special emphasis is placed on risks that typically increase in the aftermath of disasters and are of particular concern in Nepal, such as human trafficking, child marriage and unsafe migration. They are also given information on gender equality and how to contribute to the dismantling of harmful gender norms. The GBV Watch Groups meet regularly and the meetings are attended by a member of project staff in order to foster better collaboration and support.

The role of the Watch Group is to monitor the security situation for women and girls in the community, address risks and challenges, and refer community members to services, if needed. The idea behind the formation of these groups is to assist project staff in attaining project objectives and to increase the sustainability of the project once the staff leaves the community. Essentially, they are community members who are educated in the rights of their community members and will go on to act as outreach volunteers for local women and girls in need.

There is nothing more sustainable than providing local communities with education and knowledge in order to respond to their own needs and issues, and the Watch Group does just that.