Last month in Mahadevistan VDC, in the Kavre District of Nepal, a large group of women filled a room, sitting on sofas or the floor, and standing if necessary. They’d witnessed the destruction of their homes and livelihoods a year and a half earlier in the earthquake, few had had consistent information since and fewer had even begun the rebuilding process. Our Mobile Citizen Helpdesk hosted this meeting to give them a platform to raise their voices on the lack of fairness in the relief process and learn how to access support. “The women communicated freely and clearly amongst each other, empowered by the knowledge that they were surrounded by others who were facing many of the same issues,” reported Sara Rodriguez, one of our residents in Nepal.
After learning about their challenges, our team connected them with the according institutions to solve their problems. For example, a widowed woman named Bed was not able to receive government aid because all the properties and the legal papers were in the name of her husband, so our Community Frontline Associate Shyam reported this story to the VDC secretary, who helped her transfer the legal property documents to her name and receive the first relief installment of 50,000 rupees from the government. Our associates also helped a group of these women find the information and support needed to finance their micro enterprises.
The meeting was part of a larger Mobile Citizen Helpdesk movement to close the feedback loop between earthquake survivors and relief providers. Our associates on the ground in earthquake-affected areas continue to survey representative samples of earthquake survivors on their information needs and support received, and then report that information back to key relief actors who use to guide their support. Last month, 46% of the respondents from 3 districts said they are facing shelter-related issues and lack information on the related policies and legal documents - so there is still much work to be done. Our team will continue to fill the information gaps and support those who lack access to the aid process.
These efforts and all future ones are entirely made possible with the support of donors like you. We'd like to sincerely thank you again for your help in one of Nepal’s most difficult hours and the continued aid as the Mobile Citizen Helpdesk ensures that all voices are heard and power-holders are held accountable. During this season of giving, please consider giving again to support this important work and encouraging your family and friends to do so as well. If you’d like to know more about the ways your contribution is rebuilding lives, please subscribe to our Nepal newsletter at the bottom of our website.
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