By Rabin Malla | Project Leader
Background:
Raksha Nepal since last 11 years has been supporting girls, women and children working in the so-called entertainment sector and those any kinds of violence. It has been endlessly raising the voices against all kinds of crimes and violence in respective sectors, such as domestic violence,rape, polygamy, human trafficking, sexual violence, compulsive prostitution etc.
In Kathmandu and other main cities dance bars, guest houses, cabin restaurants, massage parlors, spa, local bars and similar means of entertainment sectors have been significantly growing in major cities of Nepal. The disadvantage of this sector leads towards vulnerability of young girls and women through sexual exploitation and abuses, trafficking, rape and HIV/AIDS. Considering that fact, mostly young girls from rural part of the country are being involved in these sectors, as they migrate to cities in search of better life and job prospects. In fact, the dream of finding happy life in major cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara and other cities leads young women to find an easy gateway to work in this sector. The employers or owners in the entertainment sectors deliberately looking forward to recruit those innocent girls coming from rural parts who can be easily convinced to involve in this sectors. Their work mainly focuses to win the interest of the customers and provide good hospitality and services. The business of an entertainment sector is mainly active in the evening to late night, where young girls have maximum risk to be exploited both physically and mentally. Due to poor economic conditions and lack of educational opportunities those innocent girls are compelled in these sectors as a means of earning their livelihood.
In situation where girls and women are being exploited in one way or other, RN is working to organize them, so that they are able to fight for their rights and exploitation. RN's main objective is to organize these women working in the so-called entertainment sector through different groups and provide the with different skill/vocational training. Moreover, RN has been providing these women with low interest credit through it's saving and credit cooperative, through this these women can start small scale business based on their skill.
This program has carried out by two major themes, one is advocate of their rights and safe working environment in their working premises and the other is empower them through trasforming skill and knowledge, such as: orientation on different issues/subjects, workshop and interaction programs, camapaign on dfferent issues, delegation and rally programs association with different organizations.
Key Activities:
In Details:
Meetings and coordination with the related stakeholders: Raksha Nepal organized regular coordination meetings with issue related stakeholders and getting support from the concerned sector for victim women and girls. Through these regular meetings, RN working to make strong voice for protects their rights. In these meetings 40 different participants were participated from the different sectors. 12 participants from the establishments of owners, 2 representative from National Women Commission, 9 from media, 2 from police representative, 9 women from Raksha Women Network and 6 from staff members.
Conduct workshop with media person on sensitize about trafficking, sexual exploitation and protection: Raksha Nepal has been conducted interaction program with media person to share with them about reality of the entertainment sector and also trying to better image of those women and girls who are working in this sector. RN trying to buil better image of women and girls from so-called entertainment sector. RN invited most of the journalists from the reputed media but some major media houses sent their representatives, there were 6 journalists and 11 women from different women groups were participated.
Conduct non-formal education for targeted women/girls: Raksha Nepal conducting 2 women schools collaboration with District Education Office for non-formal education. Providing adminitrative support for regularity of these schools. These women schools are providing basic and advance level education for sorrunding households women and women and grils from entertainment sector. There are around 185 women and girls receiving non-formal education from both schools. There are 100 women studying in the First Level and 50 women and girls are in Second and 35 are in Third Level.
Sensitize girls, women's about media and its role/responsibilities: Raksha Nepal organized one day interaction program with the members from women network groups and union and also representative from different media houses. The main objective of the program was clarity on each others (worker women and media) job and responsibilities and also discussion about how can they do raise awareness against all kinds of violence in informal entertainment sector. At that program 27 participants were participated, among this 11 from different media, 16 from different women groups.
Conduct vocational and skill development training for alternative livelihood : Raksha Nepal has been provides different kinds of vocational/skill trainings to women and girls from different groups. RN also provides these different kinds of trainings to those women and girls who willing to start new business and self dependent. Raksha Nepal provides different rainings such as: tailoring, SPA, beauty parlor, cook etc. Raksha Nepal often discuss with group members and staff members and find out appropriate participants for the skill training, there were 30 women and girls participated in different trainings.
Temporary women shelter for Earth Quake victims : Raksha Nepal has been conducted temporary shelter for women and girls who are victims of Earth Quake. After great EQ many women and grils lost their homes and working establishments, also their small businesses. Raksha Nepal provides them shelter with other facilities such as : food, medicines and some cash support for reestablish their business. RN was started with 16 women and girls and 8 children later that number increaed to 75.
Dear Donors/Supporters
Greetings!
I am very happy to forward this progress report, however now a days we are facing difficulties in field due to that devastating Earth Quake. We are trying to support EQ victims this time and we are doing continue support in field. I would like to all of you for join hand for good cause with us and do continue support us doesn't matter big or small.
Thanks for your great support.
Best regards,
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