Train Women Farmers in Organic Agriculture, Nepal

On Tuesday, March 16, all donations up to $1,000 per donor, per project will be matched. Donate on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, and maximize your gift. Despite ongoing challenges in Nepal, the cooperative that ASHA is working with has seen some impressive results in the past year. It is quite timely that with International Women's Day this past Monday, we are able to share with you all the great work going on at ASHA and thank you for your continued support. In the past year ASHA had a goal of establishing 2 new women’s groups. But at a needs-assessment in early 2009, ASHA identified the potential for 5 new groups. After a series of community meetings 90 women began to form the 5 groups. ASHA provided workshops on how to form the groups and focused on fund management, as a key component is savings. The women were also collectively trained on sustainable agriculture, making compost and seed saving, all of which are key to improving yields and, in turn, better incomes. In groups that have been active for several years, ASHA reports that the women feel that their status in their family and community has been improved. Where once there was resistance to women being part of a group, families have begun to be more supportive of their activities. This is in large part because women have achieved more empowerment at several levels. Financially they have a bit more income, which eases the situation at home, and group members have often developed the habit to save some money each month. The money allows women to be able to buy food and clothing for their children and send them to school. In some cases they are even able to lend to neighbors in need which improves community participation.