But people fail to notice the ubiquitous poverty and the desperate living conditions faced by at least half the population. With a per-capita income of only US$220 - the lowest in South Asia - and with close to 11 million Nepalese earning less than US$1 a day, Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. Access to nutritious food, health facilities, sanitary living conditions and education is limited here.
I work for One World Foundation (OWF), which focuses on women’s and girls’ issues because we are committed to equal and meaningful participation of women in the development process. OWF Programs are designed to enhance women’s participation in economic, political, cultural and social sectors (including agriculture, forestry, industry, health and education). Different policies are also enunciated to raise employment opportunities for women in the Hilly and Terai regions.
OWF carries out activities for the empowerment of women. Some of them are lobbying with local and national organizations, organizing awareness-raising campaigns, providing skills-training for better job placements and providing counseling. Alhough we are in need of potential funding and expertise, we are still working for the women.
Our executive members and network organizations in other parts of the western and eastern regions work in collaboration. OWF members are university students who have new ideas and experiences in the same field. Well-wishers from the Ministry of Women and the Ministry of Labour and Transportation support us.
In coordination with the Department of Women and Children, we are implementing our project evaluation process, documenting it, monitoring and submitting it. It might sound high-profile, but OWF is a grassroots organization which doesn’t have even a website; but we are motivated, committed and we believe in change – radical change.
In spite of much progress in many developing countries around the world, the structure and quality of growth have not been satisfactory in Nepal. It has become a "jobless, ruthless, rootless, voiceless and featureless growth" - very inequitable to women.
In the same vein, the Beijing Platform Action stated that “most of the goals set out in the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women have not been achieved. Barriers to female empowerment remain, despite the efforts of the government, as well as NGOs, women and men everywhere."
A 20-year–old woman named Puja Sakya lived with her poor family in the small town of Pokhara in Nepal. She was married at the age of 15. Her marriage was just a game that she played in her childhood. Every day she was bitten, tortured and raped by her husband. Instead of having proper education, awareness or family support, she got a life in dark hell that she could not escape.
Her parents were dead, and she had to take care of a younger brother and five children of her own. She was depressed and helpless. She had no guts to fight against her husband or for her rights. It is a male-dominated society where females are suppressed and mistreated. Every day she wished to die but she had five children to feed and nurture. She dreamt of happiness, wealth, respect and a good husband – but all in vain.
Nepal is rich with diverse cultures: multi-lingual and multi-religious. But there is violence, conflict, discrimination and a lack of nationhood. It is a patriarchal society in which women are left behind in any sector, including cultural, economical, political, religious and social activities.
Women’s and girls’ issues are very crucial in Nepal. It is very necessary to raise awareness about them in Nepal and in the rest of the world. This can be done only if we get support from international organizations and people. Women are suppressed in many countries.
Solidarity among the international community, groups and donors is only the way to improve the present situation. Changes cannot be seen overnight but if we work hand-in-hand, commit ourselves to our work, create a platform where we can act, react and implement our ideas, then we can create a better world for our women and girls. I always dream of this world being ONE. We are all leaves of the same tree.
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