After a powerful windstorm hit southern Nepal at the end of March, at least 31 were confirmed dead, hundreds injured and thousands more left without food, water and shelter.

In response to the storm, The Women’s Foundation sent its team led by Geeta Neupane and Smirti Kharel to Kailia, Bara District, one of the worst hit places.

The Foundation distributed supplies to 512 families. The aid was primarily focused on women and children.

For women, the relief bags contained Saris and sanitary products like soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes.  The supplies for children were distributed in school bags that can be reused for their schoolwork. Each of the school bags contained a notebook, pencil, sharpener, and eraser. All of these items were asked for by local responders co-ordinating relief measures.

However, The Women’s Foundation’s relief efforts will not end with the supply bags; we continue to assess the situation and will give continued support as needed.“The Women’s Foundation is committed to be among the first responders in providing supplies to disaster hit areas,” said Renuka Sharma, the President of the Women’s Foundation.

This is just the beginning of a long journey ahead for the displaced people of Bara District. The Women’s Foundation is committed to be ready to support any emergency and work with every relief organization on the front line.

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Ms.Renuka Upreti, President of The Women’s Foundation of Nepal, was conferred with Prabal Jana Sewa Shree medal by Rt. Honourable President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Mrs.Bidya Devi Bhandari. The award was conferred in recognition for her exemplary contributions to the nation of Nepal.

The honour was awarded in the presence of Nepal’s Vice-President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the House, Chairperson of the National Assembly, Deputy-Prime Minister, Ministers, Chief of the Constitutional Bodies and other VIPs.

It is one of the highest civilian awards of Nepal. It is awarded to personalities from different walks of life in recognition of their contribution to the country.

The announcement was made on Constitution Day last year. The award was presented at a special ceremony organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas.

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On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Women’s Foundation of Nepal attended to a rally in Kathmandu in co-ordination with other different organization, with the purpose of visualizing the fight for women’s fundamental rights.

The peaceful demonstration took place at Ratna Park, Bhrikuti mandap  and was leaded by Women’s Foundation president Renu Sharma, former President Tara Upreti, General Secretary Kamala Upreti together with other feminist activists from different areas and collectives.

During the event, big banners with clear demands could be seen, making special emphasis on women empowerment, gender equality and on how efforts must be joined in order to have a real impact on Nepalese women’s life.

Likewise, girls from different ages showed slogans that called to stop all kind of violence towards women and protested for a more equal society in which men and women have the same opportunities.

After the demonstration, a formal act was held at the City Hall with the attendance of the President of Nepal Honorable Mrs. Bidhya Devi Bhandari and other authorities..

The events held last Friday in Kathmandu were the evidence that Nepal moves step by step towards an inevitably more equal society. However, big changes remain to be done and from women’s organizations we will keep fighting towards this goal in order to inspire our local environment and to achieve a real improvement for the future generations.

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On February 18th, the Women’s Foundation proudly organized Screen Print Training for women. The essence of this project was realized before and organized through a supportive co-operation with the GLS Future Foundation for Development, Germany. The opening ceremony was inaugurated by the Honorable GiriRaj Mani Pokhrel , Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in co-operation with GLS Future Foundation for Development along with the great presence of the following guests:

1. Honorable Pabitra Niraula kharel , International Relation Committee President,
2. Honorable Bijaya K.C (A member of Provincial Assembly , 3 )
3. Honorable Tenjing Norge (A member of Provincial Assembly , 3 )
4. Shanti Nepal ( Deputy Mayor of Gokarneshwor Municipality )
5. Krishna Prasad Chaulagain ( Ward chairman, Melamchi municipality 1 )
6. Pradip Pokhrel ( Chairman of Election Observation Committee Nepal )
7. Krishna Subedi ( Chairman of Child Right Committee Nepal )
8. Devika Nanda Timalsina ( Human Right Activist )
9. Jagadish Prasad Adhikari( chairman of DHRC, Nepal )
10. Gha Man singh Tamang ( Human Right Activist ) 
11. Sita Pokhrel ( Former member of Constituent Assembly )

Screen Print Training has been started to build lasting solution to poverty and unemployment by securing economic sustainability for Nepalese women. Secondly, this training will make them independent and self-sustained to make their future better. The key of success of this project is to develop a new generation of women with better opportunity for sustaining their life.

We focused this program for the long-term needs for obtaining economic empowerment, so that women can provide for themselves and their families. Additionally, the program will impart knowledge and skill on screen printing technology so that the beneficiaries could be able to earn for their better livelihood in the coming days.

We are pleased to share that the distinguished guest Dr. Annette Massmann to honor us with her presence. We would like to thank our special guests Vanessa , Ursula , and Monika.  Special Thanks to Former President of WFN Tara Upreti, President of WFN Renu Sharma, General Secretary Kamala Upreti, Devendra Parajuli, Program Supervisor WFN.

Moreover, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for all who have directly and indirectly contributed for the success of program.  Many people, both local and international, attended the ceremony and enjoyed the many speakers who emphasized the importance of women’s education and opportunities in our society. We are happy to be able to contribute to this important cause. Through this screen print school, we aim to provide an arena where women can gain skills and new knowledge that may benefit their job opportunities in the future.

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News: On 24th August 2018, the women’s Foundation Nepal had the immense pleasure of releasing a booklet named “Kanuni Sandesh Pustika (Legal Information Booklet)” and distributing Stickers and hand bags following the amended laws that helped push through for the rights of women and children in Nepal. 

The standout changes are that for the first time ever, children can now get citizenship through their mothers too. This is life changing for many individuals whose fathers were absent and hence, could not receive a citizenship. Also, there are now equal inheritance rights for women and men, and stronger punishment for domestic violence, witch hunting and human trafficking. 

The program was focused on information dissemination and sharing with the Local Representatives and specially focused on Deputy Mayors who have the rights to implement and amend the legal provision justly for the women and children in their concerned metropolitan cities, municipalities and rural municipalities. The chief guest of the program was Ms. Sashikala Dahal, Vice-chair of the National Assembly and followed by the special guests Mr. Rameshwor Phuyal, Provincial Assembly member and Mr.Chiring Dorze, Provincial Assembly member. The program has many guests as deputy Mayors from Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur districts along with Human Right Activists, Women and Children Activists and Media Personalities.

Also, two papers were presented during the program by Prof. Dr. Sashi Adhikari on “New Family Legal Provision including Marriage, Divorce, Property Rights and more” and Advocate Mr. Saroj Nepal on “Domestic Violence Law”.

The book release, as well as the law changes it celebrates, mark an important time in the history of Nepal, where misogynistic laws are broken down. Women’s voices are heard and empowered in society, and the great reception of our event makes us proud to fight for women’s rights in Nepal. Still there are many legal provisions that should be amended and the local representatives makes commitment to work for the implementation of just rights for women and children during the program. Also, they promised to discuss the issue in their assembly meeting for the amendment of the new legal provisions that is needed to be amended. We hope the hurdles would be eliminated in the future.

We would like to thank ADHARA Foundation Family, different organizations and all the participants from different nook of the country for making a program successful.

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In winter people shiver with cold.For those who cannot afford warm clothes or a blanket, they are fighting with the cold. People usually say that thousand of people die of cold, but we say that they die due to lack of warm clothes and blankets. Poor and helpless people sleep in rags at footpath and roadside and die of cold. These poor people sleep close to each other during cold waves but how one can sleep sound without blanket in such conditions. They shiver due to cold breeze all the night and some old age persons die of these waves. There are many under-privileged who cannot afford even a blanket and die – without a roof or cloth on their bare bodies – to add one more to the count of deaths in Terai region of Nepal due to cold wave every year. For getting relief from cold, The Women’s Foundation of Nepal distributed the blankets to over thousands of deprived, poor helpless families in the Mohottari (Province 2), Jhapa and Sunsari (Province 1), and,Sindhupalchowk (Province 3). Our team distributed the blanket to those needy people so that they can protect themselves from the cold in winters. To make this program successful, many people played their vital role directly and indirectly. We convey our gratitude to Provincial Assembly Member Ms. Sahshi Kala Dahal, APF SP Kumar Neupane, Inspector Aambika Karki, Shree Bibekananda, Head of Ward Bishnu Lal Chaudhary, Mayor Shree Dhurba Kumar Siwakoti and Assistant Mayor Pabitra Mahara ( Prasahi ) , Head of Ward Nagendra Sangraula and Ward member Tara Bhattarai, Provincial Assembly Member Rajendra Lingden, Head of Ward no. 1 Melamchi, Krishna Prshad Chaulagain, WFN branch office and its members; and all other people who are involved in this social cause. Leave a comment