LWF and DEPROSC-Nepal had entered into an agreement on September 1 2004 to bring improvements in the living conditions and development opportunities of women, children, ethnic and deprived people of five VDCs (namely Betali, Namadi, Pharpu, Manthali, and Bhatauli) of Ramechhap district. The project has been implemented for the empowerment of deprived, tribe and pro-poor household of women, child and youth.
The overall goal of the project is to bring improvements in the living conditions and development opportunities of women, children, ethnic and deprived people in the project area. Specifically the project have the following objectives:
- To empower women and ethnic people from a socio-economic prospective;
- To generate and mobilize local resources for providing micro-credit services;
- To enhance economic opportunities for participating communities;
- To increase schooling opportunities for children, particularly girls;
- To create educational development opportunity for the children; and
- To increase the awareness level of participating community for sustainable self-help development.
The target beneficiary consists of the poor agricultural households; deprive caste; ethnic communities, women children and youth.
The project has the following components
- Rural finance and Institution Development
- Economic Promotion
- Educational and Child Development Program
- Women Empowerment and Social Development
- Linkage and coordination
Activities and Achievement of the Project
Rural finance and Institution Development
- 11 Saving credit organization are formed
- 1032 members are associated with these groups out of which 120 are dalit females
- NRs 199,379 has been collected as saving and 100 % saving is now in the loan borrowed by 551 members.
- Interest rate on saving is 10% and in loan is 18%
- Repayment till now 98%.
Impact of savings and credit program
- Members have developed the habit of saving their money,
- Members have generated cash through wage and labor for their savings,
- Some members are capable of organizing and handling the meeting independently,
- Selected members have learned the accounting system like Ledger Keeping; pass book maintenance, credit allocation, loan repayment collection etc,
- Members are aware and have developed the habit of written document in and during the transaction,
- Members are aware of loan period and they themselves are aware of repayment,
- Members have developed the system of investing in income generating activities,
- Members are increasing habits of talking of their achievements in public places and also started discussing to the topic like STD, HIV etc without hesitation, and
- In many instances, members have shown capacity of solving problems related to savings and credit and community mobilization.
Economic Promotion Program
Under economic promotion two different programs were implemented by the project.
- Vegetable production program
- Livestock development program
19 Vegetable production groups are organized where 541 farmers from the 5 VDCs have participated.
The production groups have produced vegetables with the technical support from the project and sold the vegetables worth 292,280.00 in the weekly and monthly local market (haat bazaar)
One time support was also provided to the farmers to initiate vegetable production. The support included agricultural tools and sprayers, essential pesticides, seeds, plastic sheets and poly bags, saplings etc.
Altogether 931 households of 5 VDCs benefited from the vegetable cultivation program
Livestock Development program
Livestock development program was implemented to support the ultra poor and landless families. The program included one time support for goat, poultry and pigs. The idea behind it is livestock exchange among the groups members, once the livestock has reproduced. Until now 996 households have benefited from the program.
- Education and Child Development Program
- 7 Child development centers have been established
- 462 children including 240 girls are enrolled and regular in these centers
- Out of School program (OSP) is organized for out of school children aged 8-14 years of age
- 11 OSP centers are established and maintained where 292 children including 166 girls are enrolled and getting education.
Impact of Education and Child Development Program
- Children are more disciplined and have understood the value of respect and love to elders and minors.
- Illiterate children are able to read and write without any hesitation.
- They can confidently say their name and name of different places, personalities etc.
- They show very much interest and actively participate in educational and extra curricular activities.
- Children are being capable of making of their choices independently.
- Children are regular in school and able to show their homework regularly.
- Through their participation in extra curricular activities conducted by Child Club they are capable to compete with others in quiz contest, dohori song competition, street drama, children’s games etc.
- The children have become aware of basic child right, child abuse and can raise voice against such crime.
- Creativity among the students has increased.
- Children have learned management know how and value of teamwork.
- Children are capable to show their talents independently.
- Children are less shy in nature and are sharing on the topic of HIV and its consequences.
- Children have understood the value of time by utilizing it being involved in different activities with sound response.
- Women Empowerment and Social Development
- Three different programs are implemented under this component.
- Awareness Program on HIV/AIDS
- Health and Sanitation Program
- Peace and reconciliation Program
- Peer education method was adopted for creating awareness on HIV/AIDS
- Till now 204 peers have been developed
- Community drinking water and sanitation awareness campaigns are conducted
- Street dramas, poem recitation, songs competition etc are organized in the community for the reconciliation and peace building in the community.
Linkage and Coordination
- The program is launched in close coordination with District Development Committee (DDC) and other government line agencies.
- District Information meetings, program orientation and monthly review meetings are conducted regularly.
- Coordination maintained with the District Education Office (DEO) for necessary arrangement for enrollment of OSC children in coming education session and to avoid duplication of program
- Coordination is maintained with NGOS / INGOS & other line agencies for implementation of program activities.