Bikes and Rights for 200 Schoolgirls in Nepal

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As you know, the beautiful country of Nepal is home to our work, projects, partners, friends and beneficiaries and the past few months have been a very challenging time for us. The earthquakes have devastated Nepal, a country that already struggles with extreme poverty, human rights issues and rampant gender-based violence.

However, in true warrior fashion, we are moving forward with our interventions to empower, support and educate girls in Nepal.

Aura Freedom is already in the process of adapting the implementation of Bikes & Rights to the current disaster context in Nepal. Some aspects of the project had to be modified, but what remains is that Bikes & Rights is needed now more than ever. During times of emergency, gender-based violence and harmful practices such as child marriage often increase.

Why does child marriage increase in emergency settings?

• Migration, displacement and extreme poverty related to war or natural disasters leave children especially vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and child marriage.
• Fear of sexual violence, pregnancy outside of marriage (dishonour), human trafficking, homelessness and starvation can lead families in emergency or disaster situations to see child marriage as a way of off-setting violence and "keeping their daughters "safe". But child marriage is not the answer.
• Further weakened or non-existent child welfare systems and legislative frameworks in emergency settings further exacerbates the problem.

Recognition of Bikes & Rights

Our founder, Marissa, was invited to Morocco in May for the Girls Not Brides Global Member Meeting and was asked to present Bikes & Rights to a room full of colleagues and fellow freedom fighters from around the world. The presentation was a success and colleagues from Mozambique are already discussing how to replicate Bikes & Rights in their context. See the photos attached!

Canada's Foreign Affairs has also recognized Bikes & Rights as "innovative and bold".

We are determined to move forward with the implementation of this project, even though the road has become a little bumpier. Thank you for your continued support and look forward to the next update.

"It always seems impossible until it's done". - Nelson Mandela

With gratitude,