Disaster Response Nepal Project #20885

Female Friendly Spaces in Post-Quake Camps - Nepal

by Aura Freedom International

Project Report | Aug 31, 2015
Our Female Friendly Spaces Are Changing Things

By Marissa Kokkoros | Project Leader

"The Female Friendly Space is full every single day. Women and girls are pouring in for protection, information and help. Some of them didn't even know that support was available to them. Many of them have experienced violence, but they didn't think anyone cared." - Pragyaa, on the ground in our Female Friendly Space (Nepal)

In June, we lanched our travelling Female Friendly Space (FFS) in the Jorpati displacement camp of Nepal. In emergency situations, violence against women and girls increases drastically, as well as harmful practices such as child marriage and the sexual exploitation of women and girls for water and food.

Our FFS is making a difference in the camps, prividing shelter, 24-hour security, access to services, education, human rights awareness and community awareness og gender-based violence. We are also providing life skill training for women and a sports empowerment program for adolescent girls to keep them safe.

On July 15th we moved to the next displacement camp of Thali, where 97 families from Sindhupalchok and Dhading are living. Sindhupalchok and Dhading are some of the areas worst hit by the earthquake and high-risk zones for human trafficking and gender-based violence. These communities have suffered great losses.

The FFS provided the women and girls of the Thali camp with a safe space where they could report incidences of violence and exploitation, seek services, be referred to medical or trauma counselling, attend awareness workshops and feel safe. The FFS also provides activities, education, temporary shelter and 24-hour security and protection for women and children. The space also provides men and boys and other community members with education and awareness of human rights and gender equality, engaging them through various activities.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN...

This week, our travelling Female Friendly Space in Nepal is on the road again! Off to the next displacement camp in Dhading, to empower, protect and educate women and girls against violence and exploitation.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR WORK IN THE THALIDISPLACEMENT CAMP

Astounding things are happening in our Female Friendly Spaces as we break the silence of gender-based violence and give women and girls the empowerment and support they need to protect themselves in the camps and in their daily lives.

Recognition from the United Nations Population Fund

The data we are collecting in the camps on attitudes of gender-based violence has been featured on the UNFPA Humanitarian Response website and shared with the other organizations in the Gender-Based Violence cluster.

The Power of Sport

We are using sport in our space as a way to increase agency and confidence in adolescent girls, and as a way to introduce sensitive issues such as consent, saying NO and abuse. After just one session, one girl came forward with a traumatic story and we were there to support her and refer her and all the other girls to services and support available to them. Adolescent girls are the most vulnerable, and our intervention is making a difference.

Above: Young girls are given education and support to break the silence of gender-based violence inside our Female Friendly Space in Thali, Nepal.

Knowledge is Freedom

Our awareness sessions on gender-based violence and human rights continued with the introduction of a new campaign and flyer, which the women took away with them, along with dignity kits and mosquito nets. Knowledge is freedom and these women are walking away from our space with a little more freedom in their hands.

"Of course we experience violence. But we didn't know there was anything we could do about it." - voices from the camp

Men and boys in the community are also being exposed to our education, which is part of the big picture and so important for sustainability. We cannot end gender-based violence without support from men and boys.

Above: An English version of our flyer and poster being circulated in the camps.

We need your support to keep this project going. Funding for this project is running low.

Please donate to our project today!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

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