Support Education and Livelihoods in rural Nepal

At 61, a lifetime of living in poverty took its toll on Bhavaroopa’s body, as well as her mental health.

In their shared, two-room home in Nepal, made from mud and broken bricks, her son supported her as much as he could. But a driver’s wage was barely enough for even one person to live on.

Not long ago, Bhavaroopa’s family was much larger – 11 of them in all. But they all moved out, got married or travelled away to find work. After her husband died, she felt lost and without a purpose of her own. Even the house was not in her name.

Though she had no land, she tried to grow a few vegetables, mainly creeping plants which travelled up the side of the house. When she could, she sold them in a local market, butshe struggled to raise enough to buy a plot of land of her own.

It was a group of local women that first told her about the Karuna project. She decided to go along, at least to try it.

She still remembers the comfort and relief she felt at the first meeting, being able to share her emotional life with other women like her. This support and connection inspired her to continue attending.

Soon, it wasn’t just new friends that Bhavaroopa was making. She also received training, alongside other women from the community, on how to grow and cultivate vegetables and then sell them for a sustainable income. She was even given seed money to begin her business.

Now, she finally feels like she has a place in society. Not only that, she can generate income for her family and contribute towards her son’s bills. She hopes to support her grandchildren gain an education, so that theycan find their independence one day, too.

Your support means we can work with even more women like Bhavaroopa to gain sustainable livelihoods and build connections within their local community.

Links:

• Visit our website to find out more!

Providing for a big family can be extremely difficult. Rajreshri and her husband Akash were struggling to survive. With ten people and only one source of income, they could only eat once a day and, even then, food was limited. To add to their difficulties, water also had to be carried from a faraway location. Their family belongs to a lower caste, meaning they are only permitted to use certain water pools.  

As you might imagine, saving for your children to receive an education is impossible when you can barely eat.  

Rajreshri began attending a local women’s group, encouraging women to develop the skills needed to grow their vegetables and become entrepreneurs. Rajreshri was inspired and pursued more courses provided by the project.

They focused on gender-based violence, women’s rights, and their vital role within society, with the hope that women like Rajreshri can realise their incredible potential and can understand gender-based discrimination and its effects. 

With 50,000 Rupees to buy seeds and start her business, she felt she could begin a new chapter! 

Now, 6 months on, the family is flourishing. Rajreshri is not only more confident in herself, she is saving up to provide her family with a concrete house, which will be a more comfortable environment for her children and an enormous achievement. 

Thanks to your support people like Rajreshri can grow alongside their vegetables! 

Links:

• Link to our website to find out more and see our projects!