Support Food to Nepali Women

Introduction
Food and nutrition are fundamental to human survival and health. Adequate nutrition supports physical well-being, mental health, and overall quality of life—elements especially critical for vulnerable populations such as women survivors of violence and individuals living with mental health problems and psychosocial disabilities. This report highlights the importance of nutrition in supporting the resilience and recovery of these women in Nepal, and the impact of the “Support Food to Nepali Women” project.

Project Background
Nepalese women survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and those experiencing mental health challenges face multiple barriers to accessing sufficient nutritious food. These barriers worsen their physical and mental health conditions and hamper their ability to regain stability and independence. The project focuses on providing food support to these women as a basic survival need, directly addressing malnutrition and food insecurity as foundational steps toward improved health and psychosocial well-being.

Nutrition and Survival
Adequate nutrition plays a crucial role in healing, cognitive function, emotional regulation, and physical strength. For women recovering from trauma and managing disabilities, nutrition helps mitigate the interconnected impacts of violence and poor mental health by boosting immunity, energy levels, and mental clarity. This contributes positively to their recovery journeys and empowerment.

Project Activities and Impact

• Providing an organic and healthy diet to women who are survivors of violence and/or have mental health problems and psychosocial disabilities. This ensures they receive all the essential nutrients which has significantly contributed to their faster recovery by improving their physical health, enhancing mental well-being, and supporting overall resilience. 

Conclusion
Food is more than a basic need; it is a vital pillar for survival and healing, especially among marginalized women confronting violence and mental health challenges. The “Support Food to Nepali Women” project, by addressing nutrition, empowers women to rebuild their lives with dignity and improved health. Continued support and expansion of such programs are essential to uphold the rights and well-being of vulnerable populations in Nepal.

In Nepal, countless women and girls face extreme vulnerability due to gender-based violence, social exclusion, poverty, and mental health problems. Many of them are cast out by their families, left homeless, and denied basic human rights—including the right to food. At such a critical intersection of mental health and gender injustice, access to regular and nutritious meals becomes not just a matter of survival, but an essential step toward healing and recovery.

With the generous support received through GlobalGiving, our project “Support Food for Nepali Women” has been able to provide regular, nutritious meals to 100 women and girls currently residing in the Emergency Care and Support Center (ECSC) run by KOSHISH. These women have been rescued from situations of abuse, neglect, abandonment, and extreme mental health crises. Most arrive at the center in a severely malnourished, neglected, and traumatized state. Food, in this context, becomes the first form of care—a foundational act of compassion and stability in their path toward rehabilitation.

Donations received through the campaign are utilized exclusively to ensure that each woman at the center is provided with three daily meals, including rice, lentils, vegetables, seasonal fruits, and nutritional supplements as needed. The meals are carefully planned by our team in coordination with health professionals to support physical recovery, especially for women on psychotropic medication or recovering from long-term malnourishment.

The impact of this food support is visible not just in improved physical health, but also in the emotional well-being and mental stability of the women we serve. Women who were once withdrawn, anxious, or physically frail begin to regain strength and confidence. They participate more actively in psychosocial group sessions, express themselves in art and music therapy, and begin envisioning a life beyond the trauma they’ve endured.

For many of these women, this is the first time they have ever been treated with dignity—served hot meals on clean plates, with no conditions attached. As one resident shared, “Nobody had ever asked if I was hungry before. Here, I feel seen—not just as a patient, but as a person.”

The Emergency Care and Support Center is more than just a shelter—it is a space of healing, safety, and renewal. And your support makes that possible. The simple act of ensuring daily meals helps reduce anxiety, build routine, and foster a sense of trust and stability in women who have experienced deep betrayal and abandonment.

As we look ahead, we remain committed to improving the quality of food services and expanding our nutritional support through locally sourced produce, culturally preferred meals, and dietary education. With continued support, we aim not only to nourish bodies but also to restore dignity, self-worth, and the possibility of reintegration into society.

On behalf of every woman and girl who has found warmth, food, and hope at the ECSC—thank you. Your solidarity sustains not just meals, but lives.