A ROLE MODEL WOMAN
65 years old, Geeta Devi Kafle of "Janaklyan Women's Group", Mahottari district gave up the long held caste discrimination practice.
She has been a role model of the Khayarmara VDC of Mahottari district. Now she eats what so-called Dalit (Untouchable) people give her. She allows Dalits in her home. The women's group participated in the Cornerstones training and changed their philosophy toward the age-old caste discrimination practice.
In Nepali phenomenon the society is divided into caste groups with hierarchy. Those of the so-called higher caste (Brahmin, Chhetrri) discriminate against the lower caste (Dalits). The level of discrimination is inhumane to the effect that Dalits are considered untouchable and ostracized from the society.
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Success Stories
Literacy in Nepal
A letter at a time – Women in Nepal learn to read
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“It takes time to make any sense of the shapes that form the letters” says Asha Mahato. “But when it does start making sense, one thing leads to the other and soon the whole world starts making sense. The bill-boards painted on the walls, stuck on poles by the road-side, on top of the doors at the hospital in the city, the numbers on the buses are all there to make your life easier. They make the world simpler and daily life smoother.”
A ripple of yes and head-nods go through the room where around 13 sari clad women sit along the concrete walls on straw mats. Asha is generally not outspoken but she spoke for all as she is the least shy. Her command in Nepali language helps, most of the other women struggle to be fluent, their mother tongue being a local direct, tharu. The children are impatient and squeal from time to time. They are too young to be left alone at home while their mothers tend to many things like the farm, the animals and this adult literacy class.
The in-built cement and black paint blackboard on wall serves many purposes. It’s a notice-board for group meetings and village procession timings. The children use it when they study here. It was originally built for the Values Based Literacy Program (VBLP) classes. Along with the improving their livelihood with the goats and related trainings, the 23 project participants in this village of Itaura, in the central plains of Chitwan are also a part of another life changing process. They are participants of the VBLP classes where during the course of the next year they will learn the basics of reading and writing. VBLP uses adult learning principle and Heifer’s Cornerstones as a framework to teach these women literacy and numeracy skill. Mina Mahato, the teacher explains the process. “I teach them the letters that form each Cornerstone. Then they learn words and then sentences. It’s a long process but when you see them write their names, it’s worth all the hard work.” It’s hard work for both the teacher and the students. Finding time during the day is impossible so night-time is the best for classes. The older women find it hard to see what’s written in the books but the young ones help. These women who range from 20-50 in age have a lot to do already as farmers, mother, wives and daughters. So why spend 4 hours, 3 days a week crouched in straw mats trying to write with shaky hands. “Because it’s harder to live in darkness,” replies Mina.
For those who cannot read and write, even a visit to the local government hospital alone is impossible. Filling the forms and even maneuvering from one room to another without understanding the doctors’ names written on them is hard for us to comprehend. Asha writes slowly but she can get her name, age and address correct. She now wants to work hard to be able to express herself, “I want to be able to write a letter soon”. It’s a dream that she will fulfill, hopefully by the end of this year, crouched up in the straw mat with other hopefuls, while the rest of the world sleeps.
Project No: 22-0531-17-01
Project Name: Integrated Community Development Project
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