Transformative Education Classes: empowering women of Kailali

25 female members (aged 22 to 35 years) from Tharu (indigenous and marginalized) community of Joshipur village (Manikapur area) in Kailali district (far-western region of Nepal) have successfully participated in a six-month long (March-August, 2015), Transformative Education Class (TEC). The members are affiliated to Sagarmatha Women’s Group, chaired by Ms. Gita Chaudhary, 30.

The classes, conducted by Sustainable Development Society (DBS), a federation of community based organizations (CBOF) implementing the People’s Action for Empowerment (PEACE) project under the Nepal Development Program (NDP) of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Nepal, were carried out thrice a week (Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday).

Ms Gita Chaudhary, chairperson of a women's group in Joshipur village of Kailali district, speaks during a session of Transformative Education Classes (TEC).
Ms Gita Chaudhary, chairperson of a women’s group in Joshipur village of Kailali district, speaks during a session of Transformative Education Classes (TEC).

Sparing time for the classes despite their hectic schedule (household chores), the group members ultimately were able to become literate, and learnt a great deal about governmental services, their rights entitlements, and were also capacitated on identifying and addressing local issues.

The group members have been conducting a series of community initiatives, including the campaigns against child marriage and gender-based violence. Furthermore, they have also taken proactive steps in carrying out sanitation drives, disaster risk reduction/preparedness activities, citizenship-making and meaningful participation in Village Development Committee’s planning process. One important impact the group members were able to garner from their efforts, was declaration of their ward (smaller unit of village) as a no-open-defecation zone.

Tangible impacts of their works are gradually being observed. In order to curb the child marriage tendency, they have collaborated with Badghar (the community elder in indigenous Tharu community), who will serve as a referral institution in checking such marriages.

Ms Gita Chaudhary, chairperson of a women's group in Joshipur village of Kailali district, addressing a mass gathering during celebration of International Women's Day (March 08, 2015)
Ms Gita Chaudhary, chairperson of a women’s group in Joshipur village of Kailali district, addressing a mass gathering during celebration of International Women’s Day (March 08, 2015)

Similarly, three members from the group had taken DRR-mainstreaming training, which has resulted in preparation of go-bags (which contain important documents, medications and other portable tools required in times of emergencies) by all the community members.

Likewise, the motivational citizenship campaign led by the group members has resulted in preparation of citizenship certificates by 21 community members, seven of whom are the group members themselves. Their future plans include ensuring their effective participation at upcoming ward and village-level planning process. “The participants of transformative education classes were initially shy and reluctant to talk to others. They are able to raise their issues at different forums and are actively participating, raising their voice and influencing the decision-making level,” says Ms Gita Chaudhary.