What we want to achieve…
We hope that each woman who works with Samunnat Nepal will:
Know her own rights
and those of her children. She will be able to advocate for herself within her family (if safe) and with government and community agencies. She will know where to go in her community to get support and assistance.
Know how to advocate for herself
We seek to help each woman think critically and to make confident and thoughtful decisions about what is or isn’t useful in her own situation.
Know about her reproductive system
and reproductive health. We want each woman to know how to avoid, or obtain treatment for, sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. We want them to know about community resources for ongoing support.
Understand how her child develops
and how this will affect a child’s capacity to deal with stress, trauma and change in the family unit. Many children involved with Samunnat have witnessed violence towards their mothers and, in some situations, they have been the target of violence themselves. Sometimes this has contributed to behavioral issues and physical problems.
Be supported to be an effective and loving parent
and know ways to help her children in difficult situations.
Learn how to stay physically and emotionally healthy
especially under stressful circumstances.
Learn how to resolve conflict and negotiate good outcomes wherever possible.
We teach and model different communication strategies that help interpersonal relationships.
Learn how to establish and maintain a budget.
She will learn about financial management, cooperatives and other community resources.
Learn skill development
with a realistic possibility of income generation. Where possible, each woman is given skills in an area of her choice if this is sustainable and viable. In the past, training has been provided in managing small business, photo-lab work, beauty parlour training, basic book-keeping and computing, bakery training, pickle making, tailoring and polymer bead and jewellery making.
Better understand the legal system,
the roles of different people and the processes that relate to her situation. We want to empower each woman to move through the process with increasing independence and an ability to seek support from appropriate agencies.
Cultural Context:
According to Nepali culture, a woman lives with her husband’s family after marriage. She is totally dependent on him. In addition, many Nepali women are poorly educated. This makes women very vulnerable to violence and poverty. Women feel alone and isolated, unable to change their circumstances. A woman knows that if she is being mistreated and tries to leave her husband, she faces homelessness and no income to educate her children if the husband’s family withdraws support.
Now there are organisations established to empower women. At Samunnat Nepal, we have seen thwarted, defeated women become visibly stronger after earning an income and meeting other women, their didi-bahini (sisters) who have gone through the same thing. They get the confidence and resources to face the challenge of standing up for their rights and making better lives for themselves and their children.
