Gender awareness training

It takes a lot for women in Nepal to speak in front of an audience, especially when that audience includes men. This training brought the men and women, educated and uneducated, of the village together, to talk about male and female roles and responsibilities.

Tharu women traditionally have greater equality than women of other ethnic groups but this equality is being eroded due to increased contact with people from outside the area. The SWC wants to foster pride in these positive aspects of
Tharu culture in order to prevent them dying out.

Vocational training for boys
The participants, their trainer and their finished work
In April 2006, the SWC organised a carpentry training workshop for 10 boys (school drop-outs and/or brothers of the sponsored girls). A local master carpenter did the training and now allows the boys to work alongside him in his workshop when they have free time. As they cannot afford to buy their own tools, this system enables them to continue to develop their skills.

Although the sponsorship scheme was initially open to boys and girls, it soon became clear that the pressure on boys to contribute financially to poor families is too great and as a result the drop out rate for boys is much higher than for girls. Boys can earn more money and at a younger age than girls, by working as farm labourers and share-croppers for local landlords.

This training gives the boys a basic skill which will help them earn a better living in future.

The boys during the training.

The training uses appropriate technology – a hand made drill, turned by a second carpenter, using strings – as well as more modern tools.