Ramita Shrestha: Joy Foundation Nepal
Women Empowerment
Ramita Shrestha, recipient of the “Worldwide Organization for Women Achievement Award 2009″, is an inspiring example of one woman’s influence for good. She is Manager of Joy Foundation-Nepal, and established and directed a community technology and literacy center, in addition to the following projects she describes in her own words.
“YMRC has run many activities to empower women in the rural areas. YMRC has formed women groups in the community level and conduct regular meeting with women sharing information regarding women issues and rights. We are also running micro credit saving activities among the group so that women can have access in the monetary matter. Once the women are financially strong, they can participate in all decision making process in the family and society as well. Thus, we are also running women literacy program in the community level, so that the women from the community level could be aware of their rights.
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Best regards,
Ramita Shrestha
Organic Farming:
In the Sindhupalchok District, east of Kathmandu valley, when the women are literate, they formed the groups to run the farming activities without using any Chemical Fertilizers. They had started to produce green vegetables without using any chemical fertilizers and marketed in the Kathmandu valley. Instead of chemical fertilizers they are using only Compost Fertilizers made by themselves using cow dung and urine, for which they had bought cows. But they are facing financial problem to buy cows for this purpose. So we are looking for donors to help them to buy the cows to run their farming activities smoothly. Thus, we request all kind supporters to help us to buy Cows for these community women group. The approximate cost of the cow is US Dollar 400.00 per cow. If they got the cows they can also earn some extra money by selling milk. All these activities are mentored by Miss Ramita Shrestha from YMRC. If they have sufficient number of cows, it will make the community women self sustained.
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Best regards
Ramita Shrestha
Health camps
YMRC Sankhu is doing health camps for women on reproductive health & family planning to meet the basic need of community people. YMRC has also conducted Eye Camps for elder people who are suffering from eye cataract problems. Women in rural community of Nepal are having problem with reproductive health and they don’t know more about use of family planning. So we are encouraging them to share their problems openly so that their problems can be solved and develop the habit of openness in talking about reproductive health and family planning without any hesitation.
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Best regards,
Ramita Shrestha
Skill development training
Most of the community women seem to be voice less because they are always dependent to their husband & family. It is because of lack of education and any sort of skill development training. Due to the lack of skill & education they couldn’t initiate any projects and raise voice to advocate on their rights. In the community, women should be provided with proper training, so that they can earn independently and be made self reliant. Keeping all these in mind, YMRC has conducted many types of skill development training such as Sewing, Cushion making and designing, and Pickle Making etc. YMRC has also encouraged the community women to start micro entrepreneurship. However, due to lack of adequate financial resources, YMRC is unable to run the necessary skill development training. Thus, we kindly request all the supporters to join hand with us to run these skill developments training in rural community of Nepal.”
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Best regards
Ramita Shrestha
