Stichting Veldwerk
Postbus 163
1850 AD Heiloo
The Netherlands
veldwerk@gmail.com
IBAN nr. NL51ABNA0543703266
Attn. Stichting Veldwerk,
p/a Egmond binnen
Bank: ABN-Amro 543703266
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Secretariaat: Stichting Veldwerk Postbus 163 1850 AD Heiloo The Netherlands |
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Tel:+31 (0)72-5339585 veldwerk@gmail.com IBAN nr. NL51ABNA0543703266 Attn. Stichting Veldwerk, p/a Egmond binnen Bank: ABN-Amro 543703266 |
In Lamosangu on September the fourth 2007, a new women trainings program had a festive opening. It was a memorable day; It almost didn't rain and it was the birthday of Lord Krishna (a Hindu God) too. Because of this all, everybody had a day off. All the people where happy and that resulted in a crowded opening.
During 6 months, 23 women will be educated in sewing cloths. A group of 12 ladies will be educated in the morning, a group of 11 ladies in the afternoon. Stichting Veldwerk has provided them 5 new sewing machines, one educated teacher and a rented room, where they can work in a clean and safe environment.
Rene Veldt, Stichting Veldwerk Nepal
For more info or reply; veldwerk@gmail.com
For your kind help;
Attn. Stichting Veldwerk,
The village Lamosangu lies in the Sindupalchowk district, near the Tibetan border and lies on both riverbanks of the wild Bhothe-Khosi river. The women who will join the program are from that village and its surrounding area, till a maximum of one hour walk. After the training they are able to open their own clothes shop. Because of the walking and living distance, they won't be competing with each other's business.
Some of the women are widow, some of them from a low caste. And some of the women are abandoned by their husband, who has remarried and left their first wife (often an arranged marriage) with a lot of problems. In the rough Nepalese society, organized as a patriarchal Hindu state, these women are worthless!
The new trainings program will be executed by our local partner, named “Women for human rights, Single women group”, department Sindupalchowk. 13 Years ago this Single women group was founded by Miss Lily Thapa. Her husband, who had served the army, died in an accident. From then big problems started for this woman; As a widow, she was accused of her husband's dead. This resolved in expulsion from her family in law. She was also not longer allowed to celebrate typical women festivals. On top of things, it also appeared like Lily wouldn't get her widow allowance.
Lily is a woman from a high caste. By fighting for her rights and not living according the strict Hindu widow rules, she survived all of this. Having experienced this, she noted that a lot of women are not able to cooperate with such circumstances. Women from lower castes, women without good education and- or without good communicative skills. This is the reason why Lily founded the organization “Women for human rights, Single women group”. Her initiative is followed by a lot of women from all over Nepal. A lot of them lost their husbands in the 10 years of civil war. In all these tragically circumstances women are strongly discriminated and suppressed. The women groups teach their members how to survive in these circumstances.
The vision of Stichting Veldwerk is: “If things are not going well with a mother, it will reflect on her children”. So first we have to try to help these mothers. In doing so, we prevent that their children will be living out on the street, or maybe worse…
Already Stichting Veldwerk and the Single women group have implemented an education program. The women were told about their rights and possibilities. But also typical women medical problems were discussed. There was also made an inventory of how many women needed direct help. After the first educational program the sewing machine training had started, on request of the women. This all, because of the financial help of family van Leijsen and their daughter Suzanne.
Suzanne had brought her savings with her when se visit Nepal and asked me what a good destination was. Together we had met this Women group in Barhabise, earlier this year, we put one and one together, and this is the result! I would like to say a big thanks to Suzanne and her family, on behalf of the ladies from the Single women group.
The next planned program for that district, will be a goat breeding program. Lots of women in that rough mountain area, have good skills to look after cattle, because of their farm background. But they can't afford their own cattle, because of a lack of money.
We will buy 30 goats and divide them over 30 very poor women. They also will get an extra training how to take care of their goats and the baby goats in the future. After a while each of the women have to give 1 newborn goat back to the women group. The women group will divide these 30 goats over 30 other poor women. It's a way of life micro credit, which success already is proved by other organizations. Stichting Veldwerk hasn't found the donor for the goat program yet, but as always…. on a beautiful day….
It will be in my email box, or maybe standing for my door!
But first today:
What a happy day! All these happy women sitting with each other. Dressed as beautiful as they can, placing tikas at each other's forehead. They have officially used their new sewing machines, celebrated with a tika, incense, a colored ribbon and some fruit.
On my way home, just before I was there, a landslide completely blocked the way. I felt happy not to be there at the wrong time. Such a heavy rock on your rooftop or all the mud and stones coming down, can easily push the bus out of the road, into the roaring river. I managed to crawl across and took another bus, which had to turn around and return to Kathmandu. And now, with a little delay, tired but satisfied, safely at home, ready for the next job!
Action speaks louder than words.
Bank: ABN-Amro 543703266
IBAN nr.; NL51ABNA0543703266
Bic code; abnanl2a
p/a Egmond Binnen, the Netherlands.