New year, new hope

Twelve months ago, Mena (top left) lived alone with her fourteen year old daughter in a community in Kailali region, western Nepal. Her husband and son were both away in other regions working, sending home money to help keep food on the table and young Prema in school.

But the war in Ukraine, with its impact on fuel prices, and slow recovery of the economy after COVID-19, mean everything in Nepal is more expensive than ever - and there just aren't enough opportunities to earn a living.

A year ago, Mena joined a Self Help Group run by our partner, WACT, in her community. She wants to be able to keep her daughter in school and has been labouring in local paddy fields to earn a little extra to add to the family income.

The work was irregular, demanding and paid very little. It seemed likely to Mena that her daughter would need to leave school, like her son, and try to find employment outside the community in a hotel or as a domestic worker. 

Then facilitators from our partner WACT visited the community to talk about a new model of development that bring women together to meet their own challenges.

"I was so excited to join this group, especially because you didn't already have to have some money to join,*" Mena says. "This meant we could all come to learn news things and start to earn our own incomes. We even contribute a small amount each month to savings that any group member can use if they have need. This means we don't need to borrow from thelandlords, who charge us very high interest."

Now the Treasurer of the group, Mena learnt from her facilitator about how to breed goats, care for them and get the best price at market.

"I now have one goat and two babies, and I hope to have more soon," Mena says. "I've also learnt a lot about how to prepare food safely, clean water and the importance of hygiene. This makes a very big difference."