The rise of mobiles in Nepal

Changing life for good

If poverty is such a problem in Nepal, how is it possible that so many people own and use mobile smart phones?

It's a natural question if you regard mobile technology as a luxury that should be prioritised down the list after basic needs like health care, education and food are met.

But for many thousands of people who are only just able to survive on what they can grow, breed or receive from family members working outside the country, mobile technology is ground breaking. Second-hand and older phones are relatively inexpensive, and so is data. This makes mobile technology an attractive option for an estimated 38 million users - a number higher than the population of the country. 

Mobile phone connectivity gives people instant accces to information from weather events to health and education resources. For those who don't have the means to open a bank account, it can also provide instant cash transfers online.  An online presence allows people to network, find more markets for produce and discover new ways to earn an income.

Mobile phone technology also helps people get access to emergency services and allows families to stay connected even when members are working far away.

And for the younger generation, the ease of accessing a world of information can transform learning and inspire dreams for the future.

For this demographic in particular, mobile phones also provide the kind of distractions that we all crave, particularly when we're finding life challenging. TikTok is used extensively in Nepal, as are other forms of social media that give people a means to construct their ideal life online to share with others for encouragement and affirmation.

Our partner WACT (Welfare Association for Children, Tikapur) has been working with young people in groups to encourage their leadership skills, and this includes the responsible use of social media.

This month, the INFA Communciations Team will run training online for people in Tikapur, encouraging them to share their stories in readily accessibile formats for Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. We'll show them how to connect with others who share similar goals of raising awareness about the issues that matter to them most - preventing child marriage and the practise of separating women and girls during menstruation, enrolling to vote and caring for their environment.

Please pray for the young people of Tikapur engaged in this training. They have the opportunity tell their own stories and raise their own voices, without the mediation of NGOs or external go-betweens who have traditionally spoken on their behalf.

Exciting!