Gender Equality Nepal Project #30475

Philanthropy for Equitable Justice and Peace

by Tewa

Project Report | Apr 25, 2018
WOMEN WANTS RESPECT

By Ivy Thapa | Senior Learning, Monitoring & Evaluation Manager

Kausalya in-front of her shop

In 2009/10 Tewa has awarded a grant of Rs. 44,000.00 (USD.440.00) to Mahila Utsaha Sewa Kendra for Income Generation and Skill Development programme of Making Soap at Janakpur. Kausalya is one of the stakeholders of Mahila Utsaha Sewa Kendra who took the benefit from this soap making training. Kausalya is 50 years old and lives in Devpura ward-20, Rupaitha in Dhanusha. She lives with her husband, sons, daughters-in-law and six grandchildren. She is a victim of violence and has struggled for her rights in her family and community. Her husband beat her for being active in social work but she did not give up her interest and engaged herself in helping others.

Men in her neighborhood felt insecure about having Kausalya in their community and often complained to Kausalya's husband. Kausalya was threatened, beaten and finally her husband threw her out of the house. She then stayed with her daughter in Janakpur. She tried to convince her husbandthat he was in thewrong, but he did not listen. She then registered the case in pursuit of her rightful property in Janakpur's District Court and fought a legal battle that dragged on for one year. Kausalya's husband did not respond to the case and lied, saying that Kausalya was not his wife.

Kausalya's husband was determined to disregard her and was not ready to take her back. But Kausalya is a smart lady. She had evidence against him. She had her husband's signature on her citizenship documentation where he had signed as her spouse. She showed that to the judge and was granted justice in the form of property and other compensations. Her husband then became nervous negotiated a living arrangement within his own family.

Now, Kausalya lives with them but has control over the family and her life. Because of her soap making skill and the money she had saved, she got the confidence required to stand up to her husband. Although she took a year-long break from soap making while staying with her daughter in Janakpur, she has otherwise continued to make and sell soap. She has invested Rs. 30,000 in a small wooden shop (Khoka) and sells biscuits, noodles, chocolates, soaps and other items. She sells her detergent soap for Rs20 each. Now she saves Rs.1,500 monthly in her personal account and invests Rs.10,000 monthly in food, electricity, children' tuition fees and other family needs. Usually, Kausayla's husband looks after the shop while she works in the fields but Kausalya manages all the finances herself.

During the conversation, she was asked what she felt is good from the soap making skill, she replied sweetly in rhyme "Man mein Kathi bhaechi, Batuka latkene bhaechi". In English: "What's going on my mind, able to hang purse around the waist." She further adds that the only thing women wants in her life is RESPECT and when MONEY flows into the hands of women everything changes.

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Feb 2, 2018
COMMUNITY PHILANTHROPY FOR DURABLE DEVELOPMENT

By Roshani Thapa | Philanthropy Manager

Tewa's core work of Grant making supports the grantee partner organizations throughout Nepal to take their initiative to the next level. Till date we have supported such women groups to change their status quo in the society and contribute towards women empowerment. Each year their ideas are supported for changing the social and economical condition of women.

Tewa's focus is on funding the most marginalized women in the most underfunded areas. We hope to ensure: awareness of and access to economic and social rights; better representation and participation of women; and the supporting and strengthening of the women's movement. Therefore, through funding and capacity development, Tewa supports women to organize, raise their voices collectively and transform discriminatory policies, systems, norms and practices.

Though Tewa has supported initiatives in a range of areas, a large portion of our funds have gone towards supporting the development of women's skills to generate income and ensure economic rights and justice. This has been critical in drawing women out of their homes, helping them build confidence, and support each other in times of crisis. "Women on the ground are the best change agents in their areas, we have just support them in the best way we can."

Our volunteers have proven themselves worthy of praise. Ever motivated and ever inspiring, they have donated hundreds of hours and mobilized millions of rupees to support Tewa's cause. We primarily raise funds from Nepali and other International donors and invest it in women. For Tewa, it is not just a matter of raising money but also using the opportunity to make society understand the need to combine forces and fight oppressive structures in our society. Our fundraising strategies increase human connection. We also work with many friends and allies based in many parts of the world. Some of our grantees and most of our volunteer are also our fundraisers as well as donors. In a way, Tewa team (Founder, Past Presidents, Board members, general members, grantee partners, volunteers and staff) is fundraisers as well as donors.

Since our establishment we are fund raising locally, mobilizing resources and supporting women's organizations throughout Nepal. There have been some positive changes and we have realized that resources can be mobilized locally and we can be partners with fellow Nepali women for development.

We work in advancing women's rights using philanthropy and establishing models of transformatory ways of working.

Tewa has offered an alternate way in giving for women's issues in Nepal. The goal is to reduce self reliant on conditional donors and create sustainable model for development in Nepal. This kind of fundraising, done on a very personal level, helps build communities and makes philanthropy more relevant to present times and needs. Therefore we believe that "Community Philanthropy leads to durable development."

Therefore we are in a mission of spreading the essence of "COMMUNITY PHILANTHROPY." We believe that Community Philanthropy helps community to build local assets, capacities and trust. Therefore we are trying to make understand our stakeholders that:

Community Philanthropy is needed for long term development.
Community Philanthropy promotes local resources, local leadership and local buy-in.
Through Community Philanthropy, community get opportunity to get involve in philanthropic giving that enhances stronger communities and brings the feeling of ownership.

Tewa remains committed as ever to engaging women, men and children in ground breaking work, sustaining philanthropy in Nepal, and creating a strong network of grassroots level women's organizations to drive the women's movement forward. Tewa will always focus on "Philanthropy for equitable justice and peace."

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