Sixteen days of an International Campaign to end violence against women was organized in Surkhet by governmental and non-governmental organizations working with women there.

It began on Nov. 25, with a rally by organizations including Navjyoti Center ran by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

Women and men processed through the market area with banners, placards and slogans to promote public awareness regarding violence against women. It has been a great challenge to all the NGOs working for women's development in Nepal.

The Chautari group of Navjyoti center prepared and displayed a street play on violence against women near Pipira Chowk where 55 women from Navjyoti's new women's groups, some neighbors and passersby were present to watch the awareness program. The story was based on an actual incident and touched the heart of the audience. The street play was also presented in their village in Thathapani where about 200 women and men were present. The chairperson of the area committee who was the chief guest for the gathering and was inspired by the emotional scenes and pledged to work for reducing violence against women in his area and he requested everyone present to begin with oneself.

Representatives of different NGOs spoke on the occasion. Discussions on the topic was held during the two gatherings of women group leaders of Navjyoti and they were motivated to work for ending violence against women and promised to begin it from their own families.

The 16 day campaign came to an end on Dec. 10 in the evening with a rally by organizations including Navjyoti Center and the human rights organizations in Surkhet, carrying lighted candles and placing them in Birendra Chowk. Different dignitaries spoke at the gathering regarding the need to end all kinds of violence against women and encouraged those present on the occasion to start practicing non-violence in their own families and to promote  peace in the families and in the world. During this period three estranged families have been reunited through the intervention of Navjyoti Center.

Written by Rosita Kavilpurayidathil, SCN

Islam is a minority religion in Nepal. According to the 2001 Nepal census, 4.27% of the population are Muslim. Parts of the Muslim community in Surkhet, Nepal, have been lacking in areas of education, economy, and gender equality. They live day-to-day life saving little for the future. Education of children had not been a priority. In this context, Navjyoti Center took up working among Muslim women and children in 2010.

Five women groups were created for saving and investing. Though initially it was hard to convince the women to form saving and credit groups, after a year they were able to save some money in these five groups. Dozens of women have started small scale businesses like grocery shops, fancy shops, restaurants, buying and selling of spices, raising goats and chickens.

All the children are being sent to Madarsa Madina Middle School in the village. Navjyoti Center supported 65 poor children with uniforms and note books. On May 9, Madarsa Madina school celebrated 6th annual day. On that occasion Navjyoti's service to the Muslim community was praised by the organizers and Rosita Kavilpurayidathil, SCN, co-ordinator of Navjyoti Center, was honored with the offering of a shawl by the principal, Ratna Subedi, in the presence of invited guests, women and school children.

Sister Rosita spoke about the great changes that have taken place in the Muslim community over the past years. The Muslim community applauded the service offered by Navjyoti Center and requested to continue to walk with them in their struggle to change the society.

Gabriella Fussner, just 14 years old, a student of Singapore visits Surkhet to reach out to the children of the Child Centers run by the SCNs. She chose to help as a school project. Sister Cecilia Simick shares this letter.

Dear Friends,


Greetings from Surkhet. I would like to share this message with you all. "Nothing is impossible if your heart is filled with love and compassion." Gabriella Fussner just 14 years old, a student from Singapore thought of the children of Surkhet as she planned for her school project. She has promised to come again to see the children during her vacation. Her father Mr. Chris Fussner has been the generous donor for the Mobile Health Clinics in the various parts of Nepal for more than 20 years, especially to the poor patients of remote villages of Nepal . In Surkhet only, we have been able to reach out to more than 50,000 more poor patients within these past four years. His daughter has learned the valuable lesson from her dad. She visited the children in the child centers, distributed various things for the children to play. The children and the villagers were so taken up by her concern for the poor. SCNs thanked Mr. Fussner and Gabriella by offering them a Bicentennial Khada [scarf] as they left Surkhet. Yes, they are very much part of us in our ministry. We ask God to bless them.  I shared the story of Brianna Daniels and our sisters who have been collecting shoes and helping the poor people get drinking water. We do need such Brianna Daniels and Gabriella Fussner who at their young age try to reach out to the poor. May many men and women be inspired by these young people. May God bless them.

On March 8, SCNs in Surkhet, Nepal, gathered in honor of International Women's Day, a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.

Sister Cecilia Simick, SCN, shares these thoughts and photos from the day.

---

Dear Friends,

Nameste from Surkhet. I would like to share some photos of the Women's Day celebration in Surkhet. Lots of preprations were done to celebrate the day. Several meetings and plannings of governmental and NGOs took place more than a week before and the various activities were planned to mark the day.

Various games and competitions for young and older women were conducted and the prizes were sponsored by different groups of NGOs. The Navjyoti Center took a very active part in all these (you can see in the photos). Our women won the volleyball tournament too!

The rally began in the morning from Manalgadi Chauk (a center place). Various groups of women with their banners and slogans such as "Equal rights for women," "Violence against women should be stopped," "Women should have a rightful place in the family," "Women have the right to education, & health care," and "Long live the womens movement."

The Navjyoti womens group was the largest group to come for the rallies in their pink saries with black blouse among the goup there was quite good number of Muslim women who took part in the rally. Our women, Tharu women came in their ethenic costumes and danced all the way with mandal, cymbals, whistles, and the sound of claps.

Everyone appreciated the way our women took part in the Women's day. The Minister of Peace and Reconstruction Mrs. Satya Pahari was the chief guest. Various women leaders gave inspiring speeches, performed dances, and recited poems. It was indeed a remarkable day for all the women as well as for the men who had come to see the program. We hope the enthusiasm will continue to help women to move ahead.

With love,
Sister Cecilia Simick, SCN

The mobile health team in Nepal takes care of the patients in the villages of Surkhet where the poor and sick come for treatment.

An older, sick woman with severe arthritis who was brought to the mobile clinic in one of the villages in Surkhet, Nepal.

She was carried in a bamboo basket by her son and the neighbour from a village far away. There are no roads or even a proper footpath for which to walk. No two people with the stretcher can walk side by side. This basket, a doko, is normally used for carrying firewood, grass, dry leaves, cow dung, and other things. It is hard and painful for the person to sit on it. She has no choice, but pull herself to adjust in this transportation.

She has to sit in this basket and her son would carry her hours to reach their village over hills and valleys.

We hope and pray that her pain will be eased and she comes for the follow–up visit next month to the mobile clinic walking by her self. Until then please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

---

The mission of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is to work for justice in solidarity with oppressed peoples, especially the economically poor and women, and to care for the earth. SCN family ministries in Nepal include:

• Mobile health clinics
• Rehabilitation of mentally-ill women
• A school for physically/mentally challenged children
• Schools for elementary through high school students
• Non-formal education for village and street children
• Adult literacy training in marketable skills in cottage industries
• Centers for holistic care
• Human rights education for women
• Development centers which help women become leaders and transform the status of women in their home villages