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108th International Women’s Day Celebration 2018 in Khadichaur,  Sindhupalchowk was another attraction with crowd of more than 80 women, men, young girls and boys and children. The event was conducted at Bal Shikshya Higher Secondary School. The group wisely used depiction of culture and arts to spread awareness about basic fact that men and women stand equal. Also, the program included visual presentation of female icons of Nepal who have proven themselves against the odds.

We have a women’s group at Khadichaur who has been using women activity center facility for regular meetings and other events. Their enthusiastic disposition to advance in gender mainstreaming have inspired us to relentlessly work to support them.

“Hard work is done by women of this country,

If educated they can run the country,

They are not just machines of childbearing,

If given opportunities, they can be the best in everything.

She is the goddess, learn to respect her,

Economic justice is a must,

Women, you should also decipher”

A poem written by a local teacher of Ramechhap

Gender mainstreaming in socioeconomic reformation has been a crucial focus of NJSI.  NJSI has contributed construction of 8 women activity centers in 6 districts of Nepal. The centers are used to conduct various livelihood enhancement projects and, women empowerment trainings and workshops. To celebrate gender quality, we had International Women’s Day programs with local women of 4 different places: Kalidevi, Khadichaur, Jaretar and Rakathum. These programs were sponsored by Misio Achen. All of the places had engaging and enthusiastic participation.

Celebration in Rakathum, Ramechhap was a success with 61 adult participation and more than 20 children raising placards decorated with empowering quotes. The event bloomed with many dances, songs and poems composed by the participants themselves. Songs and poems depicted heavy inequality issues, power of women and their contribution to the nation.

“WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME, we welcome everyone.

WELCOME to those who came here today, to celebrate Women’s day

WELCOME to those who are searching for rights as Men,

WELCOME to the women searching for Equality

WELCOME to those who are fighting against Women Violence,

And who are singing songs of Awareness…

WELCOME to those who are against Taboos and Stereotypes

And who are fighting for our Rights…

Those who are saying that we should get Equal Opportunities and are self-aware,

WELCOME the guests and everyone here, who came to celebrate womanhood

WELCOME”

Welcome song composed by a local teacher

Suri is one of the remote villages of Dolakha district. 99% and 97% of the households still depend on firewood for cooking and lightening respectively. Similarly 31% of household do not have toilet (Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission Secretariat 2014). These issues contribute to gradual environmental degradation. As a part of our scheme to promote environmental health, NJSI recently formed an Eco club in Haleshwor Secondary school in Suri Dolakha on 2^nd March, 2018. This is the first Eco club established under the supervision of NJSI.

We presented about the importance of environment and its conservation. As it was the first meeting, the club executive board members were elected from among 69 students of grade 8 and 9. The club was subdivided into six divisions for smooth operation implementation, each focusing on cleanliness and hygiene, plantation, recycling/reuse, fund raising, media, and documentation respectively. Students have already planned to have a plantation program around the vicinity of the school. They are also determined to work to make the school a polythene bag free zone in near future.

We also conducted an ECD training for teachers of Haleshwor School, similar to the one conducted at Sindhupalchowk on 23^rd of February.

On 23^rd of February 2018, we conducted an Early Childhood Development (ECD) training program at Balsikshya Higher Secondary School located at Khadichaur, Sindhupalchowk.  Twenty one teachers  attended the half day long program. The training was facilitated by Professor Branislav Pupala from Czechoslovakia who specialized in early childhood development. Professor Pupala gave session on methodology of effective ECD education. He also shared comparative analysis of ECD education between eastern countries and western countries. A local teacher helped in the translation of language. The teachers were impressed with the session and have suggested to have more in-depth programs. Also, the construction of ECD center, funded by Xavier Network is at the final level of completion.

NJSI had financed 16 trainees to obtain training at Don Bosco Institute of Technical and Vocational Training, Thecho Lalitpur. Seven trainees graduated on September 2017 with diploma in Computer and Electricity training, one dropped and eight have recently completed six months long training program. They have graduated with diploma in Basic Tailoring, Beauty Culture and Hair Dressing. The training was affiliated with the Council of Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), a national autonomous body of Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Nepal. They received the completion certificate on 22^nd December 2017 from the hand of Fr. Augustine Pulickal, director of Don Bosco Institute. Most of the trainees have received over 75% grade in the training evaluation. These girls come from economically poor background. We are happy for their successful completion and are positive that the training will benefit to uplift their livelihood.

Since 2015 NJSI has been supporting 21 children with special needs, residing in Susta Manasthiti Puranasthapana Kendra in Kharelthok, Kavre. We provide regular supplies of nutritious food and general medical support. These children have various mental problems like autism, cerebral palsy, seizure and Down syndrome.

Similarly, a 3 days long physiotherapy training was conducted on 27^th, 28^th and 29^th January 2018 as a sequel to previous training on “monitoring and handling challenging behavior of the children”. Senior physiotherapist, Mr. Suresh Shrestha, speech therapist Ms. Mahima Ghimire and psychologist Mrs. Rama Karki from SOS Children Village were invited to give the training.  The training aimed to strengthen parents’ and teachers’ ability to deal with children and to teach them methods of giving general physiotherapy and speech therapy. Some children were given physiotherapy session during the training itself. Altogether 25 parents and teachers actively participated.  They are positive that the techniques learned will allow them to take better care of the children.