Caritas Nepal helps people after devastating earthquakes

Picture 1: Distribution of temporary shelter supplies in Nuwakot

Caritas Nepal has been working tirelessly to provide emergency relief across 12 of the most affected districts following the two devastating earthquakes that paralysed Nepal. With the support of the global Catholic network, Caritas Nepal has already supported more than 130,000 people with temporary shelter supplies which include tarpaulins, plastic mats and blankets, kits for clean water and hygiene care, and dry food.

Caritas Nepal and local partner staff and volunteers have shown incredible dedication in reaching the most affected and marginalised families in devastated communities. Even though many of them have suffered their own loss, and many are sleeping outside themselves because their homes have been destroyed, they continue to work around the clock determined to selflessly help and honour the dignity of others.

PERSEVERIENCE: Condition of conflict affected dalit women and reconciliation and income generation effort by Caritas

Picture 1: First Wife, Kamala on the left and Second Wife, Putali on the right

While most of the part of the world is already developing, Nepali society is still in the midst of conservativeness that still considers sons more valuable. Daughter miss out on many things like –education, extracurricular activities etc.  Girls are married at a very young age, a fate that befalls many rural women, resulting high illiteracy rate and inability to become independent and self-reliant. It poses severe problems for women belonging to Dalit communities, a group considered to be untouchable and marginalized from mainstream development.

However, this is a story of 31 and 29 years old two Dalit single women of Jajarkot who were displaced during the time of conflict, struggled at any cost for better life. Ms Kalpana B.Ka and Ms Putali B.ka who despite being married at their early age of 15 and 16 to one man, Mr.Karna B.Ka., struggled together for living after their husband’s death in the war. They did not let their Dalit lineage and their fates of being widowers define their life. 

Coldwave (शीतलहर)

Animation Refresher Training and Impact Assessment Workshop

An Animation Refresher Training and Impact Assessment Workshop (12-18 May, 2013) was held in Chitwan Nepal. 18 participants (Male: 7, Female: 11) from 10 districts of 16 different NGOs visited cooperative / youth group and a child club in Chetre-Parbat for impact assessment where a local NGO had been working in animation approach with the support of Caritas Nepal. Through the experience sharing and field, participants found that animation approach has strengthened ethical values and self-commitment in their social services. “Animation should be localized at the grassroots level, its usefulness should be widened”- said Mr.Tara Bhandari; a participant form Kapilvastu. Furthermore, animation has made animators go beyond proposal activities when they are implementing project. It produces more motivation to social mobilizers. Mr.Prabin Bogati, 24 said that he keeps talking about animation wherever he works. “I can’t stop using animation approach as a cross-cutting issue in projects even in ones funded by INGOs other than Caritas”. However, due to the dream it invokes for the establishment of just and equitable societies, animation teachings and its approaches has lots of challenges in context of complex Nepali societies. At the end of the workshop, last participants suggested that regular follow up exchanging new ideas, sharing knowledge and communication would be essential for successful implementation. Ms. Laxmi Bhattrai, who had an opportunity to take part in Caritas’s animation training, has been constantly working beyond the project for the maximum benefit of beneficiaries. As a chairperson of SEDA Nepal (local NGO in Dailekh), she has been equally contributing her personal time and resources for the resettlement of Internally Displaced People in the post conflict period. Ms. Chinu Gurung, a young development worker from Lamjung, animated for the upliftment of poor, marginalized and backward Gurung communities in northern Lamjung.She opined that animation approaches, while focusing mainly on the poorest of the poor, should also bring the rich and powerful into the circle so that they can also contribute towards the upliftment of the poor. 

love for humanity caritas

Animation Training

Caritas Nepal organized 11-days Training of Trainers on Animation and People's Organization in Chitwan, Nepal from 9 November to 19 November, 2011. 21 participants attended the training. 4 of these participants were staff of Caritas Nepal, 7 were from new organizations while 10 were staff/members of Caritas Nepal's existing partner NGOs. The facilitators for the training were Mr. Raju Pradhan, Mr. Durga Bdr. Lama, Mr. Bisham Joshi, Mr. Robin Shrestha, Ms. Arpana Karki and Mr. Anil Chitrakar

Developing Resilience of Small Farming Systems in the Context of Climate Change Project- an EU supported project launched

Caritas Nepal organised an project inauguration Ceremony for the European Union supported project "Building Resilience to Climate Change through Strengthening Adaptive Small Scale Farming Systems in rainfed areas in Bangladesh, India and Nepal (SAF-BIN)’’ on 24^th June, 2011 at Hotel Himalaya, Lalitpur. The Ceremony was chaired by Fr. Bogati K B, Executive Director. The Chief Guest was Mr. Lluis Navarro, Charge d’ Affairs of European Mission to Nepal.

The main objectives of the project is to promote local food and nutritional security through the promotion of adaptive small scale farming in four rain-fed agro-eco systems in South Asia in context of climate change. The project will undertake participatory agriculture research, refine suitable practices and technologies, and undertaken extension of these practices and technologies (and models) so that small farms managed by small farmers are more resilient to climate change impacts. The introduction of the project was presented by Manindra Malla, Head of Program Desk, Caritas Nepal.

The project is being implemented by Caritas Organizations in Nepal, Bangladesh, India. The lead agency is Caritas Australia and supporting organization is European Union.

In Nepal the project will be implemented in 3 districts – Kaski, Nawalparasi, and Bardiya. There will be 1000-1200 small farmer participants as direct beneficiaries. Thousands of other small farmers will be benefitted from practices and technologies and models refined to adapt to climate change by the project in its duration of five years.

Cooperative and Enterprise Review Meeting (20 to 22, June 2011)

कारितास नेपालले कारितास अष्ट्रेलियाको सहयोगमा ३ बर्षे कार्यक्रमको दोश्रो बर्षको कार्यक्रमको समिक्षा होटल मिरर, गुलरीया बर्दियामा जुन २० देखि २२, २०११ सम्म सहकारी तथा लघु उद्यमको समिक्षा गोष्ठी सम्पन्न भयो । उक्त कार्यक्रममा २१ सहकारी संस्थाका २० सहकारीबाछ २१ ज्नाको सहभागीता रहेको थियो । कार्यक्रममा ६ महिला र १५ पुरुषको सहभागीता रहेको थियो । गोष्ठीमा ब्यवस्थापक, अध्यक्ष, संचालक समिति सदस्य तथा ब्यवसायका सदस्यहरु रहनु भएको थियो । समिक्षा गोष्ठीलाई दुई भागमा विभाजन गरी कार्यक्रम संचालन भएको थियो । पहिलो कार्यक्रममा सहकारी संस्थाको समिक्षा गर्ने तथा योजना तय गर्ने गरी सम्पन्न भयो भने दोश्रो कार्यक्रममा लघु उद्यमहरुको समिक्षा गर्ने तथा योजना तय गर्ने गरी सम्पन्न भएको थियो ।

समिक्षा कार्यक्रममा कारितास नेपालका कर्मचारीहरु कृष्ण कुमार तामाङ, खम्ब सिंह बस्नेत, महेन्द्र प्रसाद चौधरीले सहजीकरण गर्नु भएको थियो भने बाल कुमारी लामा, सिखा राई (स्वंय सेवक) को पनि सक्रिय सहभागीता रहेको थियो । यस अवधिमा सहकारी संस्थाको गत बर्षको तुलनामा हालको अवस्थाको बारेमा सामुहिक अन्तरक्रिया तथा छलफलबाट विश्लेषण गरिएको थियो । सहकारी संस्थाको बल, कमजोर, चुनौती तथा अवसरहरुको विश्लेषण गरी आगामी बर्षको योजना पनि तय गरिएको थियो ।

Cooperative Management Training (13 to 16 June, 2011)

कारितास नेपालको सहकारी संस्थाको सक्षमता तथा ब्यवसाय विस्तार कार्यक्रमको दोश्रो बर्षको कार्ययोजना अनुसार सहकारी ब्यवस्थापन तालिम जुन १३ देखि १६ , २०११ सम्म होटल मिरर, गुलरीया बर्दियामा सम्मन्न भएको छ । उक्त तालिममा २१ सहकारी संस्थाबाट २२ जना (३ पुरुष, १९ महिला) को सहभागीता रहेको थियो । उक्त तालिमको सहजिकरण कारितास नेपालको कर्मचारीहरु कृष्ण कुमार तामाङ, खम्ब सिंह बस्नेत, महेन्द्र प्रसाद चौधरी तथा शिव कुमार अधिकारी (श्रोत ब्यक्ति), सन्तोष पराजुली (श्रोत ब्यक्ति) र  हिम प्रसाद वाग्ले (डि. सहकारी कार्यालय, बर्दिया) ले गर्नु भएको थियो । सहकरी ब्यवस्थापनको आवश्यकता यसको महत्व, बर्तमान सन्दर्भमा सहकारीको ब्यवस्थापन कसरी गर्ने, ब्यवस्थापनका अंगहरु, कार्य जिम्मेवारी, बचत तथा ऋण ब्यवस्थापन, सहकारी विभागबाट जारी गरिएको मापदण्ड २०६८, सहकरीको सिद्धान्त, मुल्य मान्यता, सहकारीले सामाजिक क्रियाकलाप कसरी संचालन गर्ने र किन ?, समुहगत संरचनामा सहकारीको विकास कसरी गर्न सकिन्छ ?, कार्यालयमा कागजातहरु कसरी ब्यवस्थापन गर्ने ? लेखा ब्यवस्थापनमा संचालक र लेखा समितिको भुमिका जस्ता विषय बस्तुहरुलाई समेटीएको थियो भने सहभागीहरुको जिज्ञासा माथि छलफल गरी तालिम सम्पन्न भएको थियो । 

Cooperative Management Training at Surkhet. (10 to 12 June, 2011)

कारितास न्यूजल्याण्डको आर्थिक सहयोगमा कारितास नेपालको साझेदारी संस्था नवन्योति केन्द्र, सुर्खेतले Women and Children's Empowerment Program – Surkhet परियोजना अन्तर्गत गढी र छिन्चुमा २ वटा सहकारी संस्थाहरु डिभिजन सहकारी कार्यालय सुर्खेतमा विधिवत रुपमा दर्ता गरी  छिन्चुमा जुन १० देखि १२ सम्म, चार दिने सहकारी ब्यवस्थापन तालिम सम्पन्न भएको छ । उक्त तालिममा दिगो शान्ती नवज्योति बचत तथा ऋण सहकारी संस्था लि.बाट २५ जनाको सहभागीता रहेको थियो । कारितास नेपाल फिल्ड कार्यालय बर्दियाको महेन्द्र प्रसाद चौधरी, डिभिजन सहकारी कार्यालय सुर्खेतबाट तथा नवज्योति केन्द्रका कर्मचारीहरुले तालिमको सहजीकरण गरिएको थियो ।

नवलपरासीमा आवासिय तालिम सम्पन्न भयो

कारितास नेपालले सहकारीको दिगोपनका लागि बिगत एक दशक देखि ग्रामिण क्षेत्रका महिला, कृषक तथा गरिबहरुको आर्थिक, सामाजिक क्षेत्रको सुधार गर्नका लागि समुह स्तरमा बचत ऋण परिचालन र सहकारीको विकास तथा दिगोपनका लागि काम गर्दै आई रहेको छ । कारितस नेपालले सहकारीको दिगोपन तथा संस्थाको दक्षता बृद्धि गर्न र गराउनका लागि विभित्र तालिम कार्यक्रमहरु संचालन गर्दै आई रहेको छ । 2011 को कार्यक्रम अनुसार May 2011,1  देखि 7  सम्म (७ दिन) विजय विकास श्रोत केन्द्र, गैडाकोट, नवलपरासीमा आवासिय तालिम सम्पन्न भयो । कार्यक्रमको उद्घाटन कार्यक्रमको सभापतित्व कारितास नेपाल क्षेत्रिय कार्यालय, नवलपरासीका ब्मmष्ल बलम ाष्लबलअभ ष्ल अजबचनभ श्री दुर्गा लामाले गर्नु भएको थियो । तालिम कार्यक्रममा १४ जिल्लाको (बैतडी, कैलाली, बर्दिया, सुर्खेत, बाँके, दाङ, नवलपरासी, पाल्पा, स्याङ्जा, कास्की, पर्वत, लमजुङ, ललितपुर, काभ्रे, मोरङ र झापा) ४० सहकारी संस्थाहरुबाट संस्थाका ब्यवस्थापक, अध्यक्ष तथा लेखा समितिका सदस्यहरुको सहभागीता रहेको थियो । उक्त तालिममा ५० जना (३३ महिला र १७ पूरुष) को सहभागीता रहेको थियो । तालिम २ वटा समुहमा विभिजन गरी सम्पन्न भएको थियो । तालिमलाई सहजीकरण कुमार खत्री (कल्याणकारी बचत तथा ऋण सहकारी संस्था लि.को ब्यवस्थापक तथा राष्ट्रिय सहकारी बैंकको लेखा समितिको सदस्य), कारितास नेपालका कर्मचारीहरु कृष्ण कुमार तामाङ, महेन्द्र चौधरी र दिपक तामाङ (टल्कु बचत तथा ऋण सहकारी संस्थाका कर्मचारी) ले गर्नु भएको थियो । तालिम कार्यक्रमको समापन कार्यक्रमको अध्यक्षता कारितास नेपाल, ललितपुरका कार्यक्रम शाखा प्रमुख श्री मणिन्द्र मल्लले गर्नु भएको थियो भने विजय विकास श्रोत केन्द्रको अध्यक्ष, कार्यकारी निर्देशक, कारितास नेपाल केन्द्रिय कार्यालयबाट राजु प्रधान, रविन श्रेष्ट, बाल कुमारी लामा, क्षेत्रिय कार्यालय नवलपरासीबाट दुर्गा लामा, अनिल चित्रकार, शुशिला चित्रकार (कार्की), प्रशिक्षकहरुको आतिथ्यता÷सहभमगीतामा तालिमका सहभागीहरुलाई प्रमाण पत्र प्रदान गरियो ।

Best Practices in Emergency Project Planning and Design

A five-days training on "Best Practices in Emergency Project Planning and Design" was held in Dhulikhel for Caritas Nepal staff and few from 4th to 8th April 2011. The training organized by Caritas Nepal's Disaster Management Desk was funded by CRS. The training was facilitated by CRS trainers Mr. Lionel Lajous and Ms. Alexandra Causton. The training was aimed at enhancing the capacities of Caritas Nepal staff and partners in Emergency Response.

Basic Gender Training

A three-day long "Basic Gender training" was held for Caritas Nepal staff at the Caritas Nepal Head Office in Kathmandu from 29^th-31^st March 2011. The training was organized by Caritas  Nepal's  Gender Desk and was imparted by the Asian Acedemy for Peace,  Research and Development, the trainers being Mr. Sharad C. Neupane and Ms. Laxmi Neupane. The objective of the training was to build the capacity of Caritas Nepal staff for Gender Mainstreaming in Caritas Nepal programmes.

Refresher Training on Safe Migration and Human Trafficking

Refresher Training on Safe Migration and Human Trafficking

Under

 Caritas Italiana Program. Damak, Jhapa

The three days Refresher Training on "Safe Migration and Human Trafficking" was organized for the Teachers of Government Schools from Morang and Jhapa Districts, Bhutaneese Refugee Camps Schools and Information Communication Center (ICC) Staffs by CN Gender Dept from 21^st -23^rd March 2011 under Caritas Italiana Anti Trafficking Program.

The resource persons started with the personal introduction and all were asked to give personal pride feeling of the work done in the lifetime. This exercise helped each one to make the self-review.

After the introduction, the expectations of the participants were collected. The participants wanted to learn more new trends of migration and trafficking. They wanted to know more about the new laws of country on the same issues. The participants also wanted to learn from each other experiences.

Then the participants were divided into three groups and asked to give their strong points and weak points of the year passed after TOT. According to the participants, they were able to know and provide knowledge about Human Trafficking and Safe Migration in their working areas and communities. They had a good platform of learning and sharing. They had built up self confidence. They also had good opportunity to get IEC materials from the information Communication Center (ICC). They shared about the importance of other programs for sustainability.

Anti-trafficking in Nepal. Fr Silas - Executive Director, Caritas Nepal

Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction

Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction project, funded by Caritas Germany, was launched in August 2009 in Gauribas, Khayermara, Bardibas and Maisthan VDC of Mahottari District. The Project was completed in October 2010. As part of the project activity an external evaluation was done from 29^th January to 04^th Feb 2011. Mr. Albert Giri and Mr. Krishna Prasad Ghimire were the external evaluators, who lead the other team member from Caritas Nepal central and regional office. 

Caritas Nepal Annual Picnic 2010

Caritas Nepal organized a picnic com Christmas party in Dolalghat on 17^th Dec 2010 Friday. About 30 staff of Caritas head office Katmandu participated and Fr. Silas Bogati, Director of Caritas Nepal also joined the occasion. Games, music, dance and carol singing made the occasion more energetic and fun. We all enjoyed and greeted one another for x-mass and New Year 2011.

site selection for mitigation program, November 2010

Madi Emergency Response Second Phase(CFW), OCT 2010

World Food Day Celebration, 7 October, 2010

World Food Day Celebrations, 2010

Caritas Nepal is one of the initial members of Right to Food network that includes Farmers’ Organizations and NGOs. The network held events on the occasion of World Food Day in 6th and 7th October in Kathmandu.

In 6th of October, the network held press conference at Reporter’s Club (Putalisadak). Mr. M. Malla (of Caritas Nepal), Mr. Prem Dangal (of ANPA), Mr. Birendra Adhikari (of RRN) along with other network members spoke on need to ensure “Right to Food” to be noted as a basic right of Citizens of Nepal in the new constitution. The network members shared their dismay in regards to the lack of ability national government to provide quality fertilizers to farmers this year, and demanded timely and quality inputs to be provided to farmers in the future. They noted that once Right to Food is noted in the constitution as a fundamental right, the Nepal Government will be duty bound by law to invest more on agriculture and develop and implement program/projects that will help realize food sovereignty to the farmers and the nation. Mr. M. Malla said that there is present social injustice to two thirds of people of Nepal because these farmers receive only small amount of support for agriculture.

In 7th October, Caritas Nepal Agriculture (IPM) Network took part in Right to Food Network organized rally in Kathmandu. The participants were farmers and NGO workers. The rally highlighted the need for “right to food” to be noted in constitution by play-cards and banners.