WAWCAS (Women at Work, Children at School)

Hi. My name is Sangeeta Shrestha, and I have been working with women and children since 1985. My vision is to create a gender-just society that is fair to all genders. Unfortunately, Nepal has a high level of gender discrimination where women's voices are not heard and their work is not recognized.

To empower women, I strongly believe that they need to be economically independent. For this reason, since 2008 we have started WAWCAS (Women at Work, Children at School) program to recognize women's work. WAWCAS currently has 6000 women and is growing by 900 per year. It's only natural that we take the next step and support these women in becoming more independent and self-sustainable for the future, both within their communities and as individuals.

Establishing local non-governmental organizations (LNGOs) within communities is a powerful approach to enhancing women's and community participation in their socio-economic growth. This fosters sustainable development for the groups, women, and society as a whole.

Developing local NGOs in the districts where the WAWCAS program is implemented is an integral aspect of the program for sustainable socio-economic development. In our region, women are running their businesses and holding monthly meetings in women's groups. While some groups have merged and registered as cooperative, most groups operate as a Self Help Group (SHG).

Working towards combating discrimination and promoting inclusion from within the community of women is more effective than relying on external organizations. In light of this, we engaged in discussions with all members of WAWCAS regarding the possibility of establishing a local NGO. However, the process of setting up a local NGO proved to be challenging. After numerous discussions and workshops, we eventually reached a consensus and embarked on the journey of registering our own local NGO, which took us almost eight months to complete. We officially registered as LNGO in 2021.

Over a six-month period, we conducted five different types of workshops in eight different locations. During these workshops, we established values, norms, by-laws, roles, and responsibilities for both executive and general members. LNGO, provides a platform for all WAWCAS members to share their ideas, issues, and challenges and work together to overcome them.

Through the local non-governmental organization (LNGO), women can exert pressure on the government to become more aware of the dire situation that women face. WAWCAS members are the unsung heroes of their communities who have brought about significant changes. Currently, these women are leading the fight against inequality and working to safeguard the rights of children and humans. Their unwavering passion has spurred action, motivated entire communities, and brought about tangible improvements. The members are skilled at discussing and problem-solving. They actively participate in supporting one another and finding solutions, which boosts their self-esteem and confidence. This is a crucial aspect of the LNGO, where women empower and respect each other, valuing each woman's opinion.

It is crucial to create a sustainable program that actively encourages women's involvement. These women play dynamic and influential roles in their communities, working towards the development of a gender-just society where everyone is treated with respect.

When it comes to carrying out activities, having funds is crucial. LNGO's primary goal is to raise funds by encouraging community members to become donor members and participate in Deusi and Bhailo during the festivals. 

We developed our communication channel strongly because we would like to inform everyone of our activities for all our 1500 members. We have 9 regional committees. Each regional committee has its own executive board member, and the chairperson of that committee is automatically selected by a member of the central committee board.

Their passion fuels action, inspires whole communities, and drives real changes. Women are good at discussing and finding solutions. They take an active part in solving problems and supporting each other in the area. This creates self-esteem and confidence and is an important factor of the LNGO. This is how women members empower the other members and respect and value each woman's opinion. It fills me with pride to see the commitment of women. By supporting them, we can help them maintain their enthusiasm and motivation. Women are the true drivers and local heroes.