|
Participants in the Empowering Dalit Daughters programme pose for a
portrait. From left, Rebica Nepali, Hira Nepali, Sangita B.K., Pramila
Bishunkhe, Anju Kadel and Barshaa Prakash, The programme provided
scholarships, food and accommodation to 25 Dalit girls from across
Nepal. [Photos courtesy of Professional Development and Research Centre
(PDRC)] |
KATHMANDU: In Nepalese society, where caste-based discrimination is
all-too common, being a Dalit (“untouchable”) means facing a life
without access to opportunity – educational, economic or political.
Being female merely adds to the challenge. According to the 2001
census, only 43% of the Dalit population is literate, and the rate is
much lower among Dalit women.
“Dalit women face double discrimination – added to the discrimination
based on caste, they also face gender-based discrimination,” said
Birendra Bishwokarma, president of the Professional Development and
Research Centre (PDRC), a non-governmental organisation that works on
Dalit issues.
“Even if they are talented, Dalit girls rarely get chances to get
higher education and reach leadership positions,” he told Khabar South
Asia.
Back in 2006, PDRC took steps to change that, through “Empowering Dalit Daughters,” a scholarship programme for Dalit girls.
With financial support from the Nepal Youth Foundation, it embarked
on a nationwide talent hunt to select 25 talented and motivated Dalit
girls. They received scholarships to prestigious colleges in Kathmandu,
as well as food and accommodation at a hostel in the capital for six
years.
Before being placed in top colleges, the students received training in leadership, counseling and communications skills.
“The objective of the programme was to create role models out of
these girls, which we believe will help make people aware about the
importance of educating their daughters,” Bishwokarma said. “It was also
an effort to bring the leadership developed at local level into
national level.”
Success stories
|
Hema Shreepaile, 23, an Empowering Dalit
Daughters programme scholar, won the Gold Medal for scoring highest
marks in the Bachelors in Hotel Management from Tribhuvan University in
2012 |
Better education has translated into better opportunities for these
young women. Hema Shreepaile, 23, and Mala Nepali, 24, are two of them.
Shreepaile works at the prestigious Hotel Annapurna in Kathmandu, while
Nepali is employed with an education consultancy in the city.
Shreepaile, who hails from Kailali district in western Nepal, scored
Gold Medal from Tribhuvan University in 2012 for earning highest marks
in the Bachelor’s in Hotel Management programme.
“I feel very happy to have received the scholarship,” Shreepaile told
Khabar. “It helped me in many ways. It supported me financially to
achieve my dreams. It also provided me a learning environment, helped me
become more confident about myself and develop leadership qualities.
“Living with 24 students of different cultures from different parts
of the country helped me learn a lot about their cultures, as well,” she
added.
Mala Nepali says the programme has not only helped her, but inspired others.
“More and more people in my community have begun sending their
daughters to school nowadays,” she said. “Sometimes, I have found
mothers telling their daughters that they should study and become like
me. It pleases me to know that I am inspiring some people.”
Two of the 25 participants have finished their graduate studies; 13
have completed their undergraduate programmes; five more are waiting for
their final results.
According to Bishwokarma, the assistance will continue. “Although as
of now, we do not have funds to repeat the programme, PDRC intends to
keep supporting more Dalit girls by providing them with training and
connecting them with scholarship opportunities nationally and
internationally,” he told Khabar.
Bidhyanath Koirala, an educator, believes such efforts to educate
girls is beneficial to the community as a whole. “Since girls are more
connected to their family and their community, educating girls can have
huge impact,” he told Khabar.
source:- nepalireporter
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