Women's Society

Another of our initiative to empower the local community, we turn our attention to the women. We believe that empowering the women in the community is one of the most effective agents for a real change in community development.

Therefore, to make it happen, we have invited 9 married women, from between the age of 28 to 50 years old, to be in our Women’s Society. These women come from different backgrounds – some are in good marital relationships while some have various problems with their husbands. Because of the formation of this group, the women can support one another, and even come together to provide support for other women in similar situations of ‘problematic’ husbands. Unfortunately, some of the men in the village are addicted to gambling or alcohol, and these creates many problems to the family and marital life. Therefore, this society’s objective is to be a self-help group to the local community, especially for women.

Besides providing counselling, there are other things the women will do as well – they will also take charge in organizing the regular clean-ups in the village, promoting the benefits of vaccination to the mothers and giving talks on various topics to the other women. Regular trainings are given to these women in the society, in the area of environmental protection, hygiene and health. This will better equip them with the knowledge, which they will in turn pass on to the community. It is our wish that this model of self-help group will eventually expand and spread to the other regions, to the whole of Nubri. So let’s wish these ladies all the best!

 

 

Top: A woman sharing her knowledge on basic healthcare to other women.

Monthly Talks at Pema Choling

While the development of healthcare and education infrastructure is essential for the physical health, material wealth and future prospects of the people, the cultural and religious preservation is vital for their mental and spiritual well-being. Therefore, since November 2011, Lama Ula Jigme, who is the chief lama for Sama Gaun and chairman for SDF, had been conducting monthly talks on basic Buddhism at Pema Choling (the village’s monastery).

We Will Be On Nepali NTV Plus

Sama Gaun is gradually gaining media attention in some international communities.

Under the collaboration of a Nepali-based youth organization, Today’s Youth Asia (TYA) , and Danish Center for Culture and Development (DCCD), a group of 3 Danish photographers will visit the village from 1st to 13th March 2012 to film a documentary about youths. This 1-hour documentary will be shown on Nepali NTV Plus and feature the education of youths in Nepal, and gather their thoughts and ideas on what the future may bring and how the village can be developed. It is indeed heartening to hear that people from around the world are starting to gain interest in this small and less well-known Himalayan village and its people.