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2010-08-24
SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2010

Dear friends,
There is nothing new to the fact that Nepal is facing a severe crisis which is having a deep impact on every aspect of life. Over the years we are witnessing a continuous deterioration whether this is socially, ecologically, economically, religiously or politically.
Many of the peoples, especially the young generation have lost their direction; ancient values have been thrown overboard and are replaced by superficial concepts, imported by means of globalization and information. Consumerism and entertainment is the name of the game for all those who are able to afford this sort of a lifestyle. Their number is growing and this due to the remittance of millions of Nepali’s who are working abroad. As it were, many are losing the ground beneath their feet.
In stark contrast to the above mentioned situation we are seeing a rising number of peoples whose ends are no longer meeting. Inflation is rampant, the cost for basic needs like food, rents, school fees, healthcare and the like are skyrocketing. According to a recent survey 46% of the population is un-and-underemployed. Thousands of people are leaving the country every month in search for a better life, amongst them the most qualified and capable. For them, voting with their feed seems to be the only possible choice.
The Chinese characters for crisis consist of two symbols, one stands for danger and the other for opportunity. Above we briefly described the danger, so let us now look at the opportunity.
Nepal is changing at a tremendous pace and we are observing a dramatic shift with regard to the status of the female gender! In Nepal, like in most other Asian Nations the women are the backbone of the economy, it is them who are working hardest and it is them who are most responsible. This is a fact!!
Until 10 years ago the majority of women in Nepal were deprived of most basic rights. Only few had access to education, they were suppressed, they had no voice.
Today we are looking at a completely different picture. The majority of girls have access to education, they are discovering their intelligence, their creativity, their talent; they are becoming increasingly confident, they are expressing themselves, they are raising their voice!
Almost 60% of the Nepali population is under the age of 25 and the majority of them belong to the female gender. This is the opportunity we are talking about; this is what is going to lead to dramatic and positive change within the next 15/20 years!!!


Namely "the empowerment of the female gender"!


And this is exactly what all the projects of SOS Bahini are about! All our projects have been developed to this end and the success of our organization is proving that we came up with the right solution at the right time.
Below you will find a brief description of all our projects, each one serving a distinct purpose and all of them together combining to an all encompassing strategy; namely, to prevent abuse and discrimination and to empower the female gender by means of education, livelihood skill training, job-training and empowerment action programs.

The "HUB"

The HUB is the heart of our organization. It is a safe space which is serving as Contact-Centre and meeting point for all our target groups. Awareness programs and health-camps are frequently taking place, and all this of course free of charge. The beneficiaries of our EDU-Care program, girls and boys, are coming here for lunch and homework. Our Hostel which is providing home for up to 22 girls is located amidst organic farming and livestock to provide our beneficiaries with healthy, nutritious food. Moreover the HUB is the seat of our administration and the management and it is from here that all our projects and coordinators are being monitored.

The IFAP Project
Currently 6 families are benefitting from the "Integrated-Family-Aid Program" and IFAP 7 will be established in 2010.

The EDUCARE PROJECT
This project has been designed to support single mothers with dependent children who still have a place to live but who don't have enough income to provide education, healthcare and nutritious food for their children. For this target-group we are providing education, healthcare and basic foodstuff and this according to their respective needs.
Currently 6 such families with a total of 24 beneficiaries are benefitting from this project. We intend to increase the number of these families to 10 by the end of this year.

The "Lighthouse"
This project is placed in Pokhara's main slum area and with it we are offering a number of programs designed to support the most vulnerable and at risk.
We are providing healthcare, awareness programs, free medicine and contraceptives plus educational programs for adolescent girls and mothers. A great number of female slum dwellers are flocking to the "Lighthouse" daily……..there is a light!

The " Jean Prum-Training-Centre"
With this "Vocational-Training-Centre" named after our late benefactor Mr.Jean Prum we are offering a number of workshops that are all designed to provide Job-training, Livelihood-skills & Education. Our Art- and-handy-craft-workshops are a great success! It is quite inspiring to watch the awakening of creativity in the participants and how this way of expressing themselves enhances their self-confidence!

The "Fire Hook"
This project has been designed to reach out to one of the most vulnerable groups, namely the girls and young women working in Dance/Cabin restaurants and all those involved or on the verge of prostitution. But despite our effort to reach out to a great number, only considerably few of them are seizing the opportunity to change their lifestyle. However, we are providing a safe space, counseling, advice and skill-training to these young women and they are happy to find refuge if needed so and people they can trust and talk to.
In the meantime a great number of adolescent girls and mother groups are benefitting from the different action and awareness programs we are providing at the "Fire-Hook". Moreover the vicinity to the "Lighthouse" and the joint action and health-camps that we are frequently providing has created an synergy effect and this for the benefit of many.

The "Bahini Café"
This is our most recent project and we are planning to start activities in Oct./Nov. 2010.
The Bahini Café will serve as a training-centre for our target-groups. We will offer a six monthly apprentiship in the respective profession of cook, pastry-baker and waitress. In addition we offer a management-training for those who have accomplished the three different trainings.
The goods produced will be served in the adjacent "Bahini Café" and this in style and with charm!
With our projects we are not only giving hope to many, but we help them to make their hope become reality!
“Let us not count the seeds in an apple, let us imagine all the forests growing from a single seed!”
I would like to congratulate Mrs.Radha Paudel, co-founder and manager of SOS Bahini for her dedication and her excellent work and the whole TEAM for their strong commitment to provide quality service to our beneciaries and to reach out to an ever growing number of the most vulnerable and needy in Nepal!
Last not least I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Francois Prum, President of our sister organization “ Cooperation Humanitaire Luxembourg” and to all our partners and friends around the world for your trust and loyal support! Nothing of the above mentioned could have been achieved without you!
Sincerely yours Raymond Lindinger
Co-Founder & Coordinator