Programs & services

1. Facilitation of protecting mechanism and access to justice through Prevention and Response on Early Child Marriage, Corporal Punishment and violence against children and women  in Surkhet Midwest Nepal. Aawaaj has been worked in partnership with TDH Germany with support of AEI Luxumburg


1. Mass awareness / Campaign / social mobilization with youth, children, parents, women groups and Networks in Salkot and Babiyachaur VDCs. Total 54 groups are mobilized.

1.1    Interaction with school teachers school management /parent association committee for child friendly learning environment and on how we can prevent early child marriage and corporal punishment
1.2    Street drama,  Radio program /jingle broadcasting from regional radio Nepal mostly views of children who faced abuse,  violence, CP and early marriage
1.3    IEC materials Pamphlet, leaflet, posters, hoarding board,  Cultural program , talk show focused on early child marriage and corporal punishment,  
1.4    child help line management and information
1.5    Establish 2 Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS)  in marginalized communities  
1.6    16 days campaign focused on early child marriage and corporal punishment
 
Results:
•    Understand local situation of violence, early child marriage and corporal punishment its trend, why and how they children affected. We understand we can play vital role and form immediate actions group to end violence, child marriage and CP related behaviors at school, household and community level.
•    Empower, sensitize teachers, students and mobilize children, women, youth, communities and influence duty bearers to report and respond violence, early child marriage and corporal punishment in 2 VDCs of Surkhet  rural mid-west
•    Beneficiaries work as change agents and sensitize on the issues.
•    Reporting, listening, make immediate emotional support for children and women who have gone through corporal punishment, early child marriage
•    Children and women receive appropriate support services at the family and community levels.
•    Participants aware on  a) benefit of delay marriage and b) their impacts on their own life  C )  sampled  interaction & mass awareness participants agree that abuse, violence, child marriage and corporal punishment is not a private matter and must be reported and punished according to the law
•    Communities are initiated for the legal process for reporting , child sexual abuse, child marriage including report to ( CSM member, child club, youth club, children network, teachers,  CPC members, Aawaaj, Police, DCWB), and aware on reporting detail and when to report
•    Children and parents understand  a) 3 importance of delaying marriage and b) 3 reasons why it is important to report of child marriage and corporal punishment
•    Participants observed positive changes in the attitudes and/or behavior of their parents /peers / siblings since they joined the group
•    Mass Awareness Materials are attractive, interesting and easy to understand
•    Train parents association, SMC in each school are ready to fight against severe punishment in schools and make code of conducts for both teachers, parents and children and realize his/her mistake and not to repeat it again.
•    Strengthen relationship between various groups, service providers  and maintain protocols within school, VCPC, and district Child Protection Committee for reporting and work as watch dog and strengthen   groups
•    After awareness there is enabling environment and the community people take action in holistic way to support survivors by mobilizing children, youth and helped for sharing, caring to get justice in the target communities and schools.
•    The group  monitor, reporting and manage for the prompt response
•    Children take help line and access for counseling if children face problems
•    The children, youth group and its network at VDC and district level work with high motivation and taking ownership of the project


2. Capacity Building Training

2.1     Staff orientation, planning and review meeting
2.2      Child friendly learning and counseling training to school teachers, CFS facilitators
2.3     Future goal setting training to adolescent girls and boys has done.
Results:
•    Concern staff understand the project concept, process, and implement smoothly
•    After receiving temporary and legal services ; beneficiaries report satisfaction with a) attitude and treatment of staff and b) quality of services
•    CFS facilitators are more sensitive for reporting, listening, make immediate emotional support for children and teachers value the child friendly learning.
•    Aware on consequences of early child marriage, corporal punishment such as non-violent teaching, on alternatives ways and use the media to make the public aware.
•    Monthly review, planning with staff help for sharing experiences and changing strategies  as per need  and situation
•    Targeted group and communities, rights-holders and their supporters actively engaged in promoting awareness and create support mechanism for children.
•    Survivors, families, stakeholders and concerned community members are willing to take a public stance against violence, early child marriage, and corporal punishment
•    Three days future goal setting training to adolescent girls and boys was organized for 77 participants (38 girls and 39 boys) . They are from 4 schools, child network and child group.


3. Management and respond to children and women affected from violence


3.1     Rescue, recovery and reintegration, Family and Community Mediation
3.2     Economic support to parents and youth, education support to children
3.3     Temporary shelter support (food, shelter, utilities, transportation,  medicine )
3.4    Legal counseling and Legal Services support to survivors and their follow up
Results:
•    60 Vulnerable children have improved access and quality of educational  recreational services and their families are less arguing and more supportive to children
•    Rights-holders and related stakeholders take collective action and started reporting
•    Survivors are willing and able to access counseling services and legal services
•    Survivors of early child marriage and corporal punishment have improved emotional, social, and family functioning and able to join support groups
•    Survivors support group of children are effective for the referral, mediation, emotional support, advocacy and for the solidarity of early child marriage
•    Children and youth demonstrate at least 3 improvements in their family functioning (e.g. are able protect themselves/children, pay more attention to their family, are able to make decisions about themselves, children and families)
•    Parents/children receiving mediation services,  improved attitudes and behaviors towards each other after completing mediation (e.g. listening, respect,
•    Children do a) complete daily homework, b) achieve 80% school attendance c) pass final school exams d) explain ways of delaying marriage and safety measures
•    CFS children regularly joining extra-curricular activities and can describe 3 ways that they have benefited from their activities
•    100% of drop-out/unschooled children receiving scholarships have 80% school attendance and ensure safety.
•    29 children  were rescued and reintegration in coordination with DCWB
•    18 child clubs were formed and reformed in 2 VDCs. 375 (219 girls and 156 boys) children are affiliated in groups.  Children started monthly meetings, discussed on child rights, child marriage and trafficking.
•    65 marginalized children (35 in Babiyachaur and 30 in Salkot) are regularly attending CFS that contributed for regular school of children, children are aware on child rights, domestic violence, and trafficking and child marriage.
•    After family mediation its easy to do social integration and facilitate beneficiaries to work as change agents and sensitize on the issues.
•    Increase children enrolment and retention in school and have safe place to meet and share consequences and skills to deal with the challenges, take normal life.
•    They bring positive feelings and build up self-confidence, self-esteem, self-respect and continue education.
•    Marginalized populations have reduced vulnerability via increased social, educational and economic resources


4.  Meeting, Interaction and Discussion with duty bearers


4.1     District level program induction and progress sharing
4.2      VDC level interaction with VCPC and quick meeting to respond if child marriage and corporal punishment happen
4. 3     District level interaction with DCWB, DCPC , DEO, DDC, WCDO, NGOs
4.4     Monitoring by DDC, DEO, WCDO, and line agencies
Results:
•    Key stakeholders demonstrate positive attitudes and practices related to the prevention, reporting, rescue and reintegration of children and women
•    Mainstreaming issues with Key Duty-Bearers and local authorities
•    Duty bearers are active and fulfilling their responsibilities to rights-holders.                            
•    Local duty-bearers develop improved mechanism / policies to stop corporal punishment and for the prevention of child marriage and services to benefit
•    Its easy to integrate within a development plan of district development plan and with participation and empowerment of communities in mass awareness.
•    Good Co-ordination & Collaboration with authorities and increase ownership, easy to linkages with government ( DEO, DHO, DDC, Police, women and children office, doctors, Lawyers, district court)  for prompt action.
•    The Local government, all political parties at VDC, and related stakeholders work with high motivation and taking ownership of the project
•    Child Protection Committee are formed at schools and engaged against corporal punishment and early child marriage.
•    DCPC mandates and procedures have been developed to respond all forms of abuse and exploitation, including child marriage and corporal punishment.
•    80% of members are  in school and allow CPCs are operated
•    Duty-bearers, service providers, leaders are sensitive and responsive to the needs and demands of survivors.

 


2. Counseling


Aawaaj has been providing counseling care and support to people who are in need especially to violence survivor, vulnerable women and children. Aawaaj has an experienced and trained counselor who provides counseling to the sufferers of violence hence helping to build their self-confidence; self-esteem, self -respect, self-reliance and bring positive feelings in their own life and help them live in the society with dignity.

Working Strategies that we believe and Important for the Positive Impact to Survivors

1.    Respect and Dignity
•    To find their own identity, aware on  self-respect - I have full right over my body, its not my fault, I am not alone- drawing
•    Active Listening in a way s/he feels that we are caring you  
•    Raising voice to get justice continuously with allies, family
•    Believe  what’s the survivor said and understand her sense,   
•    Develop self-strength of survivors and able to control own rights and have decision making capacity- encourage.
•    Work together; let them understand and recognize the problems; together think and explore the ways to address the problems and respect survivor’s views, participation.
•    Maintain confidentiality throughout the process.
2.    Empowerment
•    Give opportunity for skills, fun, play, song, game, dance
•    Ensure her / his safety and look after short term basic needs
•    Positively influence Men’s and Boys who are change makers
•    Give information on legal rights, women and children rights,   legal procedure and services provided by Aawaaj, authorities
•    Active participation in development activities through awareness, training and skills for good results
•    Exploring resources for solving their own problem through linkages and Support economically self-sustained activities
•    Support school fees, personal safety training/peer education and follow-up meetings to protect survivors.
•    Engage to play the supportive role in community to manage and referral the affected person, monitoring and follow up of economic and   education support, and  identify those  children and women who are  living in violence and Abuse.
•    Sharing feelings and problems among survivor network
•    Vocational Skills training, business entrepreneurship and life skills, Job placement in local area or start self-employment
3.    Participation of Survivors
•    Facilitate  family and community mediation and seek survivors participation for their own or while it happened to others
•    Engage them at community for the immediate reporting, involve them in various awareness program, emotional support to other children and women who have similar problems
•     Visit on the spot after reporting and interaction with people to whom survivor’s feel important;
•     Facilitate the survivors  to  work as change makers at community, and schools to end violence, abuse, neglect
•    Creative Arts ( drawing, song, dance, street drama, Events  (competitions,  campaign, media/press releases)


4.    Partnership and Sustainability
•    Working on what local resources, skills is available at community for long-term emotional and social recovery to promote protection and survival, development rights and to restore dignity of survivors
•    Work with authorities for justice, Application Assistance, friends for legal process, birth registration, lobby to compensate Half salary, food and fees for children education
•    Working with private sectors and their support to provide job.
•    Build capacity of existing groups, Establish Support  System, linkages with CSM, child group, Creating Conducive Environment through coordination and collaboration with authorities, civil society and various groups
•    Support the strength of families, communities and work with them to support survivors as per need.


What we do in 1st session of counseling?
•    Greetings and welcome, allow to drink water , tea
•    Pre information – Name, from where it come, why they visited at Aawaaj
•    Again welcome politely and emotional support in counseling room, see the situation, Rapport building, introduce each other
•    Relaxation -allow to take rest, sleep,
•    Listening the affected person, make immediate plan by counselor

Staff Preparation
•    The place for counseling, level of sitting
•    News print, colors, play materials, flip chart,
•    Drinking water, emergency kit-
•    Level of closeness, -talking, sitting in L shape
•    Care the dress up of counselor
•    Time preparation,

What we do not do in counseling
•    Not discrimination based on caste/ ethnicity, gender, age, disability, status, geography,  
•    Not raising any expectation and not promising things which we can’t do
•    Not pressurized to give information if they are not ready and make ensure to prevent from re-victimized
•    Do not disclose with their status without consent of her / his
•    Not increased fear, humiliation, or sadness, not labeled, blame, guilt
•    Do not ask too many questions at a time and don’t show the power  


Working with family
•    Regular home visit, family counseling ask them not to leave children alone,
•    Inform parents what to talk, what shouldn’t talk and how to talk with children. Do telephone or contact in case of emergency
•    Invite them in our program, training or send parents to attend meeting, workshop organized by others
•    Legal information, economic support and scholarship support
•    Ask them to join in network, women group, CSM,

 

 
3.    Child Helpline (1098)

 


Aawaaj has been operated free child helpline (1098) in Surkhet district in collaboration and with co-ordination with Ministry of women and child social welfare, central child welfare board, district child welfare board, district development committee and Nepal Tele-communication since 2010. A child helpline is a phone and outreach service for children. It is accessible to all children whenever they require assistance or just need someone to talk to. A child helpline places children and their protection as its core principle, providing emergency assistance and linking children to long term services. A child helpline is accessible to children and young people around the clock, free of cost and enables them to contact someone in any emergency situation. It provides children and young people with an opportunity to express their concerns and talk about the issues directly affecting them. A child helpline is founded on the belief that children and young people have rights, and that they can identify their problems. Phone calls from children are received in contact centers, where helpline staff and volunteers attend to the calls.
The helpline team member will go out, meet the child and help the child to safety. The helpline will have to act immediately to get the child out of the dangerous or emergency situation and after that make sure the child is linked to the appropriate services for long term follow up.
Government of Nepal, Working Procedure of Child Helpline-2064 (2007) defines the term 'children at risk' indicate the following children.

•    Street children
•    Children at high risk labour
•    Lost and abandoned  children
•    Children in bonded labour or forced labour
•    Children who are victims of physical and mental torture, discrimination, exploitation of labour and misbehaviour
•    Children who are suffered from severe illness, accident and disaster                    
•    Children of arrested or imprisoned parents or children in conflict with law
•    Children living under difficult situations
•    Children who are victims or are prone to sexual harassment, sexual abuse and trafficking
•    Children seeking psycho-social counselling.
•    Children affected by armed conflict and wars
•    Children who are victim of insolence
 


4.    “Improving Livelihood through Empowerment” at Thirpu and Ramnakot VDCs in Kalikot district, Karnali Zone, Midwestern part of Nepal



Aawaaj has been worked in partnership with Fastenopfer at  Thirpu and Ramnakot VDCs of Kalikot district as these VDCs have been left aside from the different fundamental needs. Aawaaj Surkhet has taken it as the opportunity to reach to the target group in remote areas. The selected 2 VDCs are high   Prevalence of gender and caste based discrimination. In the proposed district child marriage prevalence rate is very high - 47% in Kalikot, and its impact on education of girls and health is measurable. There is  High infant and maternal mortality rates due to a lack of basic health services and high malnutrition, low literacy rate, insufficient school facilities and limited access to quality education; Lack of transport facilities and road networks across the districts. There is lack of employment and high seasonal migration to India and high prevalence of HIV/AIDs among migrants. There is low agricultural productivity and poor rural infrastructure (e.g. roads, irrigation) that limits production and markets.

Since July 2014 Aawaaj has been working in very remote Village Development Committees Thirpu and Ramnakot of Kalikot district, and will continue for next 3 years. Kalikot itself falls in a very remote region geographically most of which area has been untouched by the development indicators like road, electricity, drinking water, communication facilities and other basic service. The project has been focused to enable to access basic health and education facilities and strengthen locally available natural resources like forests, water, wind, and land. The project has been implemented in an integrated approach of basic education, health, and agriculture, so that the fundamental rights of women and children can be ensured especially on improve quality of service on health, education and agriculture through awareness, empowering  couple and community awareness.

Program achievements:
•    According to the reporting data from health post/ birthing centre, we found that 40% of increment in Antenatal  regular checkup  and among them 34 % women went in birthing center for delivery and attended for postnatal checkup as well.
•    Every couple has established small kitchen garden, give attention in personal hygiene, mange dish wash place, garbage management and sanitation.
•    In recent days, birthing center is establish well management and also trying to give 24 hours service after our regular meeting, discussion with staffs, management committee and technical support, now they are managing mothers to keep at least 4/5 hours after delivery.
•    Couple and community people have submitted 15 proposals in VDC council that was for fruit plants purchase, health camp, awareness on early marriage / menstruation and birthing center management. They motivate own neighbor for kitchen gardening, sending children at school and regular heath checkup of  pregnant women and lactating mother.
•    After training and meeting with School and health post management committee,  they are doing regular meeting, trying to get more scholarship schemes for students and make rules/ policies like these; teachers and health post staffs are not allowed to take leave without permission from MC or at least need to inform. In case if they do not follow the rule, the authorized post will be bound to disagree to accept their leave and also deduct from the salary equivalent to the number of leave taken days.
•    Couples' have been slowly developing their sharing and talking habit with community people and also they are introducing as the community couple in their own area (ward).

Couple Nain Bahadur Bam,Aula inhabitant of Ward no 6 Thirpu VDC, actively raised the corruption issues related to School Management Committee (SMC) and Head master which was happening since long period. With the help of couple Bam, community came to know that they were wrong and the couple got the support from community and DEO to change SMC and Headmaster. Now he has succeeded of being the president of School Management Committee. According to him, before selected as couple; he did not know what was going on and was never concerned regarding those aspects. As he was selected as couple, he started to give concern and was aware of what is wrong and what’s right and in return he found that was wrong. As the chairperson of school he is regular and also encouraging students and parents to attend regular. This is one of the great achievements of couple's empowerment.
Saroti Acharya is another female couple of Ramnakot ward no 3. She shared, “before the selection as couple,  I had a fear of talking directly with community men as well as own father and bother's in- law. I always used to feel shy and used to think on how to talk with them. After joining this empowerment program as couple, I had built the power and strength to talk with men and women. Now I definitely find some changes myself and can change my community too.
 
Learnings :
•    If couples are taking ownership of program then It would be easy to work in community.
•    Unless couples do not build up their self-confidence they are not ready to take responsibility of community work.  So we feel that it is necessary to develop their self-confidence by doing regular interaction, meeting and monitoring their working activities in community.
•    Once couple establish in community as facilitator it is easier to work them in community.
•    If community people are also aware on the role of couple, community itself can watch whether they are doing work properly or not, so that couple will be function actively and honestly.
•    Once couples are empowered it is easier to empower others.
Objectives of program:
1.    Women and marginalized people able  to represent in meaningful decision making process in community development activities and services.
2.    Groups and network form/  reform/ strength
3.    Promote quality of health and education services
4.    promote linkage and coordination of community people  with line agency
Expected results for next 3 years
•    Develop the  food habit to use vegetable  in daily life and promote  kitchen gardening on each household
•    Increase representation of women in the decision making bodies of local governments, local  structure like user  groups and  VDC council with meaning full participation  
•    Local governments disburse VDC target  grant for the women's rights/IGA
•    Women / girls and youth network are united and actively function to protect and promoting their right
•    Sensitize community to reduce women work load and effect of early marriage and chaupadi
•    Changing KAP of community people toward women and girls
•    Women , girls,  youth and boys network actively function in community
•    Increase the enrollment of girls in  lower and secondary school  and  also attend  final exam  5, 8 ,   and 11
•    SMC committee actively functioning  to make teachers and student attendance regular and create  girl friendly environment
•    Internalize and demo code of conduct by teachers, student and school management committee
•    Increase the health checkup ratio of women, Dalit and people  in health post.   
•    women come out to share  their uterus as well as STI problem and visit health post for check up
•    Improve the quality of service in health and  local governance  system
•    positive change on behavior and attitude toward meaningful  women participation in different structure and as well as with services takers .

 


5.    Prevention and management of Pelvic organ prolapsed in selected VDCs in Surkhet and Bardiya district



Aawaaj has been worked in partnership with Karuna – Shechen, USA  for the implementation of the Pelvic organ prolapse program through awareness raising program since 2014 and has been continued till 2017 in 2 VDCs of  Surkhet and 3 VDC in Bardiya district, Nepal.  

The main Purpose of this program is early prevention and management of Pelvic organ prolapsed in selected VDCs in Surkhet and Bardiya district.

Achievements:
•    Reporting of prolapsed uterus cases has increased in health center
•    70% of women had gone through health check up for  uterus prolapsed and seek treatment
•    Women has come out to share their reproductive health issues , uterus problems, as well as STI problem and visit health post, primary health care , hospital for health check up
•    Improved linkages and coordination of community people  with line agency especially health sector  and improve the service in health especially to manage uterus prolapsed problems
•    Local health institutions are sensitive for health services especially, prolapsed uterus problem.

The major focused activities are;

-     Mass awareness  with  women, adolescent girls, youth, husbands, in laws, FCHV, TBA, women leaders in 3 VDC of Bardiya and 2 VDC of Surkhet
-    Interaction with community people, women groups, FCHV, awareness to conduct for essential health checkup and reproductive health specially STI and uterus prolapsed.
-    Rallies/Campaign Events,  16 Days activism day Against Violence, International Women's Day, TEEJ Festival focused on uterus prolapsed prevention
-    Street drama performance in each VDC (3 VDC of Bardiya+2 VDC of Surkhet) focused on uterus prolapsed prevention
-    All the existing group mobilization at VDC level and mainstreaming uterus prolapsed prevention and respond
-    Interaction, discussion and orientation with health post management and monitoring  committee  and staffs
-    Nutrition fair ( Mela ) organized for antenatal, lactating mother
-    Interaction with   pregnant ,delivery women, their family , husband and new married couple
-    Facilitated Uterus prolapsed screening camp per year and transfer basic skills to put ring pessary and cleaning to women leaders, FCHV, TBA
-    Interaction with health post, PHC, DHO, hospital  duty bearers to access quality services for the women who suffered from prolapsed uterus problems


6.    Strengthening local governance and community development in Surkhet


Aawaaj has been implementing LGCDP program in 15 VDCs and Birendranagar municipality since last 4 years in Surkhet district.   The Program has brought all local actors, institutions, and local donors within a framework of network, collaboration, coordination mechanisms. The Programme envisaged to improve systems, procedures, structures, tools and capacities to improve local governance for effective service delivery and citizen empowerment. The program focuses on social mobilization, service delivery and resource mobilization, local economic development and livelihood improvement aspects. The core development principles of LGCDP II are sector-wide approach, equity, subsidiary, harmonization and alignment, participation and collaboration, sustainability and value for money.


Goal: 

The overall goal of the LGCDP II is to contribute towards poverty reduction through better local governance and community development. To achieve the goal, the Program has identified local governance as an essential element which is directly linked to people in their day-to-day life. Accountable governance, quality infrastructure and efficient service delivery, public financial management, economic development and community development are major areas of the Program.  
Purpose:
The purpose of the program is to improve local governance for effective service delivery and citizen empowerment. The program has adopted a framework to strengthen decentralization, devolution and accountable local governance system which makes basic service delivery effective and efficient and empowers citizens mainly women, children and disadvantaged groups.
 Program Components: LGCDP II comprises of four key components of intervention that include:
1.    Citizen’s empowerment (demand side improvements);
2.    Service delivery and capacity development (supply side improvements);
3.    Socio-economic and infrastructure development (local development)
4.    Governance reform (policy).


Outcomes and Outputs:
 LGCDP II has aimed to achieve four outcomes in the areas of downward accountability, ( Local body ) LB responsiveness, effective local services and policy strengthening. In total, there are nine outputs within the four outcome areas.
Outcome 1: Citizens and Communities hold their local governance actors accountable: In this outcome, LGCDP aims to achieve results in the areas of citizens empowerment including women, children, disadvantaged groups and their institutions through social mobilization processes. The outcome also intends to achieve results in the areas of local governance  particularly holding LB accountable toward disadvantaged groups including women and children by engaging people in planning process, monitoring and oversights activities. This outcome contains two outputs
Output 1: Citizens and community organizations are empowered to participate actively and assert their rights in local governance
Output 2: Accountability mechanisms for local governance are in place


Outcome 2: Local Bodies are more responsible for citizen’s demand:
On this outcome, expected result areas include: LBs become more resourceful to provide local services to the citizens, LBs increase their own resources, capacity development, formula-based fund transfer to LBs by the adoption of equitable principles on their performance measured by MCPM. Supply-driven capacity development initiatives are also emphasized aiming of improved local Public Financial Management (PFM) and reduced fiduciary risks. There are three outputs (outputs 3, 4 &5) under this outcome in the program result framework.
Output 3: LB’s access to resources increased
Output 4: Public financial management system improved
Output 5: Institutional and human resource capacities of LBs and central level agencies involved in local governance strengthened


Outcome 3:
All citizens are provided with efficient and effective local services: This outcome mainly aims to achieve results in the areas of improvement of services delivery of LBs for core services and improvement of development activities operating at the local level. The local services including social and infrastructure development are expected to deliver effectively and efficiently in a harmonious and integrated manner as per citizens’ needs and preferences.
There are two defined outputs (outputs 6&7) contributing to this outcome.
Output 6: Access to and quality of local infrastructure and other socio-economic services administered by LBs are improved
Output 7:  Strengthening integrated planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation and coordination amongst local governance actors
Outcome 4:
Strengthened policy and institutional framework for devolution, sub-national governance, and local service delivery: Policy and institutional frameworks for devolution, sub-national governance, and local service delivery are expected key areas of expected results of this outcome that need to be updated and improved in the context of state restructuring process. The policy outcome mainly focuses on the political rights, administrative arrangement and devolution of responsibilities for improved local services including sectoral services. The institutional arrangements as per the constitutional provisions are other institutional framework areas that cover mainly local and sub- national (provincial) arrangements. This outcome result is dependent on following two outputs (output 8 &9).
Output 8: Refined policy on local governance and improved inter-agency cooperation
Output 9: Policies developed for devolution and federalism
So far in local level Aawaaj has done followings inputs and its achievements:
•    Advocacy and  training with community level health service provider   
•    Community level interaction between health service provider and clients
•    Ward level social resources and access mapping,  well being ranking
•    Citizen awareness center (CAC) established and facilitate to access government services easily, and participated in the planning meeting at local level
•    Increase capacity of social mobiliser, VDC secretary & GESI committee of DDC.
•    Training on GESI Policy implementation with 50 VDC secretary
•    Capacity building training to  district Gender Equity watch group , GESI Budget planning and Audit facilitation
•    Community based monitoring of projects; make it more accountable and transparent.
•    Public hearing and capacity building training, orientations and community awareness

 


7.    Micro Enterprise Development program, Surkhet



This project has been running with the partnership of MEDEP and Nepal Government since 2012 with Aawaaj in Surkhet Midwest Nepal. Main objectives of program are;
•    To increase number of micro-enterprises being operated by members of poor and excluded groups, with a specific focus on women, Dalit, Janajati and disadvantaged indigenous nationalities in a working district..
•    To develop knowledge, skills and capacity of micro entrepreneurs,
•    To create more conducive and gender-equitable business environment for micro-entrepreneurs focused on forestry, agriculture and livestock.

So far every year under this project 555 marginalizes women, Dalit, Janajti and youth benefited from different training. The entrepreneurs are given exposure visit, technical support and skills build on. 80% are succeeding to establish small enterprise business and have earning 10000- 15000 per month.


Impact
The program's activities had a direct economic impact; firstly on the target beneficiaries and secondly on the local economies in the ten implementing districts during phase I. Even though the impact was directly related to economic and income generation, there was a chain effect which rippled down to each member of a family supported by MEDEP. The chain effect of the economic impact was such that economic aspect was overshadowed by the improvement in the living standards of the beneficiaries in terms of meeting basic social development indictors as a result of the impact on people's income. The program hopes that impact of the program on the lives of poor people will help policy-makers understand the role, contribution and importance of the micro-enterprise sector in reducing poverty in Nepal.


Increased Family Income
One important purpose of MEDEP was to significantly increase the income of the poor people. As one indicator of success regarding incomes, MEDEP has compared the participating entrepreneur's family per capita income before MEDEP with the net income (revenues minus all non-family-labour costs) of the resultant micro-enterprise (not including any other income that the family may still be earning). The average MEDEP micro-enterprise then provided 56% more per capita family income than the family was receiving before MEDEP. The percentage increase in family incomes is similar for Dalits, Indigenous Nationalities, and ultra-poor; however their enterprises are smaller than those of other MEDEP entrepreneurs.
Interestingly, the socially excluded Dalit and Indigenous Nationalities have performed well in terms of the increase in family incomes as a result of their participation in MEDEP. On average, they start from a smaller base salary, resulting in larger increases percentage-wise. Nonetheless, such rapid increases in family income among the very poor and disadvantaged can often have very significant impacts on their lives.
Although the average increase in family per capita income is 56%, it is important to note the differences. The following situations appear to affect performance. The percentages of entrepreneurs experiencing higher increases in income were greater among the Phase 1 entrepreneurs than with the Phase II and Phase III entrepreneurs who have only recently begun their enterprises.


Impact on Women's Position
Women entrepreneurs report that they have been able to raise their status and identity inside and outside their household, and strengthen their role is household decision-making. The majority of the women entrepreneurs interviewed stated that their income generally goes for better food, clothing, education for their children and other household expenses including their children's marriage. Despite the program target to have 70% women participation, women lagged behind their male entrepreneurs in their rate of family income growth (average increase 48%). This could be attributed to a large number of part-time enterprises managed by women. However, the fact that a greater percentage of women recently begun new entrepreneurs, and because women faced more problems than men in travelling during conflict situations.
A small in number but highly successful women entrepreneurs are the single women, either widow or abandoned by their husbands. They have scaled up their enterprises, constructed houses, provided education to their children. Women who have had low self-esteem have become economically empowered, are at decision-making, have a higher standing in the community and a sense of solidarity. A large number of the women are operating home-based enterprises in a slow but continued mode due to their family responsibilities.


Program's Efficiency
The MEDEP integrated approach, combining entrepreneurship training, technical skills training, micro-finance access, market linkages, and considerable on-going advice and encouragement to new entrepreneurs have significant upfront costs. However, MEDEP's reliance on Enterprise Development Facilitators who are locally resident, its consolidation of some management functions, and other cost-efficient strategies helps minimize the expenses, even for a complex project. Most important is that the costs are offset by the low drop-out rate among MEDEP entrepreneurs that results in a relatively low "unit" cost.

 


8.    Emergency and Resilience training in Kathmandu



Aawaaj organized training on the concept of RESILIENCE, in collaboration with BICE International from 23rd to 26th May 2016 in Kathmandu Nepal. Aawaaj worked with BICE more than 13 years in Mid-west Nepal.
RESILIENCE is defined as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress. Tutor of RESILIENCE contributes in this sense to promote resilient processes in children victims of traumatic experiences. Recognizing and responding to children's needs, creating a secure, warm and stimulating environment, make the vulnerable children more resilient and lead him to overcome the difficulties, the anxieties and traumas and to restart again their growth path. “Tutors of resilience" is an intervention which aims to orient the work and transmit practical resilience tools of all who work with children in vulnerable contexts.


Objective:
Provide training’s participants with tools and methods that encouraged them to assume the role of tutors of resilience for children who had experienced traumatic situations of different kinds (natural disasters, war, violence,  forced displacement, sexual abuse, )
The participants were from organization that includes NGO social workers, counsellors, psychologists, and educational staff who are involved in the care of children victims of traumatic experiences through natural disasters or abuse exploitation and to inspire them in their daily work. The participants were highly motivated and have already a good experience in the field, which take part in the training is considered very enriching.

For adult participants:
 It was focused on acquisition and development of theoretical and clinical knowledge about resilience process, risk factors and protective factors of children victims of traumatic experiences. Maturation of operational skills in promoting the resilience process in children victims of traumatic experiences.


For Children:  
Increased psycho physical well-being, strengthening of self-identity and identify child's internal resources, consolidation of external resources, group, peers and families and strengthening formulation capacity of traumatic experiences.
The training was focused on theoretical and followed by 2 days practicum with children and parents.



9.    Child Friendly Space (CFS):


Child Friendly Spaces Aawaaj is running Child Friendly Spaces for the protection and care of vulnerable children. The CFS is a structured in safe place where children and youth meet their peers to play, learn competencies and skills to deal with the risks they face, be involved in some educational activities and relax in a safe place. It gives the children the sense of safety, structure and continuity that provides support. It gives them a sense of belongingness after having been displaced. It builds cohesion and a sense of community. Children who are from marginalized community used to come for tuition classes to improve the school performance and child friendly activities to build the confident. CFS has helped the children in following ways:
    CFS has helped to develop children’s reading/studying habit. They do not miss any CFS class.
    In the CFS class, talented student helps weak student to study, sing a song and jointly plays a drama as well, thus, CFS children use to learn faster and effectively.
    Likewise a senior student helps new students in the CFS, thus they have built a habit of helping each other and sense of unity has developed among them.

Target Children Beneficiaries for CFS

Community Level:
•    High Incidence of Abuse/Addictions/Poverty/Crime
•    Lack of Law Enforcement Capacity / Commitment
•    Lack of Prevention and Protection Mechanisms for Children
•    Lack of Access to Primary Education & Basic Health Care Services
 Family Level:
•    History of Sexual Abuse / Domestic Violence Among One or Both Parents
•    Female Headed Household, esp. no property rights
•    Illiteracy in Parents
•    Lack of Parenting / Discipline Skills
•    Extreme Family Poverty / Unemployment of Parents, inc. Children not in school, poor food security, large family debt, poor housing, poor health care,
•     Lack of Understanding of Sexual Abuse /Legal Mechanisms
Individual Child Level:
•    History of Physical/Sexual Abuse, Neglect or Bullying of Child
•    History of Child Substance Abuse
•    Child with Disability
•     Child is Especially Unattractive, especially discriminate against girls
•    Child is Extremely Shy / Poor Social Skills  
•    Child is Isolated in Family / Community (lacks social/protection network)
•    Child is Out of School / Illiterate
•    Child has Lack of Nutrition and Poor Hygiene
•     Child Working / Living Away from Biological Parents
•     Child Lacks Understanding of Sexual Abuse /Legal Mechanisms
Child Participation:
Child Participation is key pillar of Aawaaj program. It has found that the participation of children and its mobilization to address the issues at grass root level has taken positively by all stakeholders. Children are speaking up and demanding to get services from NGOs, DCWB, DEO, VDC, WCO and DHO.
Their self-confidence and strength has also increased due to group solidarity. The children indicated that when they came in the training they have a chance to share their issues. This also helped them in solving their problems through sharing and discussions.
“They demonstrated their capacity with strong resilient and can manage their lives. They can identify the issues and refer the children to different organizations to receive the services. The children stated that they have to listen to the children, and also to meet children's need as per condition. It was repeatedly mentioned by all children " now we move ahead and develop confidence ourselves and to look after other children and secure their future”. Those people who were against them now support and pay a good respect. In the beginning, the children did not talk with each other but now they have started to trust each other and create a positive environment for building their strength. They developed confidence, self-respect, and learned to solve their problems by themselves. As they were worried about themselves, they mentioned that children have to be loved and cared which has helped in making their life comfortable.

 


10.    Community Support Mechanisms (CSM)


Who are the members of CSM?
Men, women, social leaders, political leaders, school teachers, youths and children are the members of community support groups and they are representative of various groups existed in community such as women group, agriculture group, forest user’s group, mothers group, political leaders, teachers, youth and child club.


Why CSM groups are formed?
•    To create social mobilization against violence of children and women
•    To promote culture of supporting vulnerable/abused children and women
•    To avoid stigmatization and blame to women and children that faced  violence

The activities that are carried out by CSM group are follows:
•    Raise awareness in the community.
•    Support the women and children in providing emotional support and help them to access services (safe place and safe person) in each community are promoted for threatened or abused children and women. For serious type of violence, they are referred to the temporary crisis support center.
•    Identify children and women in the community who are most seriously in need.
•    Decide those who will benefit from educational support, vocational training and Income generation activities targeted for vulnerable or who have faced violence.
•    Organize group discussion and find solution. Sharing with others give some relief and hope, particularly when discussion is part of the culture.
•    Campaigning- lobbying, advocacy, work as pressure group
•    Organize community mediation.


11.    Mediation


Mediation is done to manage for the minor degree of violence in the community and family. Once the mediation process proceeds and understanding between the two parties is made along with community then the person affected will return to their own place. Following are the steps followed in the mediation process.
1) First step: Identifying the concern person
2) Informal interaction
3) Problem Identification


HOW TO START THE MEDIATION
•    Have to listen actively the problem of problem faced people.
•    When the problem faced people are sharing their problem in between mediator should shake their head by saying “yes  ...yes”. go on”
•    Mediator have to support the client by saying you mean to say this….in odd situation where client is not able to express.
•    Mediator should summarized the first party problem or client problem by saying this are the thought of first party now let’s listen the second party , mention the main point and listen them actively and mediator should shake his or her head saying “yes ...yes” and summarized the points at last.
•    For the problem faced people identifying the problem at first its affect and informed about its effect.
•    Mediator should prioritize the good point of both parties and should repeat them.
•    Mediator should encourage both to come in conclusion by identifying their weakness and make them realize that it is their problem, what are yours hidden interest, take decision on how to solve problem.
•    Mediator should not show biasness to either party. Should behave equally.
•    Create win -win situation for both parties, if they both are not agree mediator should not force them to take decision. 

 

12.Women and Girls’ Health Situation 


Reproductive and maternal health is of particular concern among Nepali women. As due to a gender stereotypical role in the society as a child bearer, early and excessive childbearing weakens women, many of whom die or are chronically disabled from complications of pregnancy. It is not uncommon for Nepali women to experience a prolapsed uterus following birth. Often, the prolapse remains untreated and women continue their remaining reproductive life miserable due to pain and suffering. On the other hand, there is risk of sex selective abortion, discrimination in nutrition and post natal care among girl and boy children. A mother giving birth to girl children are treated less favourably in the traditional society. Additionally, the family, school or community at many cases is not well equipped to support a girl child transiting to adolescent with offering her information or services on many pertinent topics like adolescence, menstrual hygiene or even sexual abuse. This may attribute to the dropout rate among young girls that was 22% according to Nepal Adolescent And Youth Survey 2012. Additionally, girl children are subject to child marriage in order to avoid the burden of dowry by parents. The child marriage rate was 58.2% in 2012. This results into unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion and health complications including extreme risk of premature or still birth as well as miscarriage. Thus, girl children and women face numerous health challenges. Women in Nepal have been a victim of malnutrition, especially pregnant women that result into a birth of underweight child. Women have less say on family planning due to cultural barriers and unwanted pregnancies continue to be high due to the unavailability of contraceptives as well as unwillingness of their spouse to use contraceptive.

Goal:

Girls and women lead a healthy live and free of risk from Sexual reproductive health related diseases.

Outcome of practice level on Sexual reproductive health:

  • The maternity and infant mortality rate have been reduced through increasing consciousness about complexity during pregnancy period.
  • The risk of diseases have been reduced of girls and women through positive change of practice level on Sexual reproductive health
  • The congenial superstition free environments have been ensured during pregnancy and healthy mother have been getting healthy.

Major Activities:

  • Orientation on Safe motherhood, prevention of pelvic organ prolapsed, 
  • Training on Sexual reproductive health management 
  • Court yard meeting on pregnancy care in 
  • Primary Health Checkup for pregnant mother and children. 
  • Skill development orientation to reduce reproductive health related
  • Inform women and young girls about new governmental policies like abortion, elimination of chhaupadi through initiating a campaign on Clients Rights
  • Accountability in health services and organising regular health camps and preventive programs to minimise uterine prolapse, cervical cancer, maternal health as well as increase women’s access to contraception and family planning. 
  • Train more community health volunteers or auxiliary nurse midwife as well as provide follow up trainings to enhance their skills in delivering health care in local level. 
  • Provide quality health care facilities free of charge with minimum charge for poor women as well as introduce health insurance scheme for all

 

  • Major Achievement:
  • The maternity and infant mortality rate have reduced in the respective project area. 
  • Sexual reproductive health related diseases have reduced.
  • The congenial and superstation free environment have establish during pregnancy period in the selective area.