Workshop Participants

Jhapa District, Nepal --

Riding in a jeep down a dusty back road in the rural Jhapa District of Nepal, suddenly a brightly colored banner appears over a gate: "Welcome to the Women's Empowerment Workshop for People Affected By Leprosy." Not exactly the kind of sign that one would expect in such an out of the way place, but times are changing and so are people's attitudes and behavior as well.

The workshop in this quiet pastoral setting has been organized by IDEA Nepal. IDEA stands for Integration, Dignity and Economic Advancement for leprosy affected people. IDEA is an international NGO association which holds a special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. IDEA is supported by the Nippon Foundation, and the opening ceremony of this rural workshop was attended by the Foundation's Chairman, Mr Yohei Sasakawa.

The three day workshop (3-5 Dec) was meant to present local women with ideas to bring about socio-cultural change and economic empowerment of women in this eastern part of Nepal. In his remarks to the audience of local women and health officials, Mr Sasakawa stated firmly: "Life with dignity is very important. Your human rights as people affected by leprosy must be recognized too. You have been cured of leprosy, so you deserve to hold a job, and your children must be allowed to attend school. Stand up together and claim these rights for yourself and your family."

One of the program's organizers and speakers was Kopila Basnet, a local lawyer who works as a volunteer to help women who are the victims of mental and physical violence. "We empower these women by teaching them skills to make and sell handicrafts."

Women of Nepal

This December workshop was the last IDEA Nepal program in 2008 for people affected by leprosy. Earlier programs this year included: 1) Women empowerment workshops in the other administrative regions of Nepal, 2) providing 50 schooling scholarships to more than 50 children throughout the country, 3) advocacy workshops, 4) collection of information about patients and supporting activities, 5) networking with national and international organizations who work for the betterment of leprosy affected people, and 6) support for 10 families to create income generating programs from each of the country's development regions.

Mr Surya Prasad Acharya, Chair of the IDEA Nepal board, underscored the importance of the 2008 programs by commenting that IDEA Nepal is strongly commited to eliminate the stigma from the mainstream community towards people affected by leprosy. This is a nobel purpose in itself, he said, and in this context IDEA Nepal appeals to all interested individuals and organizations to extend helping hands to accomplish the tasks IDEA has undertaken.

This regional empowerment workshop was an important element in raising the consciousness of rural women in the elimination of leprosy as well as tackling the issue of the social stigma previously association with leprosy.

This workshop approached this issue from three different perspectives: psychological, social and economical. The ultimate goal is to increase self-respect and confidence as an individual, which will motivate other women in the community, and give them the confidence to develop ways as a community to be more self supporting.

At the end of this and previous empowerment workshops women were taking the initiative to form self-help groups, and ask questions about their legal and human rights.