On the 1st of June, I met Luna and Om, 2 officers of the Women’s Prevention Program and then Alina, a local volunteer. I discovered the difficulties of this country and how it can be hard to be a woman. They are not equal to men and are more easily controlled. They are economically dependant on their husband. The women empowerment program’s goal is to be a help for them. They have to know that they should be treated equally as men.
The Nepal population is recognized to be vulnerable to human and especially women’s trafficking. This program is focused on awareness, prevention, and response to sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. The challenge is to raise awareness and sensibilize children to this human issue but also discuss with local women.
The most important part of preventing women’s trafficking from ever occurring is understanding that any person is at risk for exploitation. Unfortunately, we all have vulnerabilities in our daily life or encounter situations throughout life that make us susceptible to being preyed upon. Ignoring the potential trafficking puts persons at risks.
In order to achieve this goal, we were here to give knowledge to children. The challenge is to have their interest at school in understanding this topic. They have to be aware of the risks factors and indicators to protect them and discuss it with their family and relatives. We have to educate and address voids.
Having their attention was a big challenge. Having an authority can be hard especially when they don’t understand your English accent or listen only to Nepali orders as they are used to. Our way to deliver this message to children between 12 and 18 years old is to alternate between an academic and fun education.
To do that, we taught them about several topics during the first day. First of all, the definition, then the purpose, types, and causes but also the solutions and effects. We asked them to repeat. The second day, we divided them into different groups into different topics. We asked them to draw what they had understood. Then, we had created a booklet to put it in the library of the school so that many students can go through it and our message is spread into the school.
I realized through their drawings that they really understood the message. I was really happy that our mission was really accomplished even if I stayed there only for 2 weeks. I hope I helped the local volunteer and the women’s empowerment program. I will have the pleasure to help this community again in the future.
Author:
Emmanuelle from France( Volunteer)
Member of