USA-Nepal Community Outreach Network (UNCON) has initiated a project with an objective to minimize the Chhoupadi Pratha (a tradition where young girls are forced to stay out of their home, normally in a shed or cattle-house where no minimal facilities are available, during their monthly menstruating period) in the very remote Karnali region of Western Nepal. UNCON has partnered with the following not-for-profit organizations to successfully execute this project:
• Peace for Development (PFD), Texas, USA
• Lions Club International District 325-A2, Nepal
• National Youth Council, Nepal
• Two other organizations are in progress.
This project is developed in a fashion that local performing artists will perform stage and/or street drama that will deliver the message that menstruating period is a natural health cycle for any girls/women, thus, innocent girls should not be forced out from their own house during the menstrual period. The drama will be staged in several locations including streets, schools/community centers, and/or other potential areas in Jumla of far western Nepal in late April of 2016 and onward. Also, slogans or short messages will be aired by local FM stations that will help to discourage the Chhoupadi Pratha. UNCON will provide monetary rewards to the parents who allow their girls to stay in their home during their monthly menstruating period. UNCON will also prepare a 20 to 30 minutes professional documentary with English subtitles with a goal to bring the issue in wider spectrum.
Laxmi Oli Panta of UNCON and Gyanu Chaulagain of NYC Jumla Chapter will coordinate this project with the support of the project team members from USA and Nepal. Thala Raj Panta and Agni Sanjel of UNCON will monitor the project from USA. This is UNCON’s pilot project for the year of 2016.
If you want to provide any help or donate to support this project, please feel free to contact any of the UNCON officers or visit UNCON’s websitewww.usanepalnetwork.org
Thank you all the partnering organizations for supporting UNCON and joining hands to achieve the common goal!
