In Nepal, it is still considered taboo to talk about menstrual cycle. Hence evil-customs like chhaupadi (menstrual- exile) is still prevalent. Normally young teenage girls and women do not open about the problems faced by them to manage their menstruation. They are not able to get menstrual products and most school girls do not go to schools during their periods or dropout after they start their first period. Due to lack of hygienic menstrual products, women suffer from infections, rashes or also risk of cervical cancer. Mostly teenagers and women cannot afford commercial sanitary pads.

The Women’s Foundation of Nepal in co-ordination with “NAHUDA” a non-governmental organization has given training to the women of the WF home and others from sewing training group to make reusable sanitary pads. These types of reusable sanitary pads can be made from locally available products without use of any harmful chemicals. They are comfortable, durable, and absorbent and have lower risks of infection. They are affordable and eco-friendly too!

The Women’s Foundation Nepal  organized Free Eye Camp and Cataract Surgery. The camp was conducted in the rural communities of the Sindupalchowk district and also in the Kathmandu district on 22, 23 and 24 Decembet, 2019. Around 750 people were benefited from the eye camp. Most of them were senior citizen .Out of them 71 were found to be patients of cataract and operation was done successfully.

After the screening, the patients who needed treatment and cataract surgeries, were followed up. Other people were given free medicines and glasses after treatment. We are immensely thankful for all who were directly and indirectly involved for making the camp successful.

Organizer: The Women’s Foundation of Nepal
Technical Support: Nepal Netra Joyti Sangh
Supported by: GLS Future Foundation for Development, Germany
Vision for Future, Germany

Girls from the WF home gave a presentation on health and hygiene to the younger children. The presentation included healthy rules and practices that should be followed for healthy living.

Thank you Marc Bohme, volunteer for the successful program, and all the children for their active participation.

Suzy Trartsaret , volunteer of WFN organized knitting classes for the colleagues at the production center, the day care center and members of the WFN. The classes were always very well attended and everybody had a lot of fun knitting beautiful ponchos, hats, socks and scarves. The training session of knitting has been completed for this year.

Thank you very much Suzy for your continuous support!

From 5th to 8th of November the 4th World Conference of Women’s Shelters is taking place in Taiwan. It is the biggest global conference to network and share ideas on protection services and prevention of violence against women. It is organized by the Global Network of Women’s Shelters and the Taiwanese health ministry. About 1000 members from 120 different nations and governmental and non-governmental organizations are taking part. Renu Sharma, president of the Women’s Foundation Nepal, is participating as a Nepalese representative.
Violence against women and girls around the world has to stop and protecting victims is an ongoing issue which the shelter networks are working on. Implementing working structures can be difficult in some countries and the shelter network is therefore raising awareness about the necessity of safe shelters for the rising numbers of victims of violence and abuse.
According to a worldwide statistic on violence against women, every third woman in the world becomes a victim of violence or sexual abuse during their life. 35 % of women suffer from physical or sexual violence from their husband or close friends. In Nepal, numbers of domestic violence against women are even increasing.
The main goal of the World Conference of Women’s Shelters is to strengthen the role of women shelters to combat violence against women. Furthermore the aims are to increase the activity and influence of national and international shelter networks and to raise awareness among governments, international organizations and the general public about the problems of violence against women and to stimulate actions to support shelters.