Economic empowerment through livelihoods
In Nepal, the Dalit community, which makes up 13.8% of the population, faces severe systemic socio-economic inequalities and discrimination rooted in caste-based practices. Within the population, the experiences of Madheshi Dalit women is particularly harsh. They endure a dual burden of discrimination based on both their caste and gender. This marginalisation, coupled with prevalence of early marriages, exacerbates their vulnerabilities and exclusion from mainstream socio-economic opportunities.
Street Child of Nepal has been at the forefront of addressing needs of marginalised women and girls, reaching over 10,000 of them through its “Marginalised No More” and “Breaking the Bonds” initiatives. These programs have paved the way for continued support of married girls from marginalised communities through literacy, life skills education and entrepreneurship. The latest phase, Breaking the Bonds II (BTB II), is supported by The Fresh Leaf Foundation and implemented together with our excellent local partner Janaki Women Awareness Society (JWAS). BTB II is working with 400 Dalit married girls to provide life skills and financial education, ultimately helping them transition into sustainable livelihoods. Most of these girls have no formal education, have experienced early marriages, and live in low-income communities with limited access to health services.
This program plays a crucial role in raising awareness about rights, sexual and reproductive health, and reproduction while helping the girls establish their own small businesses to support themselves and their families financially. BTB II has meticulously designed its support activities to strengthen women’s agency by providing necessary skills and resources to create sustainable income pathways.
The program encompasses a diverse range of business opportunities, all adapted to the local market conditions. These include rearing goats and calves to operating sewing machines and small grocery stores, ensuring participants can choose the path that best aligns with their skills, interests and local market needs. By addressing the unique challenges faced by Dalit women and girls, BTB II is not only works as a livelihoods program but a transformative movement towards equity and empowerment for most marginalised women in Nepal.