Annual Report 2018 - 2019
Annual Report 2018 - 2019
Introduction Nagarik Aawaz (NA) is a peacebuilding organization which believes in bringing everyday peace with the lens of care by contributing in the energy of women and youth, and help people live with dignity and justice. NA was established in 2001. It was registered as an NGO within the district administration office in 2002 and began its strategic peacebuilding works. As a peacebuilding organization it harnesses the energy of youth and women, create safe spaces, and invests in creating strong institutions in communities for sustainable development.
Vision Peaceful & Just Nepal
Mission Nagarik Aawaz leads, capacitates and engages individuals, groups and communities.
Our Values of Peacebuilding Care
Safe Space
A strong sense of care encompass NA’s operations, programs and initiatives. This value guides us to practice empathy in our actions, serve the people from our heart. We care for human dignity and frugal utilization of resources, and manage conflict through nonviolence.
NA endures for developing physical and psychological space where people can feel safe and secure to express, engage and strive for better future. Apart from creating safe space in an individual’s personal life NA creates safe public spaces as well. In such public safe spaces we practice transparency, accountability and responsibility to manage conflict through nonviolence.
Everyday Peace Trust & Relationship Building Listening to Unheard Voices Peace exists encompassing at every level. It has to be felt by each individuals in the way that is defined by them. Peace is all pervading in nature. Therefore, Nagarik Aawaz promotes peace which exists in everyday experiences of people to help them live with dignity and justice.
Human relationships are the foundations for peace and harmony. It enhances relationships and trust between and among individuals and groups. This in turn creates favorable environment for individuals and groups to work together, to understand each other’s differences and priorities, and to bring them closer together for sustained peace and harmony.
NA gives utmost importance to listening so that we can respond in a time/context-relevant manner. We plan our responses keeping people in our heart, listening to their voices and dialogues, and valuing their needs and aspirations in relation to fostering peace and harmony among people, groups and the society as a whole.
Messages
Nagarik Aawaz has been the voice of the voiceless since 2001, as the peacebuilding organization. It harnesses primarily the energy of youth and women, and helps people live with dignity and justice. A very unique organization in Nepal (even internationally). NA has established core values; how to run an organization, how to take care of the team, how to encourage them to grow, looking after their career development as well as support them, while reaching out to the conflict-affected women and youth. Seventeen team members have obtained training in Cambodia, India, Bangladesh and in Germany. Rita Thapa, our founder and the then CEO and one program officer have Masters degree in Applied Conflict Transformation Studies from Cambodia and one senior program officer is studying the same course. Similarly, Our CEO, Susan Risal is a PhD scholar from Cambodia and is invited to participate in various conference and programs in international arena. With great pride I represented Nagarik Aawaz as one of the awardee of ten peace building organisations at the Peace Direct’s “Tomorrows Peace Builder Ceremony” in Washington DC in October 2018. The ceremony was a side event of the Global Peace Conference. The country is going through a very critical period. (The “Transitional Phase”) It has been an excuse for non-deliverance for several years. Wonder! When will it be over and the transformation take place? Finally, I would like to extend my gratitude to all our donors, allies and well-wishers for their unconstrained support and love for our cause of peace and justice in Nepal.
Dr. Chhatra Amatya (Med) Board Chair
One of Nagarik Aawaz’s (NA) core values is care. It is incorporated in every aspect of its work. From the initial days when NA dealt with palpable traumas of displacement, all forms of violence, and torture, up till now when even after almost 20 years – the suffering of the affected communities exists owing to little transitional justice work. In such an environment, the greed of market led economies and unabated transitions in Nepal, aggravate existing hardships and suffering. Care is the basis for peace! Caring for our families and local communities can also be extended broadly and holistically with all living beings and things we touch so that all feel the love and care we emanate and practice. This caring becomes central not only to who we are, but the spaces and environments we create. At NA we have learnt this is P E A C E!
Rita Thapa Founder
The road to building peace is a multilayer process. This year, Nagarik Aawaz involved itself in different layers of constituencies to contribute to peace writ large. We are not limiting ourselves to community peacebuilding process alone but also advocating for the policy amendment for the rights of conflict-victims and marginalized community from national to international level. Nagarik Aawaz is trying to build the durable peacebuilding entity in a form of ‘Peacebuilding Memorial and Learning Centre’ in Sehari, Nawalpur. This entity aims to contribute to establish strong institution for peace, justice and reconciliation. We at Nagarik Aawaz is collectively walking in a similar path of values which we collective created. We are institutionalizing our values of creating everyday peace and care, and giving utmost importance in humanizing of our every initiatives. This is the niche of Nagarik Aawaz. For our multiple level endeavour for sustaining peace at different levels, we are getting supports and love by our allies, well-wisher, donors, and the communities we work. We extend our gratitude from the bottom of our heart to all of them. May peace prevail in our heart.
Susan Risal C.E.O
Our Strategic Peacebuilding Approaches (2019-2024) Individual and Socio-Political Level Change in Youth and Women: As youths and women are the main energy to sustain peace and are also the groups who are affected by violent conflict in multi-dimension levels (through our own research findings), Nagarik Aawaz believes Youth and Women are the key people to create ‘Peace and Just Nepal’. Therefore, Nagarik Aawaz will dedicate its programs and initiatives in its coming years to change hearts, minds, attitudes, and behavior of youth and women. Nagarik Aawaz will additively contribute to increase the participation of youth and women to have access in decision making level in institutions and structures to sustain peace in Nepal. Indicators of Change: By the end of 2024, Nagarik Aawaz will establish at least 250 Youth and Women Peace Leaders in Nepal. By the end of 2024, one-fourth of the Youth and Women Peace Leaders will take up decision-making position in the institution and structures. Youth and Women Movement Building with Key and More People: Human relations and building trust continues to be a main agenda for Nagarik Aawaz, as we believe sustainable peace cannot be achieved in isolation. Moreover, the change in the key people (youth and women) does a limited contribution unless the change is linked with more people. For us more people is the constituencies which NA works with, these are the peace structures in the local, national, regional and international level. Indicators of Change: By the end 2024, Youth and Women will coordinate with constituencies to conduct at least 3,000 peace initiatives in local level. By the end 2024, Nagarik Aawaz (with assistance of Youth and Women) will conduct at least 10 peace movements (campaigns, interactions, rallies, and more) at the federal and provincial levels. By the end 2024, Nagarik Aawaz will have contributed in the regional and global knowledge of sustainable peacebuilding.
Safe Space for Individual & Socio-Political Change
Safe Spaces for Sustainable Peace: Youth and Women needs appropriate physical spaces in the communities and programs for youth and women, and more people to feel safe and secure to express, engage and strive for better future. This space will provide opportunities for youth and women to make voices to be heard, decisions values and executed, and resources to be mobilized for non-violence. Moreover, the space will offer platform to youth and women to engage with more people, institutions, and structures to strive for just and sustainable peace. Indicators of Change: By the end of 2024, Nagarik Aawaz will have more than 10 running Community Peace Centers in various locations of Nepal. By the end of 2024, at least 4 Community Peace Centers will be sustained by the peace structures in the communities. By the end of 2024, Nagarik Aawaz will have created durable peace building entity in Nepal.
Non-Violent Solutions Key People young people women community leaders
More People
e g n a h C r o F ht u o Y
Youth for Change Since 2015, the project has been implemented in Lele, Lubu, Lamatar, Champi and Dhukuchap of Lalitpur. Through this project we have been engaging with marginalized youths, community groups and local stakeholders. The project is challenging the existing social, political and cultural structures that prohibits their active engagement through establishing community mechanisms and space to build trustful relationships, promote social cohesion within and between communities. Similarly, identify and work on the pressing issues, promoting essence of collectivism to advocate for their rights and justice. The project has made a significant changes in the communities by creating safe spaces for youths and community groups to express their opinion to decision-makers and broader society to ensure that they have opportunity to be heard. Lowered the level of violence through improved attitudes amongst and towards youths, women and children. Peacebuilding efforts such as peace initiatives and psychosocial intervention has promoted skills and knowledge to dispute resolutions. The resolution of a small number of individual cases have a knock-on effect on the wider community. Improved social relation through various peace initiatives has helped to strengthen community cohesion, improve relation within and among the communities where different ethnic groups reside, especially in areas where one group is in a minority. This has reduced discrimination and allowed space for more positive interaction. Community has developed stronger resilience to external threats and events through localization of peace work in various entities such as home, schools, local committees and government institutions.
5 Peace Ambassadors
25 Peace Volunteers
5 Peace Centers 5 areas of Lalitpur
26562 People Reached 181 Psychosocial Oreintations 121 Individual Counselling
Financial Partner
Change Makers for Peace and Reconciliation program is executing in Dang and Lalitpur district from 2017. Partner Organization in Dang is Nepal Women Community Service Center which is implementing this program and Nagarik Aawaz itself is doing this program in Lalitpur district. Peace Ambassadors and Peace Volunteers are heart of this program. Cordial relation with the local government like ward office and municipal level office has made it easier to successfully take forward this program. This program works directly with the stakeholders like elected representatives, teachers, health workers, cooperative’s representatives and more. Major activities of this program are peace campaigns, awareness raising on pertinent social issues, capacity building of peace volunteers, peace education to schools and groups, and others. One Peace Ambassador supervises 15 Peace Volunteers and they conduct initiatives in their community. The objective of the project is to create community mechanisms where conflict- affected, marginalized and earthquake-affected communities can come together, build trusting relationships, and identify their pressing issues in a safe and supportive environment. Major highlight of this year is establishment of Peace Center Steering Committee in all six areas of Dang and Lalitpur which is a pillar for sustainability of peace centers in respective areas. Peace center Steering Committee in all six areas are chaired by representatives from ward level government and other members represent cooperatives, women group, school, youth club, health post and more.
6 Peace Ambassadors
88 Peace Volunteers
6 Peace Centers in Lalitpur & Dang
30,000 People Reached 972 Community Peace Initiatives & Campaigns 80 Individual Counselling
Financial Partner
noitailicnoceR & ecaeP rof srekam-egnahC
Change-Makers for Peace & Reconciliation
This project aims to contribute to movement building of 55 women peace activists and promote their recognition as community peace leaders in their society and create space in the local decision making structures. Advance their skills and knowledge and provide supervision for their activism. Furthermore, it provides a space whereby they share their knowledge and grow their networks with other conflict-affected communities through their own peace initiatives. The project has been successful to dispel the myths of leadership such as leadership is a rare skill, leaders are born and not made, through different level of intervention with the women peace activists. There has been intervention at multiple layers such as mental stability, contextual base knowledge (civil rights, restorative justice) and non-cognitive skills which has brought constructive mobilization and engagement with other stakeholders. Through trainings on psychosocial care, there has been self-awareness to remove the stigma attached with mental health. The immediate and crucial need such as medical support has been provided to 9 conflict-affected women from different districts through this program. These women peace activists have been promoting their strength through leading various district and province level programs and events such as ‘Women's Peace Table’ where they coordinate with the province level truth-seeking commissions, other government agencies and conflict victims from various districts to participate and engage in discussion related to their present need and the position of the commissions. This project have helped to enhance their leadership quality and create momentum of the journey of seeking justice. Nagarik Aawaz have been successful in promoting everyday peace for these powerful women.
55 Participants
63 Peace Initiatives in 7 Provinces
Financial Partner
n oi t c A ni s r e d a e L n e m o W
Women Leaders in Action
This project has been running from July 2018 and will run up to December 2019 with a financial partnership with 1000 Peace Women Across the Globe. Deepening Women’s Peace Table in Nepal Project (DWPT) is a strategic project for Nagarik Aawaz to realize its vision. Its fundamental in sensitizing institutions to sustain peace and help them realize the dignity and voice of conflict-affected women. Through this program we are able to inform local federal structures to prioritize the needs of conflict-affected women in their resources. In 2018, DWPT was able to host 7 provincial and 1 National level Women’s Peace Tables and have provided a space for healing, ventilations and expression for 279 conflictaffected women. These tables gave an opportunities to inform local representatives the issues of conflict-affected women in local federal structures. The project is equally important in 2019 as the commissions of transitional justice mechanisms (Truth and Reconciliation Commission & Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons) has been dissolved after tenure of 4 years (initially 2 years and additional 2 years) without any significant justification, investigation and recommendations in April 2019 .The significance of this project is rising as the space for women are more in threat than ever and the opportunity to sensitize the local structures are prime need. DWPTs are creating such opportunities for conflict-affected women with their own leadership.
365 Conflict-Affected Women 10 Provincial Women's Peace Participated in the tables Tables and 1 National Women's Peace Table
Financial Partner
lapeN ni elbaT ecaeP s'nemoW gninepeeD
Deepening Women's Peace Table in Nepal
e c a e P r o f s ei ti c a p a C l a c o L
Local Capacities for Peace This project has been running since April 2017 in 2 districts of the Terai region called Siraha and Kanchanpur. Local Capacities for Peace aims to build and sustain peace among women and young people of the Madesh communities and to encourage social justice, conflict transformation and peacebuilding. This project has played an important role in mitigating conflict in the Siraha and Kanchanpur communities. So far, Peace Centres have been established in both districts and youth have been mobilised as Peace Ambassadors to run community peace initiatives in the Centres. All staff, partner board members and Peace Ambassadors have been trained in various capacity building training run by Nagarik Aawaz and has received excellent feedback from the community- and district-level stakeholders. The program is extended till 2022 and has added five wards of Madhyabindu Municipality of Nawalpur district. Two new Peace Centers are established in the Nawalpur area and have selected new Peace Ambassadors of the area. The project also complements the local term project of Nagarik Aawaz called Peacebuilding Memorial & Learning Center. This project has been able to sensitise and encourage young people to come in the leadership of their community.
24 Peace Ambassadors
6 Peace Centers in Lalitpur & Dang
30,000 People Reached 972 Community Peace Initiatives & Campaigns 80 Individual Counselling
Financial Partner
South Asian Young Women Leadership & Mentorship Initiatives is implemented in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. There are ten organizations from each country with total of 30 organizations from Bangladesh, India and Nepal . Ms. Bishnumaya Gharti is taking lead of this program as a Young Woman Leader. The community that she is working is Jharuwarasi and issue she is covering is Women’s Access to and Control Over Resources and Decision-Making. Leadership development, mentorship and movement building are integral parts of this program where Young Women Leaders like Bishnu are involved in mentorship with their mentors. Bishnu on the other hand, mentors her community young women leaders. There are ten community young women leaders from Jharuwarasi who are raising awareness on issues like patriarchy, feminism, gender, menstruation taboos, domestic violence, sexuality, etc. Global Fund for Women recognized this initiative by publishing about it in their newsletter and other social medias.
1 Young Women Leader
10 Community Young Women Leader
37 Community Peace Initiatives
Financial Partners
sevitaitinI pihsotneM dna pihsredaeL nemoW gnuoY naisA htuoS
South Asian Young Women Leadership & Mentorship Initiatives
n e h c ti K e c a e P
Peace Kitchen Peace Kitchen is a humanitarian initiative of Nagarik Aawaz, which provides free food for the helpless and needy people living in the streets every week on Thursday at Jawalakhel centre. It was started in 2003 and in its 16 years long journey Nagarik Aawaz has been able to conduct 864 Peace kitchens. Peace kitchen now has become a relief to people so they can have lunch and dinner together as a family at least once a week. Nagarik Aawaz wants to set an example for other organizations to follow us in this good cause so that eating a healthy food once a week is not a challenge for them. To Nagarik Aawaz’s knowledge the safety nets of our communities are at the lowest points. Although the federal system of New Nepal has changed the problems & issues of the country is still flaring throughout the country. Peace kitchen now has become a relief to people so they can have a proper meal together as a family at least once a week.
5 Peace Volunteers serves on average of 132 individuals in every kitchen
864 Peace Kitchens till Date
With this initiative, NA aims to build a durable peacebuilding entity by the end of 2025. This Centre will serve two main functions: 1) space to remember past injustices, heal and learn from Nepal’s armed conflict; and 2) also serve as a space in which to facilitate ongoing multi-dimensional peacebuilding efforts & learning within Nepal, in the region, and even worldwide.This memorial-learning center will serve multiple functions in an effort to help conflict survivors. It will help to honor their loss, heal their wounds, learn from their strengths, and help them lead a life of dignity. It will provide a much-needed forum for the discussion of injustices, as well as a space for remembrance and healing. Existing communities and future generations will learn about the past at the PBM&LC and use these learning/s to inform long-term commitments for a peaceful future. The PBM&LC will be a vibrant space which connects with other peace centers in the region and internationally. The center will comprise: A knowledge center for peacebuilding, learning & research activities, A safe space for conflict-affected communities & peacebuilders alike to remember, heal, learn and collaborate, and An open space for communities to come together. During early 2018, NA acquired approximately 2 acres of land in Sehari, Madhyabindu-2, Nawalpur which is the center south of Nepal. Parallel to the Narayani River, this is a strategic location that is in close proximity to the Bharatpur airport, Bhairahawa International Airport (being completed 2019), Lumbini - the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, the Chitwan National Park, and is only a few hour drives away from other historical and tourist destinations. Backstopped by the technical expert group, a Master Plan has been designed. With the money that could be mobilized and fundraised so far, a multipurpose utility building which is now serving as NA field office and one of the local peace centre has been completed.
r e t n e C g ni n r a e L & l ai r o m e M g ni d li u b e c a e P
Peacebuilding Memorial & Learning Center
Other Highlights
Strategic Plan 2019-2024
NA's strategic plans were formulated since the beginning, which guided its operations - the latest strategic plan has (2014-2018) expired one year ago. Looking at the changing political landscape NA realized the need to develop a new strategic plan where it has new opportunity to amplify its long term experience in peacebuilding, as well as remodeling of its institutional and programmatic approach according in the changed context. Twoday strategic planning workshop was organized in Pokhara on (May 15-16, 2019) where 25 participants including the founder, the board members, members, NA advisors, staff members discussed about the external and internal operating environment, the processes, program achievements, Nagarik Aawaz’s vision and mission, its approaches and potential areas for engagement in future.
SDG16+: Voices of 2019
Peace Endowment Fund
On July 9, 2019, Nagarik Aawaz was invited to present its work in creating sustainable peace on the ground in UN High-level Political Forum. Since 2015, the United Nations is meeting every year to monitor the progress on Sustainable Development Goals 16, and hear the impacts of organizations working on the ground. Its called Voice of SDG16. Saferworld invited Nagarik Aawaz to talk about its role in establishing youth as peace leaders and creating peace centre as a safe space and a strong institution of peace in the community. Dr. Chhatra Amatya, Board Chair attended as the panelist in the program.
Nagarik Aawaz works closely with conflictaffected women. The project Deepening Women's Peace Table and Women Leaders in Action introduced to whole new problems faced by sexually tortured women. These women are not recognized by the government and have not received any support from the government. Nagarik Aawaz has identified 9 women who suffered sexual tortures and has been providing monetary support to help them regain dignity. Nagarik Aawaz have established Peace Endowment Fund to help women like these for a long term and also support initiatives led by young people and women to promote peace in Nepal.
Hosting of South Asian Women's Peace Table
Cross-Cultural Learning Workshop
Annual Dashain Lunch 2018
Nagarik Aawaz on 2018 hosted SouthAsian Women's Peace Table organized by Peace Women Across the Globe. Women Peace Leaders from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, India, and Nepal participated on this 3 day event to strategize, coordinate and share their learning and context of country wise women's peace table. Similarly, participants also updated the security status of their country in this workshop.
Peace is not possible in isolation. Hence, the efforts of peacebuilding need echoing to have a strong belief in it. Therefore, we need to come together and cheer! "WE STAND TOGETHER FOR PEACE". Nagarik Aawaz hosted a massive two-day event to bring together 177 youths from 5 programs to tell and hear their stories of community peacebuilding. They exchanged their stories through songs, dance, drama and poems to express their struggle, strength and efforts in their journey of peace. The program was honoured by our founder, members and executive board members.
Many people enjoyed Dashain together as a family at the Dashain Lunch provided by the Peace Kitchen. More than 270 people feasted and more than 30 took food back with them for their family members. We served them rice (60 k.g), Chicken curry (60 k.g) dal, potato, & Cucumber pickle, and curd. We served them as much as they could eat and even enough to take back as well. None of the food went to waste. We could see peace in their eyes and happiness brought in their faces from a stomach full of delicious food. The whole Nagarik Aawaz Team was present along with the board members and Volunteers from Youth for Change.
Organogram
Donors
Trustees
Advisors Executive Board
Allies
Members
Chief Executive Officer
Program & Communications Team
Financial & Admin Team
District Partner Organizations Peace Ambassadors Peace Volunteers
Board Members
Dr. Chhatra Amatya Chairperson
Purna Shova Chitrakar Vice Chairperson
Jyotshna Shrestha Secretary
Ms. Roshani Karmacharya Treasurer
Dr. Aruna Upreti Member
Shobha Basnet Member (Immediate Past Chairperson)
Sandhya Bhatta Basnet Member
Suka Maya Bohra Member
Sharad Babu Shrestha Member
Our Team
Anita Gautam Ast. Program Officer
Antina Ranjit Psychosocial Counselor
Govinda Prasad Acharya District Program Officer (Nawalpur)
Hari Bdr. Dhami Program Manager
Prasansa Karki Senior Program Officer
Sajan KC Admin Associate
Sushil Shahi Field Program Supervisor
Sudha Koirala Psychosocial Counselor (Nawalpur)
BIshnu Maya Gharti Program Officer
Ganga Sagar Rai Communications Manager
Enjila Koirala Finance Officer
Kaushila Thapa Ast. Finance and Admin Officer
Nisha Thapa Communications Associate
Pramila Thapa Office Support
Shikha Bhattarai Senior. Admin & Finance Officer
Sudip Sigdel Psychosocial Counselor
Saraswati Nepali Office Support
Susan Risal Chief Executive Officer
Taruna Mahato Program/Finance Assistant (Nawalpur)
Our Individual Donors (July 2018 - July 2019) For the Peace Kitchen Ambika Joshi Ambika Shrestha Anita Gautam Anusha Lamsal Arun Shrestha Dr. Aruna Upreti Ashish Shrestha Balaram Puri Bijaya KC Bina Pradhan Bishnumaya Gharti Dr. Chandra Bhadra Dr. Chhatra Amatya Dhan Lama Dina Dixit Gauri Rai Jiwan Bigyan Govinda Acharya Hari Bahadur Dhami Hari Bhakta Joshi
Janaki Shah Jaya Travels Ivy Thapa Jyotshna Shrestha Kaushila Thapa Kedar Rayamajhi Krishna Mohan Shrestha Laxmi Maharjan Medhavi & Sashi KC Meena Gurung Menuka Giri Merita Kansakar Narayan Devi Piction Neelam Kafle Nikiba Pradhan Nilima Kafle Nisha Thapa Pingala Basnet Pratima Thapa Priyanka Budhathoki
Puspa Ratna Ranjit Raj Shree Karki Rama Shrestha Rita Thapa Roshani Karmacharya Rosy Gurung Rotary Club of Bhainsepati Rupa Aryal Sarad Babu Shrestha Saraswati Nepali Sarita Karki Saru Subedi Shanti & Shankar Shrestha Shikha Bhattarai Shiva Gopal Thapa Shova Basnet Shovana and Bijaya Shrestha Shreejana Thapa Pathak Smriti Karki Subha Pandey
Sudip Sigdel Suka Maya Bohara Suloman Laxmi Ranjit Susan Risal Tashi Sherpa Tewa Urmila Shrestha
Our Individual Donors (July 2018 - July 2019) For the Peacebuilding Memorial & Learning Center Bina Pradhan Birgit Felleisen Deepa Risal Dr. Chhatra Amatya Forderkreis Hilfe fur Nepal E.V. Ganga Sagar Rai
International Child Resource Institute Janet Haddock Karen & Sten Luna & Dinesh Khadka Lynne Brenarn Marji Greenhut
For the Peace Endowment Fund Janet Haddock Linda Looza Stationary
Susan Risal Emma Leslie Sadhana Shrestha
Kiran Singh Ranjan Subedi RBC Trustee Rohan Samsher Thapa Rupa Aryal
Sandhya Basnet Sarad Babu Shrestha Subha Pandey Suka Maya BoharaTewa
Financial Updates
Financial Updates
www.fb.com/naforpeace www.fb.com/naforpeace +977-01-5229046, 01-5229147 Dhapakhel, Lalitpur-23, Nepal naawaz@ntc.net.np www.nagarikaawaz.org.np
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