What is this book about? This book is a collection of narrative stories by the peace volunteers of Youth for Change Program. These youths are from Dukuchhap, Lele, Lamatar, Lubu and Champi of Lalitpur District, Nepal. They have volunteered in a program called Youth For Change (2015-18), in partnership with KURVE Wustrow, Germany. The overall objective of this program is to establish youth as change agents and peace advocates in their communities. The program aims to empower community groups to raise their capacity for community resilience to violent conflicts through awareness, trust, empathy and capacity building in conflict resolution. Five peace centers are established to create a harmonious space in the community, to learn, share and let go of their differences. It has created a safe space for community to help them in their difficult times. The peace volunteers, through their own narrative, have reflected their
journey, challenges, learning and strength, and have defined their own experiences in community peacebuilding.
Š Nagarik Aawaz 2018
ME, A PEACE VOLUNTEER By Yashoda Pokhrel, Dukuchhap This is the one title which I love the most and feel very happy being called that.
The works bore by that title makes it different from other titles. I am Yashoda Pokhrel, a peace volunteer of Dukuchhap Community Peace Center. I feel proud calling myself a peace volunteer. Nagarik Aawaz gave me this title as a
responsibility, which makes me unique to others. I think every other peace volunteers of Nagarik Aawaz might feel exactly like me. You might have already known that I am giving huge priority to the title peace
volunteer. The reality is that the word ‘peace volunteer’ is very much different to the word ‘volunteer’, alone. One requires many qualities to become a peace volunteer. He/she must be polished in many practices.
When I first entered Nagarik Aawaz as a peace volunteer, I thought peace volunteer is like a general volunteer and does the works that are instructed by
“Some stakeholders
the supervisors. I was wrong. To be a peace volunteer one has to change thyself,
had asked us if
he/she should have a positive thought, social feelings, peaceful activities, equal
peace could be just
treatment and especially peaceful from within. I define peace as a conflict less
obtained by
and disputes less situation so a peace volunteer means a person who minimizes
conflict. Peace volunteer does not ask a wife whom her husband is beating, to
distributing pen and
beat him instead. A peace volunteer does not even differentiate who is right and
copy.”
who is wrong. Peace volunteer has a distinct character as he/she tries to bring
peace to the community through the internal peace. Peace volunteer is a person who tries to solve problems without any partiality. While writing all this I remember the time when we were introduced to the
friends of another organization while in Bara district. They introduced
themselves as volunteers and we introduced ourselves as peace volunteers. They saw us with amazement when we called ourselves peace volunteers. There are challenges in becoming a peace volunteer. Peace volunteer has to find peace in every work. Some people have even asked me what kind of peace works I have done being a peace volunteer. People want to see peace in a physical form and define peace as something that comes from the tangible objects. However, peace is something that is internalized and peace is obtained from every little thing and activity. It is very hard to explain the essence of peace to the people. I again remember one event where we had distributed pen and copy to the participants in our peace initiative. Some stakeholders had asked us if peace could be just obtained by distributing pen and copy. If we see pen and copy as physical things, it may mean nothing but if we see it as an encouragement for participating in certain activities then it is peace. Not all can understand this. We should see through eyes of peace volunteer to understand this. I am a peace volunteer and I am proud to call myself with this title.
5
MY STRENGTH AND MY COMMUNITY By Prakash Thapa Magar, Dukuchap
"Namaskar Prakash sir", this is how people from Dukuchhap greet me these days but three years ago I was an ordinary boy from middle class family. In Dukuchhap there are about 52 people who are disabled and don’t do anything in particular. They sustain their live with the help of others. People from
Dukuchhap viewed me with the eyes of pity and thought that I cannot perform the daily activities like other people. The geographical structure of Dukuchhap is very difficult and development
activities are taking longer time. There are several other problems in Dukuchhap but the problems faced by the people who cannot walk are different and severe. There is only one secondary school which doesn’t have good teaching so people
“To reach school on time I used to eat my lunch at 7:30
go to another school which is about 2-3 hours far from Dukuchhap. The school is in Chapagaun, its name is Hill Top Higher Secondary School. I wished to join that school and my parents fulfilled that wish. Though my parents are not educated they created environment for me to read and write.
AM and leave home
There is another figure in my life who always encouraged me to read and he is
at 8 AM. I
my elder brother. Though I was very weak in writing and reading he never lost
remember my
his patience to teach me. To reach school on time I used to eat my lunch at 7:30
friends used to
reach the same school. The way to school was through forest and river bank. It
leave home at 9 to
was quite challenging for me to reach but I made myself ready for the
reach the same school. “
AM and leave home at 8 AM. I remember my friends used to leave home at 9 to
challenges. No other disabled people studied in that school because of its far
distance. Most of the disabled people in my village are not educated. Because of my disability people often showed pettiness through their behaviors and speech. They often referred me as handicapped and half-minded which made me frustrated. I believed I can’t do anything but my parents always added hopes to my life. I thought I was the only one person who was physically challenged but
when I came in touch with other physically challenged people I came to realize that there are many other people who are in
more bad condition than me. I then became thankful that I can walk and talk and actively perform my works with my one hand. My aim is to be a professional social worker and I want to do something for people and for society.
In 2015, I entered in Nagarik Aawaz as the youth peace volunteer of Youth for Change program. I worked in many groups like women group, youth group, child group etc. Through Nagarik Aawaz I gave different types of orientation and training
sessions along with my friends. Among these groups I am fond of one women group in which there are 30 women. That women group consists of mostly uneducated women and are mostly married and with the children. Despite of being uneducated these mothers have understood the importance of education so they have sent their children in better school. These mothers feel ignored from their children as they are uneducated and cannot help them with teaching. They once
shared that my physical disability doesn’t stand in front of my strong mental ability. They further had shared that they despite being physically strong feel mentally disabled as they are illiterate. I convinced them saying that they have experience which has better value than anything. Sometimes when I feel down I remember words of those women and I again get filled with courage and strength. Nagarik Aawaz is a platform which brought me in touch with such wonderful women so my wish is to help Nagarik Aawaz whenever it requires my help. 7
OUR FIRST EFFORT By Sumita Baniya, Champi I can see vast changes in the present me and me three years ago. I knew nothing
about the place I am living in but now I am well informed about most of the things happening in my village. I am introduced to the well-known faces of my community.
I visited many places in my area as a part of working as a peace volunteer of Nagarik Aawaz. I remember my first program when I had no knowledge of doing a program.
On May 2015, we gathered women in Sanagaun, ward no 9, Godawari municipality for a song competition. It was very difficult for us to gather women as these women were busy in their household works. We encouraged them to be
part of that program saying that women are no lesser than men.
“These changes in
We made groups with three women in each group and helped them in writing
me didn’t come on
songs. Their songs included the pain of women violence, discrimination between
their own., they came because I have
girl and boy, women rights, citizenship in the name of mother and others. These women who even felt shy in introducing themselves sang in-front of many people.
worked as a peace
This program was the first experience for me and them. Its success gave me
volunteer in my own
feeling that I have climbed my first step of being a peace volunteer. I became
community. “
more excited to do the programs. Since we became very used to speaking with women it became easy for us to speak with other people as well. Our first program motivated us to the level that
now I can speak in-front of people without any hesitation. I have done many
interactions with people and raised my voice when necessary. These changes in me didn’t come on their own, they came because I have worked as a peace volunteer in my own community. I thank Nagarik Aawaz for the opportunity.
9
A LADY MOTIVATED ME By Sabita Pariyar, Lamataar Warm good morning to audiences who are waiting for my program, ‘My Story’ even in this cold weather from me, Sabita Pariyar. As usual, I am present here with a new story for you but today’s story is slightly different. Since I am a radio journalist as well as a peace volunteer, I thought of presenting my own story today. A few years ago, I was going to my school when I saw one old lady carrying a big gallon in her doko (bamboo basket). I thought she was carrying water in that gallon. While walking she dropped something and tried to pick it up but was not successful because of the heavy load she was carrying so I helped her to pick
“I wanted to tell her
that up. I was curious where she was taking that water so I asked. She replied that she was carrying tinpani (Third water). I got confused what third water is,
that producing and
she then explained that third water means alcohol and she was going to sell it in
selling alcohol is
the local shop nearby. She said that she makes alcohol on her own and earns
illegal and I will
through it. Saying this much she went. I wanted to tell her that producing and
inform it to police
selling alcohol is illegal and I will inform it to police but was scared since I was
but was scared since I was very
very young and feared if she will scold me. That incident made me thoughtful and I thought to myself that I would do something to solve this problem in the near future.
young and feared if
Years passed and I saw social problems increase in my community. The time
she will scold me.“
came when I became peace volunteer of Nagarik Aawaz. Different training and the motivation of supervisors made me confident. I took my steps to bring change. I did awareness programs in different communities. I observed the
different problems and bad practices in my community closely. The main problem I saw in my community was drug abuse, smoking and unmanaged disposal of garbage resulting in the polluted river and the public places. We planned to put hoarding boards for raising awareness. However, the process of getting approval from the municipality for putting those hoarding boards was hard and lengthy. It became easy when the secretariat of municipality was convinced with the works of Nagarik Aawaz and commit to help when necessary. He also provided us some suggestions. We then thought it would be more effective if we could include even police in this initiative and invited them as well. Police station also provided us some suggestions and helped us in deciding the places for putting hoarding boards. In this way, through the help of all the age categories of people and the police team, we successfully kept the hoarding boards. the police started taking this issue more seriously and had strict regulations after we placed the hoarding boards in public. The police controlled gambling, drug abuse and disturbance in public places. These days police officers visit our community twice in every week. Additionally we jointly we did sanitation programs in public places and river with my community. Together we made a rule to charge fine to those seen throwing garbage in the public places. Now there are locality development committee, drinking water, and sanitation committee, which helps to maintain cleanliness in my community to the larger extent. I remember the time when I could not speak and take any action towards an old woman who was making and selling alcohol but that incident made me thoughtful. I am thankful to her because she made me realize that I am also responsible for my community and made me take some actions for the positive change in my community and Nagarik Aawaz for building my capacity to do something about it. Today I presented my own story in our program ‘My Story’. I hope my story motivated you to transform your community. I
promise to meet you again in the next week through your own program ‘My Story’. Thank you! 11
A COMMUNITY’S SON By Sajan K.C, Lamataar In this changing period, various kinds of changes are taking in the community. Many changes are positive and good while some changes are negative as well. I want to talk about the changes that took place in my community. During this change in society, it is quite fearful that youths are in the trap of drug abuse. Due to lack of employment and other contributing factors, youths
go in forest, shops and other places where they can hide to consume drugs. This has not only created physical and mental tensions to the drug users but in greater extent to their parents and family members. I feared some youths of my own community, as I knew they are into drug abuse. I could see the family with drug abusers were always in tension and had almost regular fights. One day I saw one woman scolding her son. She pointed towards me and said to her that he should be more like me. She further added, “Sajan don’t have
bad company of friends and his family doesn’t have fights like ours.” She said I have not only become example for my family but for the entire community,
“Change in youths has brought change
have done many important works in my community and have motivated people to become a better person. Hearing all this I felt motivated to work for those in the trap of drug abuse.
in my community. I
I decided to work for the drug abusers from just hearing her. Taking help of
believe youths are
some friends and my friends in Lamatar Community Peace Center, we did
the backbone of our nation. “
several orientations once in every month in our own peace center. We invited clean drug users from different rehab centers to provide orientations to the youths in our community. We did orientations in school, community peace center, youth club and other public places. We explained the economic, social and health effects of drugs. The former drug users also shared their worst experiences during the times of using drugs. After attending the orientations, community youths started changing slowly.
Many youths are now involved in business. Some youths have made their way
for foreign employment. I can say that most of them are busy and are working. Even the woman’s sons are now involved in
business and other employed in some office. That woman is very happy and her family is happy. There are no more fights and arguments in their family. Changing one will influence everyone, and likewise since her sons are now in right path her family has peace now.
This is just one example but my entire community is happy. Change in youths has brought change in community. I believe youths are the backbone of our nation. There are still youths who are in the trap of drug abuse and I think to myself about the necessity to change those youths. If all youths are positively transformed it will not take long for our country to develop and become peaceful. Let us all join our hands together for development of our nation. Can we initiate the change from
today? I am internally happy for the changes in my community. I firstly want to thank that woman who motivated me to work for those who are into drug abuse. I also want to thank my peace volunteer friends and the people in my community. I also
want to thank to the former users of drugs who helped us to change our community. The huge thanks go to entire Nagarik Aawaz team who directly and indirectly helped us to change our community. It changed my community and me. I assume the three years in Nagarik Aawaz are most important years in the entire life.
13
LETTING GO OF MY GRIEVANCES By Puspa Sarki, Lubhu I remember the time when I hated people of the non-Dalit community. I belong to a Dalit community and I thought non-Dalit suppressed us, especially Brahmin and Kshatriya. My father passed away when I was very young. I thought I was the most unlucky person in the world as I did not have a father, belonged to a poor Dalit family. Being a Dalit girl, people stopped me multiple times while entering the temple and I dared not to raise a voice about it. I thought that was part of my life and I
cannot help it. It felt like I was committing a crime being a Dalit. Though the locality I live in has both the Dalit and non-Dalit population I never bothered speaking to them unless I had to because I hated them. I was never able to have the feeling of belonging to them. I recall the time when I passed my SLC exams
“I am not completely away from the
and was at home doing nothing. My older brother who loves me a lot said that I should go out often and see the world outside of the home. I did not understand him but I thought to myself that I will start looking for a job and make myself
feeling of inferiority
busy and so I did.
because of belonging
I tried finding a job and I found one. I did marketing work for some time but I was
to a Dalit community
not happy with it so I left that. One day, I went to the ward office for some work
but it is slowly going
and I found out there was a vacancy for volunteering in some social organization
away and I am
called Nagarik Aawaz. The first thing that came to my mind when I heard it was
accepting it. “
marketing. I thought that social organizations are for marketing and they sell cosmetic products. When I think of that time, I laugh to myself, and to my ignorance. Slowly I was introduced to the works of Nagarik Aawaz. My hatred
towards the non-Dalit community slowly transformed after I started to work as a peace volunteer in Nagarik Aawaz.
I am not completely away from the feeling of inferiority because of belonging to a Dalit community but it is slowly going away and I am accepting it. Now I have let go of my grievances towards the non-Dalits in my community, which I think is a
bigger change in me. In fact, I make sure to invite them to every program we do in our peace center and they do come happily. My work as a peace volunteer have brought me closer to the people I have never been to. I got the opportunity to work with people of all ages. I especially love working with women and children. I can relate myself with other women and
learn from them. Children come to play in our community peace center instead of playing in their homes. Seeing children play makes me feel that I should be happy with whatever I have. People of my community are happy to see the changes in me and I am happier with myself. Now when I enter the temple no one tells me not to. I know it will take a long time for the society to change but I am very sure this society will change and in the future, there will not be discrimination based on caste. For now, being able to interact with people is my peace.
15
I WENT THROUGH IT By Puspa Nagarkoti Pantha, Lele I have recently been able to introduce myself as a peace builder and have been doing different activities under it. Among those activities, the most important activities, in my opinion, were of conflict transformation, women violence, drug abuse, leadership development and the psychosocial counseling. Psychosocial counseling is my personal favorite. It was a very new and strange concept to me
when I first got introduced to it. This concept is however very useful at the community level. We have been doing many activities on this topic. We introduced the concept of psychosocial counseling in the schools, youth clubs, women groups, and mothers groups. In this course of introducing this concept in one interaction, a boy said that his father seemed to have a psychosocial problem, as the symptoms are similar. I told this to the psychosocial counselor of Nagarik Aawaz, Mr. Sudip
Sigdel and we fixed time to meet him. However, before we could meet him, he
“Our inter-caste
died. Then I started to convince people to come and take psychosocial counseling
marriage has
once called me and said that her daughter, my niece has the problems like
already brought some level of change
in the community I live. I am able to win the hearts of people …”
in our community peace center if there are symptoms observed. My elder sister
physical and mental health problem. I said that this could be a psychosocial problem and it could be solved through counseling. I requested Mr. Sudip to come and visit her. After some sessions of counseling, she got well. In this way, I have been able to apply psychosocial counseling in my family as well as to the community. I was recently able to have my own identity in my community and my life was going to take a big turn. I was getting married. The person I was going to get
married belongs to an upper caste and I belong to somehow lower caste to him. Our families had no problem in getting us married but who could stop the people in the community. The rumors spread all over the community and I would hear them, which made me feel bad. Even the closest friend of mine who was well educated was involved in spreading the rumor. I got married and few days of
marriage, I fell sick. I was unknowingly scared of the fear of leaving the birthplace and bearing the responsibilities in another family. The fear of adjusting to the family with different caste, culture, traditions, and customs made me
sick. I was the one who was raising awareness of people on psychosocial problems and unknowingly the same problem had trapped me badly.
My new family was concerned about my health. My body temperature used to get high suddenly, tremble and some parts of my body did not work. It was as if I lost my senses. I started to talk in sign language, as I could not
speak through the mouth. Everyone was sad seeing me. My first family knew about my condition so my elder brother and sister in law came to see me. They cried seeing my condition. Both families were in tension. Nobody was able to recognize the problem I was going through. Rumor again spread that this all was happening because a woman of low caste was married to a man of higher caste so the family god was angry. Many witch doctors were invited to my home and they tried their best but I did not get better. My husband after trying all his best thought to himself that I might have a psychosocial problem. He soon talked with Mr. Sudip and then took
me to Nagarik Aawaz for counseling. Round of counseling made me well again. Support of my family, love of my husband and the psychosocial counseling brought me back to my normal life. One girl in my community also had the same problem like me. The parents of this girl did not know about psychosocial counseling so they used to soak her in cold water. They used to call the witch doctor and worship god tying her with rope. I put myself in her place. If my family members and I were not aware of psychosocial counseling, I would have faced the same consequences. I am lucky that my family members are aware. This incident has changed me. Now I have thought to myself that I will not let people face injustice in the name of traditional treatment and superstitions. I will try my best to
raise awareness of psychosocial problems. Our inter-caste marriage has already brought some level of change in the community I live. I am able to win the hearts of people in my community and they are happy to contact me for concerning on the cases of psychosocial problems. I am
thankful to Nagarik Aawaz for supporting me in my hard times and trusting upon me. 17
I UNDERSTAND ITS IMPORTANCE By Menuka Nagarkoti, Lele It is not that I had not participated in the social activities and worked for the
different social organizations before joining as a peace volunteer of Nagarik Aawaz but had a huge fear on presenting myself in the crowd. After I joined Nagarik Aawaz, I got opportunity to participate in different trainings, which
developed confidence in me and encouraged me. I gained confidence to put up my thoughts without any fear in large number of people. I developed ideas on doing the programs outside of my place and in course of doing those activities I
have developed friendly relationship with many individuals. I knew that the Lele Community Peace Center had formed a child club. I was feeling strange or feeling happy with the fact that a child club was formed in my community.
“I feel happy seeing
I had many questions in my heart. One day I asked my friends why the child club
positive changes in
was formed. My friends who are also the peace volunteers of Nagarik Aawaz
them. These children
clarified me that there are no child clubs in Lele, even if there are those child
put their queries when participating
clubs are only limited in the schools. That was the reason why budget separated for the children in the VDC were not utilized and different organizations were not able to give support to the children. I then realized reason behind the formation
in our programs
of child club. I had opportunities to meet with the children of Peace Child Club
without any
when they come in the community peace center for the meetings and participate
hesitation and
in the programs of Nagarik Aawaz. I like talking with them. I feel happy seeing
provide us necessary
positive changes in them. These children put their queries when participating in
suggestions. “
our programs without any hesitation and provide us necessary suggestions. There is girl called Ranjita Silwal, a member of child club. She gave her name in
the candidacy of chairperson of the peace child club. She could not become
chairperson because of fewer votes but she has become a child protection member from our VDC. She thanked Nagarik Aawaz for the opportunity provided and expressed her happiness on becoming the child protection member. There are many organizations that are working in Dhapakhel but not all these organizations are able to reach to the needs of children. We have been doing activities for the personality development of children because of which the school management and teachers easily grant permission to students to attend our programs. The teachers of these schools are supporting and provide us encouragement to continue our activities. Not only the teachers of school but also the entire
community trusts us because of our works. Seeing children doing their homework in our peace center parents of other children have also encouraged their children to do homework in peace center. These children do their homework in peace center with our help and read books from our small library. These children have understanding on the concept of psychosocial counseling due to which they can put up their thoughts in front of many people. I remember a recent incident. One girl was going through a psychosocial problem but was not willing to come to the peace center for psychosocial counseling. Her father who works abroad had heard that Lele Community Peace Center provides psychosocial counseling and insisted his daughter on visiting peace center. So she came to the peace center and shared her problems with our friend, Pushpa. This made us all happy because the people
have their trust upon us. Seeing our child club working so actively other organizations working in Lele have also realized importance of child clubs and are trying to form some child clubs. Similarly, children of other community have also requested to form child clubs for them. These days these children are participating in social activities without our help. I
have understood how small initiative like forming a child club is important for the future of children. 19
A BRIDGE AMONG YOUTHS By Kavita Sunar, Champi My name is Kabita Sunar who was a member of Buddha Youth Club for three
years ago but I was totally different by then. Though I was a member of Buddha Youth Club, I rarely spoke to anyone. I rarely explored new places. I just used to follow my daily schedule, going college from home and returning home. I guess
people didn’t recognize me then. I was slowly learning to be friendly with people while being a member of the club but there was not much change in me. In this course of time, I got the
opportunity to work as a peace volunteer of Nagarik Aawaz under the Youth for Change program. While engaging in the activities of the program I developed communication skills and now I can talk to anyone without hesitation. I now can
travel alone. There are other personal transformations as well. As I am a member
“As I am a member
of Buddha Youth Club and a peace volunteer of Nagarik Aawaz, it became easy
of Buddha Youth
for me to organize programs in coordination. I had clue about the number of
Club and a peace
youth clubs in Chhampi and I had never worked in coordination with them.
volunteer of Nagarik
After being a peace volunteer of Nagarik Aawaz, I worked with those youth clubs
Aawaz, it became
in coordination and established the friendly relationship with them. I gained
easy for me to organize programs in coordination. “
happiness working as a coordinator between the community peace center and youth clubs. We did programs in coordination with street drama and cultural programs. We did interaction on the rising issues like drug abuse. We also did street drama to raise awareness on drug abuse. We celebrated festivals with people of all the ages and cultural/religious backgrounds. We were successful enough to invite the well-known faces of our society in our programs, which
added charm in our programs. We had invited politicians to our programs where
people got the opportunity to interact directly with them. I guess people experience one level of peace through this.
Working as peace volunteer provided me with opportunities to be introduced to all sorts of people and stakeholders, which I would not have if I were not a peace volunteer. I have realized the strength of youths through my work.
21
FOR BETTER FUTURE By Geeta Pariyar, Lamataar This is me peace volunteer, Ms. Gita Pariyar and its already been three year. I
feel time can never stop; it flows on its own pace. I am happy remembering all the works I have done as a peace volunteer of Nagarik Aawaz. I got opportunity to work with different groups in my community like youth club, mother’s group,
school, and sister’s group. We did awareness raising and motivational activities in those groups. We did activities as per the need of the community, which help me to identify the needs of the community I live in. I want to talk about one effective
program, which helped me to become the member of School Management Committee (SMC) in Shree Singeri Community School. I felt these activities made the students more active and energetic. Principal of
that school thanked me for the efforts we had done in that school. We had given
“Sometimes the
school invites me
the students training on composite heritage, drug abuse, positive thought, conflict management, psychosocial counseling, games and many more. One fine
day principal sir called me to his office. He expressed that our activities are
and honors me for
helping the students to learn practically. He said that these activities are very
my work, when I am
important for the students and requested me to become a member of the School
alone I think this is a
Management Committee (SMC). I accepted his request and became a part of the
great achievement
of my life. “
SMC. The students used to come to me to share their problems and difficulties. I tried to address those issues following the principles of the school. I could feel that students were relieved. I can take example of one incident where the students of class 9 and 10 expressed that they feel pressurized because of the study, and had small fights/quarrels in the family. Similarly, they had less interest in studying
and were getting angry. The students suggested me to have their parents in the psychosocial counseling orientation along with them so that it will help both the parties to understand each other. We organized a one-day psychosocial counseling orientation for both students of class 9/10 and their parents. Students expressed the problem of coming to school waking up 5 A.M. in the morning because they feared of the dark. I took this problem to the principal and after hearing the outcome, the timing for the school was changed. After getting involved in the SMC, I was introduced with the different representatives. I knew about the every economic and social aspect of the school. One major change I made after I SMC is conducting the meetings on regular basis. Students are happy that I give suggestions to the SMC looking for the betterment of the students. I am also happy to be a part of the SMC and working for the better future of the students.
Sometimes the school invites me and honors me for my work, when I am alone I think this is a great achievement of my life. Principal Sir often shares the interaction, coordination and support of the committee have played vital role in the success of
many activities in school. We make sure to think about the better prospects of students. I will be thankful towards the school family for the continuous love, encouragement and honor. I will always give my best for the development of the school. This school has always given me feeling of belonging and has always positively accepted my expertise so I will
always be honest towards my work and commit my 100% in everything. Since I have worked as a peace builder being a peace volunteer of Nagarik Aawaz I got opportunity to work as a member of the SMC. That is the reason I am thankful to Nagarik Aawaz. I have become more responsible these days. I have received honors by working in this school. I will continue
working for the school and students because these two will play important role in the future of society. 23
PEACE BROUGHT IN SCHOOLS By Bibek Khadka, Dukuchhap I am Bibek Khadka who carried a huge bag with heavy books of English medium school and traveled two hours with tears in eyes to reach the school. It is not that there were no schools near my house but it was said that the government schools there did not have good teaching so I was admitted to a private school. The school I studied was good but there was not a day when I wasn’t beaten
and cried. To tell the truth, my childhood passed in eating biscuit worth NRs. 1/given by my father and punishments of my teachers. I was good in studies. I stood either first or second in the exams. I do not know whether it was due to the friendship with my classmates or something else but in an examination of
ninth standard, I stood tenth. The principal of my school called me into his office and accused me of stealing pears, hen and bullying others. He awarded me with slaps, which left marks on my cheeks; I was surprised by all those accusations
“Someday I used to
and felt bad.
be beaten on a
Days passed and I completed my School Leaving Certificate. My father wished I
regular basis but
completing my high school, I joined Bachelors in Arts in Social Work and got
these days I have become Bibek dai
would study engineering and got me admitted to a good private college. After
busy in social works. I was good in my studies and got involved in many organizations. I got an opportunity to work as a peace volunteer of Nagarik Aawaz as Nagarik Aawaz had started working in my own birthplace. Through
(elder brother) and
this, I get to work with the mother’s groups, schools, health post, stakeholders
Bibek sir which is a
and others. I got involved in activities like providing psychosocial orientation to the teachers in the school, making appropriate learning environment for the
kind of peace I have
students, organizing health camps, doing recreational activities during the time
achieved from
of special festivals and occasions, doing awareness on drugs and so on. During
Nagarik Aawaz. “
physical punishments but its walls were painted with drawings surround telling
my volunteering, I visited schools in my community. The schools, which had this is with “Child-Friendly School”. The psychosocial counseling orientation provided by Nagarik Aawaz has brought
changes in the teachers of the school. Several months later, I peeked through the window and saw a teacher counseling student who hadn’t done homework saying, “If you do your homework from now onwards I will gift you a pencil�. I
remembered the time when on not doing homework my ear was pulled and I returned with marks on my cheeks. The students too have changed a lot. I asked one student if their teachers physically punish them these days. She simply replied that teachers these days counsel students to not do it again instead of physically punishing. These days the students keep their classes clean on their own. They are conveying the peace message through the peace songs they write and sing. The
students have decorated their class making the educational posters on their own and pasting on the walls. In my time, teachers used to write on the black board with white chalk but these days teachers write with the black pen on white board. This is level of change I see. The psychosocial counseling workshop and orientation provided by Nagarik Aawaz has not only brought change in the teachers but also in stakeholders and health workers. Someday I used to be beaten on a regular basis but these days I have become Bibek dai (elder brother) and Bibek sir which is a kind of peace I have achieved from Nagarik Aawaz. I feel happy that people recognize me as a peace builder in my community. I wish in the days ahead students came back home with the smile on face and pencil on hand instead of tears in
the eyes. 25
PEACE CHILD CLUB By Anita K.C, Chhampi My name is Anita KC. I have been living in Chhampi for the past 24 years as I was
born in Chhampi itself. Chhampi is a village filled with natural beauty. Many NGOs and INGOs are working in Chhampi every year. Some formed saving groups for women and some provided livelihood skills, which supported in increasing
income but no organizations brought programs benefiting the children. Nobody formed a separate space for children to play and learn. When I entered Nagarik Aawaz as a peace volunteer I thought to myself that I would contribute to the
peace building through children. After two big earthquakes in Nepal, Nagarik Aawaz established a Community Peace Center in my community. This became a space where children could come and play. The children also could express their thoughts and feelings as well as get involved in creative activities.
“I feel if we provided
We gathered children who have never been part of the child club and who know nothing about child club. We provided them the orientation on child club and
enough
formed a ‘community peace child club’. Then children gathered every week on
opportunities and
Saturday and on holidays for their meetings. They start their meeting at sharp 11
the right motivation,
and our community peace center became a safe and comfortable place to hold
the children can play important role in
peace building. “
their meetings. These children also play here in our peace center as we have games as well. We do the activities like drawing competition, speech competition, quiz competition, essay competition and other recreational
activities like dance competition, poem competition, different festivals celebration etc. We organized small and simple orientations to give them a general understanding of peace and conflict.
Some children who used to play in their homes are now playing in peace center
and learning through interactions. At first, it was difficult for us to gather those children. These days, children come to our doors to ask for the keys of peace center to read, play and do homework even during our closed days. Seeing this I feel like I
am living my dream. I feel if we provided enough opportunities and the right motivation, the children can play important role in peace building. The parents of regular visitors of peace center also come to see what their children are doing in peace center. They become
happy seeing their children doing homework, reading, and playing. They thank us for engaging their children in something creative. I may not be able to bring the bigger changes in my community but I have been successful to utilize the time of children during the holidays and help them learn creatively.
These children when even met outside the peace center happily greet us. I feel happier when they call our peace center peace club and assemble every Saturday for a meeting. When I was a child, I used to spend holidays doing nothing but now I see these children playing as well as learning. They have learned to play without fighting and caring for each other. They put their queries to us and we try to address them. These children have become interactive and more disciplined than before. Parents are happy to send their children to peace center, as they are very sure that their children are learning in a creative way and are utilizing their time. 27
MY PERSONAL JOURNEY By Astha Shrestha, Lamataar Before I joined as a peace volunteer of Nagarik Aawaz, I was just daughter of my
parents and the youngest child. I spent my time going to college from home and back. However, I knew many women from different organizations and had participated in different programs. The sad thing is that I was not interested in
those programs and used to spend my time looking at the watch while in the programs. I gave an interview for the volunteering in Nagarik Aawaz and I got selected which I think is a big achievement for me. Though I was selected, I did
not dare to speak in front of people and did not even have the patience to listen to others. The various training I received slowly changed me. Those training included
psychosocial counseling, listening skill, communication skill and many more. I have been able to introduce myself as an individual. These days’ people
“I am now able to take the right decision at the right
time and the right place. Now I see myself as a leader.“
recognize me through my works rather than through the name of my parents
and family, which developed confidence in me. I transfer the skills learned through training in my family and community. I have learned that nothing is smaller and valueless. Everything has its own values, and it is just we who are not
able to learn our values. The skills I have learned is not only useful for my family and community but in my studies as well. I remember when I used to respond without listening properly, which I now
realize was not appropriate. I now listen carefully to the people and respond after completely understanding them patiently. Not only listening skill but also my speaking skill has also improved. I respect everyone now. I now actively
participate in every activity I am involved which I rarely did before. I am trying to
identify the problems in my community. I have not only learned from Nagarik Aawaz but have applied them in practice also due to which I can speak for my duties and rights. I am now able to take the right decision at the right time and the right place. Now I see myself as a leader.
I now value myself and know my strengths as well as my weaknesses. I feel happy while getting the positive feedback from participants about the program and learning new things from them.
29
I LEARNT FROM MY FAILURE By Ganga Bishowkarma, Lele I thought to myself even during my school days that I will do social work when I grow up. I had seen senior brothers and sisters of my community contributing for the benefit of our community and I wanted to become like them. I had thought on the ways to develop my community and make my community a peaceful one. Years passed in continuing my studies. It is said that everything has its own time
but I was impatiently waiting for that time to come. I am lucky because the time came as I got opportunity to work as a peace volunteer of Nagarik Aawaz. Three years ago I got to know that an organization called Nagarik Aawaz was looking for the youths who are willing to do something for their community. I applied for the volunteering and got selected as well. Though I feared and felt shy in speaking with my supervisors, they trusted upon my capacity and encouraged me to speak. Three years has passed and I have given my best to support my
“It taught me
not to get
community through the peace campaigns. I believe I have been able to bring some of the positive change in my community. I worked with renowned personalities, intellectuals, social workers, women leaders, senior citizens, stakeholders, different organizations, youths and children. Each groups taught
discouraged
me something important. I was involved in solving the smaller issues in my
with failures
challenges and hurdles while trying to change the community I live in. One of the
and to take
programs I overheard conversation of people talking about my caste and leaving
failures
change in my community. I did not let these small incidents to break me. Now
positively. “
community and helped few from violence against women. I faced many biggest hurdle for me was that I belong to the Dalit community. While doing the without the snacks we offered. I digested all these because I wanted a bigger
people recognize me as a girl from Nagarik Aawaz and respect me. I am able to gain trust from the people in my community because they think I will do something good for the community. With this acquired respect, I got an opportunity to stand as the Dalit woman member in the local election through one of the top three political parties. Since I
had some interest in politics I did not want to lose this opportunity and accepted it. During the political campaigns, I engaged in lot of dialogues and meetings with people in my community. Well-known political personalities came in these. Everyone who stood for the candidacy of member expressed their views. I also took my chance to express my thoughts.
First, I introduced myself and the organization I am involved in. I also talked about the activities I am involved in to build peace in the community and positively change my community. I shared them that I have understood their problems and have
already started working for the solutions. I was able to make people understand the importance of youths in the decision making level.
It took a whole month in preparation of the local election. I visited every villages and houses to appeal for the votes. Since I had already known them through the programs it wasn’t that hard for me to ask for votes with them. I heard that even people of other rivaling parties were asking for votes on my behalf. This made me very happy that I was able to gain trust from people. Some women groups in my community even organized meetings and asked people to vote for me. I thanked
them all for trusting my journey. The day of voting came and I was anxious about the results, but I overcame that with the support and love of my community people. The day of voting was exciting and peaceful. The result came and I lost with few votes.
The good thing is I am not taking it as a failure. The political campaign gave me opportunity to express my willingness to work for the people of my community. I gathered many experiences from this. I feel even closer to my community and I understand their situations even better. I know that I have lot more to do for my community’s peace. I feel more responsible after participating in the election. I have gathered more energy to work for the women and my community. Part of it why I could withstand failure is because of Nagarik Aawaz. It taught me not to get discouraged with failures and to take failures positively. I have refined myself through the trainings provided by Nagarik Aawaz. I feel my willingness to work for the welfare of my community has taken a new phase. At last, I want to wish the team of Nagarik Aawaz further success
and many thanks for transforming me into a better person. 31
About Youth for Change Youths are the active members of the society who thrive to have progress in all sectors of the nation. Nevertheless, they are also the active participants in conflict today. Whether, it is within themselves, in the political arena, in the households, in the community or within their own groups, there is always potential for conflict to erupt. The reason behind their
participation in conflict is multidimensional – mistrust from the communities, lack of economic opportunities, political voice, investments and support for their innovative ideas and space for their voice to be heard. Socio-cultural stigma and limited access to resources plays a vital role in shaping the youth’s positioning in the society. In Nepal, patriarchy provides limitation to the roles of girls and women giving more privileges to the boys and the men. These limitations affect their
ability to voice their needs and opinions at the community and national level which is a reflection of pervasive lack of female participation in decision- making. Youths are seen as immature and inexperience and as such are not heard or trusted. The program involved local
stakeholders and community groups with the need to engage, include and partner with youths to realize their full participation at all levels- individual, politics and as peace builders. In partnership with KURVE Wustrow (Germany), Youth For Change program is in effect in five different areas located in
Lalitpur District: Lele, Lubu, Lamatar, Champi and Dhukuchap. The duration of the program is four years from January 2015 till December 2018. All together 22 youths are selected as youth peace volunteers. The overall objective is to establish youth as change agents and peace advocates in their communities. The project aims to empower community groups to raise their capacity for community resilience to violent conflicts through awareness, trust, empathy and capacity building in conflict resolution. Five peace centers are established to create a harmonious space in the community, to learn, share and let go of their differences.
Our Achievements on Three Years With the understanding that youths are the pillar of change, various interventions has been done in these three years. Enhancing the peacebuilding knowledge and skills was one of the
first interventions for the youths. The trainings provided are from contextual-based to practical-focused areas such as leadership, motivation and project management. The skills and tools provided have allowed them to be more effective trainers and
Investing in Youths
motivators. Building trust and bridging the gap between the youths and the community
(including the government) through various activities and formal/informal meetings helped to change the perception towards each other. As a result, one of the youth peace volunteer is the member of the school management committee. Youth peace volunteers from Lele where trusted
and invited to give their candidacy in the local election. Creating spaces for the youths to express their opinions to the broader society, exchange views, promote dialogue on social norms and values. This intervention, helped the youths to ensure that their voices were counted because
various government and non-government organizations, women groups have invited youth peace volunteers for various programs and provided space for their opinions. Inner change and their perception towards peace has been one of the miles stone for this project. Youth peace volunteers have expressed frequently and is also visible in their actions that peace begins from brining change to our inner self. With the main goal to provide a safe space for all irrespective of their age, gender, caste and class,
community peace centers are established in all the five project areas. The peace centers have been very effective in re-building social networks, providing contextual relevant skills, engaging larger community which includes men and boys. It also serves as a resource center with daily newspaper, books, internet and various games. Women have gradually shown their ownership towards the
Peace Structures
peace centers through organizing their monthly meetings, cultural events and celebrations. The peace center also serves as a psychosocial counseling space when required. Many women have given the title “maternal home”- maiti to the peace center stating they feel secure, happy and
heard when they are present there. People have also contacted the peace center with various cases related to violence against women. These cases have been linked with the concerned agencies working in that particular issue. The center is equally popular among the children who spend their leisure time playing various games and take part in activities that promotes their
overall well-being. One of the parents in Lele expressed that, “I feel safe sending my children at the peace center knowing that they will learn something new rather than going out, involving in fights with other big boys and coming home with bruises.” This year being the last year of the project, we are in the process of sustaining the peace center by handing it over to the people who are the real owners. 33
Various peace initiations have been conducted since the inception of the project. There has been gradual shift from having self-initiation to coordination and collaboration with the community
groups and the local stakeholders. With the belief that Peacebuilding is not possible working in isolation- youth peace volunteers have been promoting intergenerational exchange by organizing
Peace Initiations
interaction programs with the senior citizens and felicitating their life long contribution towards the society. This particular initiative was very much appreciated by the community people. One of the member of the women groups from Lele expressed that, “We had forgotten to love and appreciate our elderly people. You (referring to youth peace volunteers) have taught us to love them again”. Youth Peace Volunteers have been approached by community groups as well as the
ward to conduct various peace initiatives in collaboration. The positioning of the youths in the society is quite critical based on mistrust, immature and incapable. The program has a huge contribution in shifting the existing perception towards youths
through imparting knowledge and skills, building relations through exchange learnings and creating space through unremitting communication between the community and the
Trust & Relations
youths. Community groups and stakeholders have expressed their thanks and satisfaction through various programs towards youths and even named them change-makers. Schools in Lele
and Dhukuchap have felicitated the youth peace volunteers with certificate for promoting peace and harmony in the schools. Psychosocial care has been very much welcomed by the community people. There has been good
number of teachers, school management committee members, and women groups members who showed their willingness to have training on psychosocial counselling and mental health care. After the training, the school teachers from Ganga Jamuna School, Lele gave orientation to the school
Psychosocial Health
students on psychosocial care. After asking about their experience, they shared that, “the session was very interactive and we enjoyed. We took some technical help such as reading materials, clarification on different terminologies from psychosocial counsellor from Nagarik Aawaz.” Students from one of the community school in Lamatar shared that they observed
changed in behavior of their teacher. The teachers who reacted rudely with the students who did not complete their homework, now ask them reason behind it and try to find solution to it. These effort taking by the community shows that they have given utmost importance to this topic and believe that psychosocial counselling is very effective for different kinds of mental health
problems.
Implemented By:
Financial Partners:
#act4peace www.nagarikaawaz.org.np | naawaz@ntc.net.np | 01-5229046, 01-5229147| Dhapakhel Road, 23-Lalitpur, Nepal