Visiting the Horyzon Project in Nepal

In April, Elisha Frei, the new Horyzon project manager for Nepal, traveled to Kathmandu to visit the "EmpowHER" project and meet the employees of the local partner organization YWCA Nepal in person. Alongside numerous exchanges with the local team, Elisha had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the country, its people, and its culture. This is crucial not only for the project's implementation but also for further planning, evaluation, and monitoring purposes. The project offers workshops and courses for young women to expand their knowledge in areas such as gender equality, family planning, finance, mental health, and women's rights. As multipliers, these women then support others in their communities. Regular group meetings, accompanied by mentors, facilitate exchange and mutual learning.

The YWCA Nepal office is located in the city center of Kathmandu, but the activities for the women take place in various locations around Kathmandu and the more rural Kathmandu Valley. The focus is on marginalized areas where the need for the project is particularly high according to the local population. Some participants walk over an hour to attend the workshops. Most families rely on agriculture for their livelihood, which is why many of the young women continue to work in the fields after the workshops. Therefore, the workshops are scheduled to coincide with harvest times and other farming responsibilities.

One of the most moving experiences for Elisha during the trip had a tragic background: one of the participants had recently lost her mother to suicide and was very sad and depressed. She confided in a project employee, who comforted her and supported her privately. "This shows that the young women trust their mentors in the project and receive compassion and support from them," says Elisha. She noticed that women in Nepal often bear the brunt of daily life. Even if they are employed, they usually handle household tasks and child-rearing alone. This multiple burden is exacerbated by cultural discrimination against women and presents a major challenge, leading to a high suicide rate among women. This project aims to counteract this: "EmpowHER" reaches women of different generations and life situations and promotes long-term change towards a discrimination-free society where women in Nepal know their rights and can stand up for them.