“People never trusted us to take the responsibilities carried out so far by men in our society. But, now we women have proved that we are equal to them and can take leadership roles if needed,” said Pabitra, Chairperson of Building Construction Committee of Naulathar Community Discussion Center in Naumule, Dailekh. Naumule is a Rural Municipality located 23 kilometers away from Dailekh headquarter where most of the population are amongst the ethnic groups. The community members are rarely exposed to the world beyond their area.
Oxfam in Nepal with support from Everest Club, Dailekh initiated Creating Spaces project in the area to support women in realizing their rights, transformative change, gender relationships and legal provisions on Child, Early and Forced Marriage and Violence Against Women and Girls. Community Discussion Centers were formed and women started to take part for learn new things. This has led women to speak up and express their opinions concerning women in their communities. CDC members were also able to lobby with the rural municipality office to construct their own CDC hall. The rural municipality, impressed with their confidence, passed the proposed plan and provided them with funds. After the completion of the construction and a public audit, CDC members have formed a management committee for the building. The women are now investing the amount they get from hall rentals and are providing small scale loans to CDC participants. “It was not easy for me to mobilize the building fund and open a bank account for the first time in my life. But with support of all my CDC friends we have completed the task and are now happy that we have our own CDC building” – Karisma Sijali, Chairperson of Building Construction Committee of Jagamali CDC, Naumule, Dailekh.