Gorkha Women's Association

Gorkha Women's Association (GWA)

Index
Where?
Who?
Education
Health
Gorka Women's Association
Water
Handcraft
Land
Volunteers, Working Holidays, and Sponsorship
History
A Travelogue
Links

The GWA was formed in 1992, with the help of Purusotum Aryal, a Nepalese headmaster. It started with literacy classes and social evenings. In 1993 a small plot of land was lent to the GWA by Purusotum Aryal. The land was used to cultivate vegetables as a pilot for self-help schemes.

In 1994 the GWA applied for membership of the Associated Countrywomen of the World (ACWW). The ACWW has since given funds to buy some land. This land is used as a nursery to teach women how to grow a wider range of vegetables.

In 1995 the members, encouraged by the volunteers, and helped by the headmaster, a doctor, a nurse and a sanitary engineer, held a seminar on health education. This involved about 40 women from surrounding villages coming to Gorkha. The information gained at the seminar was used by the delegates to give advice and to help their own communities.

Gorkha Health & Education Development Scheme has helped facilitate the programmes which have been devised and operated by the GWA. We have provided funds for a hand craft project which is to be expanded by volunteers. In 1997 help and encouragement was given by volunteers from Writtle Agricultural College (Essex, UK) in crop cultivation and other related activities.

In the future, Gorkha Health & Education Development Scheme hopes to fund further literacy classes and to set up a viable hand craft workshop. We have asked GWA to make a proposal for a drinking water scheme and have approached Water Aid and Nepal Water Aid (NEWAH) for help. NEWAH are working on a feasibility study with the view of setting up a programme of water, sanitation improvement and health education.

Pictured above are the committee and other members at a meeting in Gorkha. Over 40 ladies of differing ages and differing castes were present at this meeting. Some of the ladies are representatives from the village of Syaulibazaar.