Nepal

Naya Bato Naya Pail - Radio Drama - Success Stories

It is sometimes difficult to find out what impact our radio programs have on individuals and communities where they are broadcast. In 2007 our staff in Katmandu received a letter from a young teenager from a remote area in west Nepal that had been heavily involved in the conflict:

Nepal & Nepalese are facing dreadful situation since 1994 & have lost many things. We can see that from our history too. I also had faced a very unbearable incident on April 2002. On that day, I was coming back to home from (name removed) finishing my SLC exam. That was the worst day of my whole life, when my father was killed by Maoist. Then me & my brother displaced from our native (name removed) went to (name removed). At that time I was thinking of taking revenge with Maoist by betraying them. My desire was to kill them in the same way, how they killed my father.

But unfortunately, when I started listening 'Naya Bato, Naya Paila' from Radio Nepal, it has changed my mind. After listening it, removing negative thoughts, I've developed positive thinking on me. Now because of this program, forgetting the wrong things of past, I want to give them chance to correct themselves.

The teenager wrote that he would like to become involved with one of the SFCG regional youth leader groups to learn how to engage with the local rebel groups so that he could honor, rather than avenge, the memory of his father.

One of the youth field staff traveled to the western region and met with the young man to hear his story. The young man continues to stay engaged as a youth leader in rebuilding his community as an agent of transformation and renewal, not merely a victim of conflict. Serena Rix-Tripathee, SFCG Nepal country director, says that although this is only one story, hearing it made her and the Nepal staff know how valuable and worthwhile their work is.

Youth Leadership and Empowerment of Ghani Khadka

In a patriarchal society like in Nepal, there is still a strong prejudice against daughters (women) that there is no use of their attending school or leaving the four walls of their homes to work outside. They are often thought of as inferior to and dependent on men. Despite having suffered such discriminatory practices, especially in rural communities, there are some women who have worked hard to challenge these stereotypes and have done remarkably well not only for themselves but also for the entire women community in rural areas. There are many instances where such women are systematically deprived of their rights and accused of going against cultural norms. Their struggle for survival and fight for their rights are often resisted and crushed.

Women in Rukum, one of the most backward districts in Nepal, are also deprived of their rights to education and health among others. Many of them have not been able to prove or even realize their potential in a male dominated society. However, Ghani Khadka a 24 year old woman of Baphikot VDC, Rukum has been successful in moving forward in her life in comparison to other women in the VDC. She was struggling to get an education and wanted to explore options outside her community. Ghani recalled,

"Earlier I was not able to express what I felt. I was shy and scared of talking to outsiders, especially men. I used to avoid talking to strangers even if I wanted to in the fear that the people in the community will pass comments about my character and accuse me of being 'characterless'. I did not have any idea about activities taking place in the community or in the school. I had never participated in such activities as we were not allowed to express any interest in such activities by our guardians and the local elites. When I passed my SLC (School Leaving Certificate) exams, I joined a higher secondary school in a small town near Baphikot village where I heard about a local youth club. I was curious about the activities of the youth club and made a request with some of the members to grant me a membership. They accepted my request and allowed me to join the youth club. When I joined the club, I also started listening to the radio drama Naya Bato Naya Paila (NBNP), along with other members who were regular listeners. I learned many things from the drama and started to follow on footprints of some of the characters of the drama, especially that of Kamala. Within three months of joining the youth club, I was given an opportunity to participate in a youth workshop in the district headquarter, Khalanga. This exposure helped develop my leadership capabilities and peacebuilding skills which I applied in practice as an active member of the club. This resulted into my promotion as the Treasurer of the youth club. I further got an opportunity to travel outside the district to participate in many training programs and workshops; this also helped build contacts with people from outside which gave me the opportunity to learn from them and share ideas with them. As a result, I became one of the members of the Youth Network for Peace and Development, Rukum. Now-a-days, I participate in almost all the programs within and outside the district. I can express my thoughts and opinions with anyone without fear and hesitation and, more importantly, I can lead women in many fronts".

Ghani further said,

"Along with the activities of the club, the radio drama NBNP has taught me a lot and has helped me realize the 'meaning of life'. The role of Kamala in the drama has developed a sense of confidence within me that I can also contribute to the community like Kamala does. She has also helped me improve my leadership capabilities within the youth network".

Ghani has made a giant leap in her life. She has greatly developed her personality and confidence, an example of which is the confident and long speech she made on behalf of women participants during the closing ceremony of the program organized by SFCG and HRPLSC in Rukum, Khalanga. She said,

"Youth are agents of positive change and their participation is very important in all activities. Women should also be provided with equal opportunities and we are the one who can lead the society towards prosperity and peace."

Ghani has also motivated other women of Rukum and Baphikot to make progress in their lives and encouraged them to help others to change.

If women are provided opportunity such as that received by Ghani and men also cooperate and support women, and if the state also invests in special programs on women empowerment, our society and our nation will certainly make a huge leap towards being a land of peace, prosperity and rapid development.

This is just one of the many stories on how SFCG program has transformed the lives of women and girls from poor and remote villages in Nepal.