Peace, Environment, and Human Rights

Success!!!

35 women from Makwanpur (and one foreigner - me) had a fabulous 3 days together.

If I have had challenges this last year and a half in Nepal (well, yes, I've had quite a few), these three days made everything worth it for me. Absolutely everything.

We sang, danced, wrote poetry, acted, sat and talked about things we otherwise don't get to talk about, took facilitation and leadership risks, laughed, cried, created. Created new friendships, created new understanding, created learning around women's rights in Nepal.

Yep. This is what it's all about.

I wanted to post a video of Prenam ji (pictured above presenting), 21, starting off her first ever workshop. It was fabulous. Topic: emotions and leadership. She started of by sharing a poem she had written about social justice issues. But - my internet connection here is too slow to upload the video. So stay tuned.

Also above: women doing a role play about abortion. And two others doing a role play about girl trafficking in their villages.

And....do you want to know what they have to say to the world? What they want you to know?

Here is what they wanted you to know:

Nepal is the most beautiful place on earth. And they want to keep it that way. These women love the trees and rivers and mountains and plains that inhabit them in a way that amazes and inspires me. They are willing to fight to protect their environment.

I have seen a rhododendron flower bring more joy to somebody (over and over again) than anything that could ever be purchased with money.

They also love their traditions and their culture. While extremely interested in learning, they are not interested in becoming westernized. They are not interested in imported ideas that are not their own or that don't come from their own feelings and communities. They feel proud of who they are, and want to keep what is theirs: their language, their traditions, their culture.

And peace. They want peace. More than anything.

I feel honored to have had the chance to spend 3 days with 34 amazing, inspiring individuals. Thank you!