A Village Without Hope
BT Village, located in the Kailali district in SW Nepal, has existed for merely three decades. At the start of 2013, GHNI identified this village at high risk of human trafficking. The elders of BT Village migrated from the mountains to the Kailali district in hopes of escaping severe oppression. With no money, no job opportunities, and a social caste system that considers these individuals (Dalits, otherwise known as “The Untouchables”) to be worthless, they cleared out a space in the forest, optimistic about building a better tomorrow for their people.
Thirty years later, these villagers are still considered ‘squatters’ and remain amongst the poorest of the poor in the world.
Due to few income generating opportunities in the area, most of the men in the village migrate to India for work while the women become the sole caregivers for their families increasing family pressures in this community.
The well-water is contaminated and often dries up, village girls are required to fetch water every morning, which takes an average of 4 hours round-trip. The long walks through the forest put these females in grave danger as they are often taken advantage of by men along the way. This daily 4-hour chore hinders the girls from attending school, keeping them from the education needed for a successful future. Many of the girls in BT Village are married off as early as 14 years old.
The Hope They Needed
The people of BT Village are hard-working, motivated citizens, and ready to make the changes necessary to escape their extreme poverty and vulnerability to exploitation.
GHNI has been working in BT Village since January 2013 with the goal to help the village escape poverty and slavery; learning how to identify, prioritize, and solve their own problems. Through our Transformational Community Development (TCD) model we offer them a hand up, not a hand out, as we walk with them through this 3-5 year process. By this time we expect they will be able to carry on and prosper without us.
Though the problems are many, we have worked with the community to identify three primary problems we will initially focus on, Human Trafficking Prevention, Income Generation, and Clean Water. These issues have many crossovers and satisfying one will help resolve another.
By focusing on income generation and education, we can eliminate Human Trafficking Prevention. As we help the community in general, the women in particular, the village will become aware of a problem that is more elusive than many might think. Once they see the problem clearly they can come together to protect their community and prevent this horrible crime. Through the income generation projects we will help women to reduce and eliminate the need to leave the community to help feed their families and build an honest sense of self-respect and value within themselves as well as among the community.
Building a well within the village will provide Clean Water which will have a significant impact on the health of the community and reduce the vulnerability of the women and girls who currently have to draw water from 2 hours away.
How Can I Help?
There are 12 other villages in this “cluster” who have similar needs and we are ready and willing to help them.
But we need your help. You can join with us and be an ambassador of Hope for the hopeless
Funding a village costs $15,000. This may be impossible for just one person but when you join our team of 99 other people at just $12/month to adopt a village, your team can truly bring hope to one of these 12 villages! Visit the Global Hope Network International website.
Plus, you can support this great cause by purchasing Coffee Without Borders products, all profits go directly to Global Hope Network International.
