bishnu
Bishnu Maya Pariyar,
Empower Dalit Women of Nepal
(2007 Perdita Huston Activist for Human Rights)
In 1996, at the age of 20, Bishnu Maya Pariyar founded Empower Dalit Women of Nepal (EDWON). Her organization works to improve the lives of the Dalit (the “untouchable” caste) women in rural Nepal by enabling them to fight for their human rights and raise their standard of living. As a Dalit herself, Bishnu had many obstacles of poverty and discrimination to overcome in order to fight for social justice. She decided education is the best way to become an effective advocate for people of low caste among Nepal's power elite. Bishnu became the first girl—of any caste—from her village to graduate from secondary school. She is currently studying for a master's degree in the United States. Upon completion of her degree in 2007, she plans to return permanently to Nepal to resume the active leadership of her organization.
EDWON is based on the belief that women's empowerment is the key to empowerment for the whole community. EDWON has programs to support women's savings groups and literacy training, as well as scholarships to enable low-caste children to access formal education. Participants learn to read and write, to save money that can be invested in entrepreneurial initiatives, and to support one another. After six months of training, the women have also gained insight into their own situation, and begin to see ways to enact social change. As the women's economic power in the family grows, their influence and status increase and the incidence of domestic violence, so widespread in Nepal, decreases. Bishnu's idea is simple and effective: Literacy and economic empowerment, fueled by a sense of solidarity, inspires social change.
ORGANIZATION
EMPOWER DALIT WOMEN OF NEPAL works to improve the lives of Dalit (low caste) women in rural Nepal by enabling them to fight for their human rights and raise their standard of living. We believe women's empowerment is the key to empowerment for the whole community.
EDWON supports formal and informal literacy training, which raises women's awareness and leads to the formation of autonomous savings groups. The groups in turn increase the women's social and economic status and inspire the women to initiate social change.
EDWON is dedicated to human rights for all Dalits. In addition to supporting literacy training and women's savings groups, EDWON supports formal education for low-caste children and girls through a scholarship program.
For more information, visit www.edwon.org
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