Bishakali was abused and mistreated in a relationship that saw her disempowered and heartbroken. After joining a Self Help Group [SHG] facilitated by INF’s Community Health and Development [CHD] staff in Jumla she is beginning to see hope.
Bishakali had been taken as a second wife to provide children for an infertile couple. This situation had happened because she had poor eyesight, and this disability meant she had difficulty finding a husband in Nepal. Bishakali didn’t fall pregnant and was subsequently beaten and abused by her husband.
She returned home to her parent’s house but they also mistreated her, seeing her as a burden to the family. Eventually Bishakali married again but the circumstances were less than ideal. Her second husband was much older and was eager to marry so as to continue his family line. He also had a loss of hearing and speech imparements.
Fortunately the relationship grew strong, Bishakali’s husband was caring and when she joined an INF SHG he took her to meetings, helping her navigate the muddy, rocky paths. On occasion he even attends when she is unable to.
Life for Bishakali, her husband and their five children is still an ongoing struggle. Earning a living can be a real challenge for those with a disability in Nepal. Bishakali and her family worked in the field of their landlord and were unable to send their children to school.
INF, through Bishakali’s SHG, provided funds for them to build a house on their own land. This gift, along with a grant they received from the government to build and stock a chicken pen with six hens has meant their eldest daughter can now attend school. Today they are free to work their own land and are gaining a sense of hope through independence for their family’s future.
Community Health and Development [CHD]
The overall goal of INF’s CHD work can be summarised as: ‘Sustainably improved quality of life, especially for poor and marginalised people in INF’s working areas.’
INF aims to achieve this through an approach that emphasises participation from the communities. It is based upon people identifying their own needs and how these can best be met, assisting members of a community to identify a community’s concerns, mobilize resources, and implement solutions. At its heart are three distinctives that together make our CHD model a long-term solution to poverty; We empower, equip and release communities for life.
PRAY |GIVE | GO | SHARE – Please pray for Bishakali and her husband as they work hard, despite their circumstances, to see a different future for their children. We also pray for the CHD team in Jumla as they help empower locals and provide hope for the future.