Nawalparasi Association of the Deaf

Training and Empowerment of Deaf Women in Nepal to actively participate in the process of social, cultural and economic development

Share This Post

About the Organization

Nawalparasi Association of the Deaf (NAD) is a non-profit organisation established in 2005 and is a member of the National Federation of the Deaf Nepal (NDFN). The aim of the association is advocate for Deaf rights such as education, Nepalese sign language equality, inclusivity, accessibility, empowerment, health care system for deaf people and Deaf education as well as running a number of programs such as workshops and activities through the district to improve the lives of Nawalsparasi’s Deaf population. NAD promotes the human rights of Deaf people in accordance with principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Click here to show & hide the transcript with descriptions

[Description – This videos opens with a woman signing directly at the camera. Then it switches to two other women sequentially also signing directly at the camera]

Dipa: Hi I’m Dipa, former President of Nawalparasi Association of the Deaf which is established on 2005. NAD’s activities have been fluctuating since then.Currently I am working in Deafway UK Project and also a new project for Deaf Women Empowerment from MNI USA Many many thanks to MNI.

Pratima: Namaste, I am pratima, Vice president of NAD. I’m working in school as a teacher for Deaf children.Usually, after work I come to NAD to work on Deaf women programme and other NAD activities. Many thanks to MNI for support us a project for Deaf Women Camp. Big thanks again.

Jamuna: Namaste I’m Jamuna, I am working as a teacher for Deaf children. After work, I come to NAD to support Its various activities as I’m a board member of NAD. Hearty welcome Deafway Projects in NAD. I’m exciting for the coming programme of Deaf Women Camp. Many thanks to MNI for big support to NAD for Deaf Women. Very very thankful of you.

Nawalparasi Association of the Deaf on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NADNepal

Alícia Sort; Deaf Woman Psychologist who is very motivated to collaborate with Feminism events. With experiences as intern at Deaf Abused Women’s Network in Gallaudet University, USA, and as teacher and mental health counsellor in a deaf children school in Indore, India.Currently, I work as speaker about Psychosocial perspective in the Deaf Community, Gender Equality and Deaf Women Mental Health. She is Activity Coordinator of this project.

Caroline Smits; Deaf Woman with experience in empowering deaf children, youth and women by organising workshops, activities and lectures. With bachelor degree in International Tourism Management, she has experience with working in nonprofit-organisations for developing countries and working as volunteer in Ethiopia and Nepal. Not only this project, she was fundraiser for projects in Ethiopia and deaf school in Nepal after earthquake. She is Media Person of this project.

Dipawali Sharma. Feminist with a special interest in empowering Deaf Women in Nepal. Graduated from the Master in Sociology and Anthropology. I have a long experience in working for the Nepali Deaf Community. I am currently working as a Project Officer at Deafway in Nawalparasi. I am also the coordinator of Deaf Nepalese Women Empowerment Project.

Ixone Saenz; an active feminist and a very enthusiastic person who is interested in the social, political and economical structures of the world. Also, I am a Master's degree graduate in International Development and Education Emancipatory with plenty of experience in volunteering for several deaf organisations. — Ixone Saenz; an active feminist and a very enthusiastic person who is interested in the social, political and economical structures of the world. Also, I am a Master’s degree graduate in International Development and Education Emancipatory with plenty of experience in volunteering for several deaf organisations.

Laxmi Acharya; she is a Nepali Sign language interpreter and has been working in the deaf community of Nepal for a long time. She has special interest in empowering Deaf women and the education of Deaf children. Also she is a masters degree graduate in sociology and anthropology. During the project she is the assistant and interpreter of the project coordinator.

Pratima Gurung; Acting President of the Nawalparasi Association of the Deaf. Elected board member of the National Federation of the Deaf Nepal. Deaf teacher at the Shiva Higher secondary School, Kawasoti Nawalparasi. Class 12 passed from the Shreejana Deaf Higher Secondary School. Actively working in the deaf community with special interest in empowering deaf youth and deaf women.

Pramila Thakali; Acting president of GAD’s Deaf Women Committee and organizing the programs for Deaf Youths in Pokhara. Recently she took position as Vice President of the National Federation of Disabled, Gandaki Province. She is teacher of Class N, L.K.G and U.K.G. (Children) at the Sirijana school for Deaf in Pokhara. She is actively working in the deaf community empowering deaf youth and deaf women. During this project she is the deaf interpreter Nepali Sign Language and will give lectures about the deaf women community in Nepal.

About the Project

Our project “Deaf Women Empowerment Workshop” was the first effort to empower Nepalese Deaf Women and raise awareness about the issues they are facing through their participation in workshops.

Click here to show & hide the transcript with descriptions

[Description: This video opens with a woman signing directly at the camera and switches between various women involved with the project]

Hey, I’m Dipawali. Ixone. Caroline. Alicia. We want to thank you very much for the donations made for our project. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for supporting this project with your money. Our project becomes bigger. Also, we want to announce that we got fund from MNI, an American organisation. They are 10.000 USD dollars! Thank you so much! But it is still not enough. Our aim in this project is that it will be divided into two phases. The first phase is coming soon. 30 deaf women from Nepal will get together for a workshop. Where workshops, lectures and several activities will be held. Second phase will be held few months later with the same participants to get together again.

There, we will discuss and evaluate the project the project about anything and evaluate that needs to be improved or are improved.We still need to get around 3000 pounds.We hope you keep supporting us. This video isn’t the last you will get from us. There will be more videos becauseWe intend to keep you update about our project progress in August with videos. With more detailed information about location, the program and the official dates.So you will know what consists our project and its impact for Nepalese Deaf Women.

The overall objective of the project was to provide the basis for building up inner strength of every woman attending by 1) empowering them through different activities and workshops by professionals aimed to raise their self-esteem, help them become more confident to face any problem and to teach them how to live in a more positive way; 2) providing them with the knowledge required to improve their quality of life and implementing programs, resources and tools focused on the empowerment of the Nepalese Deaf Women; 3) giving them a support network that will extend beyond the event and make the conference a sustainable catalyst for change; 4) building their confidence through practice to get immediate life improvements and become role models to further share their knowledge with family, community and other women after the conference and spread the improvements in the society; and 5) making the improvement sustainable as being accessible to all (low cost), amplified (role models and knowledge sharing) and durable (event follow up to track progresses and build momentum). This project served to prepare Deaf Women in Nepal to actively participate in the process of social, cultural and economic development by making it accessible to them through all activities being delivered in Sign Language.

Update #1

Nepali Deaf Women Empowerment Workshop 2018

Training began on October 3, 2018 with 35 Deaf Nepali Women who learned about empowering themselves with their talents, confidence and advocacy skills. We had productive and inspiring 4 days together!