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Women's Empowerment Center
A private venture springing from a
visit to Bhotechaur
During a visit to the Bhotechaur Health Clinic,
an extra meeting was called by a group of women who wanted
to form a micro lending pool. A woman named Uma Pradhan made
her case to us with passion and confidence. She said the women
wanted to be able to borrow small amounts of cash to develop
and expand small projects that would give them income and
independence.
Verla Shirley-Chaddick, who was traveling with Bright Futures
Foundation Board members, was very taken with the modest project
and opportunities it created for these women. When Verla returned
home, she launched the project with the help of her son and
a friend who made an initial donation of $400.00. On November
24, 2007, the Women's Empowerment Center was established in
Bhotechaur with 32 members.
The Women's Empowerment Center is concerned
with education, planning for community wellbeing, income generation,
and leadership development. As some of their first projects
they have purchased a goat and are also establishing a vegetable
and flower garden to generate income. Women from the group
have been engaged to provide cleaning services for the Bhotechaur
Health Clinic. The women who work at the clinic do so in the
name of the Empowerment Center and a portion of their earnings
is returned to the lending pool. The cleaning service provides
an earning opportunity for the women, helps educate them on
the importance of proper sanitation and it keeps the clinic
clean and inviting.
The Bhotechaur Clinic Manager, Devi Gurung, is actively assisting
the Women's Empowerment Center by overseeing the disbursement
of funds for this fledgling micro-bank. Her professional expertise
is a perfect complement for the enthusiasm of the women in
the area who are embarking enthusiastically on this journey
of self-empowerment and economic development.
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