Empowerment Through Literary & Cultural Activities, Nepal: 2012

Implementing Partner : Bhutan Media Society (BMS)
Project Coordinator : Tilak Niroula, BMS
Sponsor: Punya Foundation
Programme date/venue : 13 Nov 2012, Bhutanese Refugee Camp, Jhapa, Nepal 

Background: With an aim of empowering women in the Bhutanese refugee camps of Jhapa and Morang districts in eastern parts of Nepal, the Punya Foundation conducted its first empowerment programme involving single women in 2011. The response of that programme, implemented in partnership with a camp-based social organisation BRAIN (Bhutanese Refugee Association of Intellectual Novas), was highly encouraging to give continuity for similar programmes in the refugee camps targeting different sections of the camp residents. Therefore, the Foundation stepped in into the camps this year with a similar empowerment program but with different target groups – school children and general women. The programme was conducted coinciding the 103rd birth anniversary of reckon Nepalese poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota. Dozens of camp-based organisations including the camp management committee of Beldangi joined the Foundation’s implementing partner, Bhutan Media Society. 

Programme Objectives: The Foundation has following objectives while implementing the empowerment programme in the Bhutanese refugee camps:

1. Empower secondary level students in their public speaking capacity
2. Empower women of different sectors by making them expose their hidden talents through cultural dances and songs

Programme details: Involving around a dozen of camp based organisations including the camp management committee of Beldangi camp and BRAI, the Bhutan Media Society (BMS) organized a five-hour-long stage programme on the eve of 103rd birth anniversary of renowned Nepalese poet, Laxmi Prasad Devkota, on November 13. Besides holding Secondary Level Extempore Speech Competition and Open Dance Contest, following activities became major highlights of the empowerment programme titled ‘Empowerment Through Literary & Cultural Activities’. 

• Traditional dances
• Deusi-Bhailini
• Awareness drama
• Book Release
• Speeches highlighting contributions of poet Devkota
• Children talents show  
• Prizes distributions
• Solo songs

 Program (implementing) partners:

• Camp Management Committee (CMC)
• Bhutanese Refugee Association of Intellectual Novas (BRAIN)
• Global Bhutanese Literary Organization (GBLO)
• Bhutanese Refugee Artist Theatre Association (BRATA)
• Bhutanese Refugee Children Forum (BRCF)
• Bhutanese Refugee Women Forum (BRWF)
• Youth Friendly Centre (YFC)
• Spoken English Centre (SEC)
• Yuva Prativa Kala Kendra (YPKK)
• The Refugee Herald Monthly
• Bhutan News Service (BNS)
• Tri-Ratna Secondary School (TRSS)
• Pancha-oti English School (PES)
• Mari Gold Academy (MGA)
• Green Vale Academy (GVA)

Best Performers: Best three performers of both the extempore speech and open dance competitions were awarded with prizes and certificates by special invitees (guests) of the programmes. Some of them also received consolation (motivation) awards from the organizers.

Extempore Speech Category

1. Megna Chhetri, Mari Gold Academy
2. Rukmina Rai, Green Vale Academy
3. Sunita Rai, Tri-Ratna Secondary School

Open Dance Category

1. Santoshi Lamgade, Camp Management Committee
2. Binita Gazmer, Yuba Prativa Kala Kendra
3. Anita Tamang, Spoken English Center
4. Sumitra Tamang, Tri-Ratna Secondary School
5. Uma Baniya, Pancha-oti English School