Date: July 27, 2026, modality: Virtual
Building on a strong collaborative partnership spanning the last 6 years, the Blind Women Association Nepal (BWAN) recently convened a virtual meeting with the Punya Foundation to ensure the continuity of their shared mission to help the poor and disabled through a social justice program focused on education and empowerment. During the session, BWAN presented a comprehensive proposal requesting sponsorship and funding for five core activities to empower women with blindness or visual impairments.
The collaborative session brought together key leadership and representatives from both organisations. BWAN was represented by Acting President Ms Sakuntala Pokhrel, General Secretary Ms Anita Sigdel, Advisor Ms Srijana Dhakal, Project Officer Ms Manasi Sharma, and Staff Ms Bhuma Kharel. The Punya Foundation team included Mr Kashi Adhikari CEO, Acharya Santiram Upadhaya Dhakal – Public Officer and Director Culture and Spirituality, Mr Hem Adhikari – Coordinator Logistics, and Dr Lakshmi Prasad Dhakal, alongside donor Mr. Hari Sharma.
BWAN Proposed Projects – BWAN outlined five strategic projects for fund opportunities:
- Educational Support through Stationery Distribution (Kathmandu and Kaski). Objective – reduce financial barriers to education for children of parents with visual impairments. Details – procuring and distributing essential stationery kits (school bags, notebooks, geometry boxes) to 10 children.
- Financial Support for Teacher Service Commission (TSC) and Public Service Commission (PSC) Preparation. Objective – improve employment prospects and exam competitiveness for 3 women with visual impairments. Details – providing tuition fee assistance for recognised preparation courses alongside voluntary mentorship from BWAN board members.
- Health and Relief: Reproductive Health Screening Checkup and Counselling (Kathmandu). Objective – improve access to reproductive health services for women with disabilities. Details – conducting screenings for pelvic organ prolapse (POP), STIs, and cervical cancer at FPAN premises with individual counseling and referral coordination (co-supported by TEWA).
- Online English Language Training for Women with Disabilities. Objective – enhance English proficiency and workplace readiness for 10 women with visual impairments over a 3-month period. Details – weekly online learning sessions targeting individuals pursuing higher education or employment opportunities.
- Creativity and Mental Well-being. Objective – promote mental wellness and self-expression through creative engagement. Details – organising a nationwide online poetry competition and a one-day Art of Living mindfulness and stress-management training session in Kathmandu.
Transparent Reporting Modality – To ensure full accountability and visibility for sponsors, BWAN has established a robust four-part reporting framework:
- Social media updates: regular, tagged progress updates posted on BWAN’s official Facebook page acknowledging the Punya Foundation’s support.
- Photo story/digital album: curated photographic records documenting each activity with descriptive captions.
- Video testimonials: audio-visual compilations capturing participant experiences and personal impact reflections.
- Brief completion report: comprehensive narrative summaries detailing project outcomes, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations.
The Punya Foundation team appreciated the presentation. They shared their input on the proposals. As a next step, BWAN will refine the project scope by presenting a detailed implementation timeline, structured activity planning, and transparent fund release mechanisms to move the partnership forward.