Who is Tewa?
Tewa comprises of 21 women members, a growing circle of both men and women volunteers and allies, and a gender-balanced team of advisors committed to building an equitable, just and inclusive society. Initiated in January 1996, Tewa was registered under the NGO Act with the Lalitpur District Administration Office in April 1996 and with the Social Welfare Council in November 1996.
What is Tewa's mission?
Tewa aims to increase self reliance of Nepalis by reducing dependency on foreign donors. It aims to inculcate in Nepali men and women the habit of donating regularly for the sustainable and equitable development of the country with special focus on women.
What necessitated Tewa?
* In this time of rapid social transition, the tight social fabric of Nepali society, spun laboriously over the millennia, is showing signs of wearing out. Cultural invasion through satellite and other media is hastening the onslaught of an alien consumeristic lifestyle. Nepali tradition and way of life are being sidelined in the name of "modernisation". Families are breaking up, more so in the urban areas, heralding the disappearance of support systems. In the rural areas, men and boys in search of education, jobs and additional income are leaving the women behind while they migrate in-country or outside. Philanthropy and altruism, inherent in Nepali culture, is in danger of ebbing away along with the elders in our society.
* Nepal does not boast of a social security net for the welfare of the needy --the women, the oppressed and the disadvantaged.
* Today the economic push, more than anything else, has driven Nepali women who are ready to break out of their cocoon and be part of the country's development mainstream. These women all over Nepal are highly motivated, but lack adequate resources and expertise to start development initiatives or manage and gain from their existing resources. All they need is a little `tewa'--support.
* Development in Nepal is increasingly donor dependent and donor-led.
What is new about Tewa?
Tewa's exclusivity will be its strategy to tap on philanthropy and altruism intrinsic to the Nepali society, by encouraging men and women to donate on a regular basis for the establishment of a Tewa Fund. Indigenous means of fund raising i.e. tapping on traditional daan, pujas, festivals, as well as door to door and individual solicitations and, innovative fund-raising campaign and events will be organized.
Tewa will mobilize these funds to give grants to the development initiatives taken up by empowered groups of rural women. However, support for Tewa does not mean providing only financial assistance, for such support is not sustainable, and might instead create a cycle of dependency depriving the beneficiaries of a sense of ownership, independence, fulfillment, as well as self esteem .Tewa will therefore identify and train a cadre of gender-balanced village-based development workers. These development workers will be chosen locally so as to provide a choice to Nepali youth to stay back in their villages. They will help to identify potential beneficiaries and also act as their facilitators, networkers and monitors. They will also assist the women/women groups in tapping on and mobilising local resources.
How will Tewa achieve its mission?
Tewa's first emphasis is the establishment of a management system which includes institution-building and initiation of fund-raising and grant-making programmes. So far Tewa has 21 due-paying members. There has been a conscious decision to keep this group very heterogenous by encompassing women across age, class, caste and professional spectrum. Currently members have been undergoing in-house training for understanding of development issues and team-building.
Tewa's organisational structure will be participatory and non-hierarchical; inclusive and open; transparent and accountable; and a programme outreach that is respectful of diversity; is beyond party politics; and which can bring in a sense of ownership for all Nepalis. We will be process oriented in our approach that is both analytical and self-reflexionary.
After clarifying its strategy on fund raising, Tewa has begun to fund raise since Sept'96. Tewa members will use indigenous methods--door to door campaigns, walk-a-thons, special events--to collect donations from Nepalis on an annual or biannual basis. Each Tewa member will be responsible for raising a specific amount mutually agreed on by its members.
Tewa will ultimately identify a cadre of village-based development workers. Need-based training modules will be prepared, and the development workers will be trained before deputation.
Tewa's Fund-raising Committee and its Grant-making Committee will work to define specific criterias and strategies towards achieving its goals.
How can you be a friend of Tewa?
You can become a friend of Tewa by donating as much as pleases you, on a regular annual or biannual basis. You can also make a one-time donation, a lump sum amount as a start-up grant to Tewa, or in memory of a loved one. Tewa's bank account is: Nabil Kantipath Branch Saving Account #011 021 3164001.
You can also help Tewa immensely by helping spread word on its ideologies. Your belief and trust in Tewa will have a multiplier effect when you encourage your friends and relatives to help us Nepalis, and more so Nepali women, help ourselves. Nepalis and friends of Nepal in the USA can make tax-deductible donation to Tewa by writing your cheques ( with a memo to Tewa ) to :
The Global Fund for Women
425 Sherman Avenue, Suite 300
Palo Alto, CA 94306 - 1823
Phone: (415) 853 - 8305
Fax: (415) 328 - 0384
E-mail: gfw@globalfundforwomen.org
For more information please contact:
Tewa
P.O. Box 11, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Telephone: 00977-1-524647
Fax: 00977-1-531022
Email: tewa@tewa.mos.com.np
http: //www.catmando.com/npo/tewa/tewa.htm
Tewa AnnualReport 1997
Editorial Team Rupa Joshi, Rita Thapa
Co-ordinators Rita Thapa, Deepak Dewan
Layout/Design Keshar Joshi (Kiirti Studio)
Photo Credits Keshar Joshi, Deepak Dewan, Rabi Chitrakar
(cover photo by Keshar, back photo by Deepak)
Rita Thapa
Yet another year swiftly draws to a close taking Tewa into its third year of growth! Though its roots have yet to sink deep enough to anchor itself against strong winds to stand erect and tall, we now know that our Tewa tree is a reality! It is growing and spreading its branches to provide shade to rural women’s groups. We can envision our tree bearing sweet fruits of self-reliance and self esteem for all to pluck and relish.
In these short two years we already have answers to many of the questions we raised earlier. We wondered whether we could raise money from Nepalis... Would Nepalis give? Would Tewa hope to be self-reliant? Yes, yes.......yes! The answers are all in the affirmative..... Having raised over rupees 1.8 million during 1997 and having responded to 24 groups out of 49 proposals received during the year - we have learnt quite a few lessons in fund-raising, grant-making, and concerning our own organizational growth and advancement.
Quite a few of our donors have given without the asking - fewer of those that have been asked have refused. One of the most valuable lessons we learnt in fund-raising has therefore been "ask and ye shall receive". It is obvious that many are willing to take risks in order to aspire and work for a better future - a stronger community. Many in today’s transitional society who feel insecure and unstable, see Tewa as an alternative, a tunnel out of the state of hopelessness and negativity and have come forward to do their best in building a holistic society.
Just as we had envisioned, rural women groups all over Nepal are emerging and moving towards their own self empowerment. Our small ‘tewa’ seems very well timed. Requests for support came from the network of NGOs, INGOs and independent women groups. Our appraisal and monitoring visits revealed that there is tremendous commitment and motivation among these groups; that our support has gone a long way towards their confidence building and advancement. The women are aware of their needs and have prioritized them. They are now ready to take the first step up the ladder. They need our encouragement and trust in double doses.
In the coming days we want to involve more and more children as our donors. We want to educate as well as train them in the joys of philanthropic giving. We will also aim to open corporate doors for donating their share for social causes. We will continue to strengthen communities by mobilizing volunteers and we will continue to contribute to the human resource development and equitable development of Nepal.
As we walk through 1998 I entreat you all to join in our cause and help the Tewa tree grow and provide more shade. Help it blossom and bear fruit. Help us make a difference. Do give us your ‘tewa’!
Chaukibari Mahila Samuha- Revisited
Deepak Dewan
The retail shop set by the women in Rajabash, Udayapur, with a little "tewa" from Tewa is nearly a year old now. On my follow-up visit to Rajabash, I met with the members of the Chaukibari Mahila Samuha. I wanted to update myself on their activities, their successes, their hopes and if any, their disappointments.
I found the group as energetic as before. Very spirited, very vocal, full of laughter and enthusiasm. As I sat chatting with them, they fully satisfied my queries about the progress of their retail store and their future plans. Their answers, as usual, was sprinkled liberally with their down-to-earth philosophy!
The co-operative retail store opened by the group with a grant from Tewa and their own contribution is picking up business says Meenaka Niraula the group Chairperson. "Our budget is not too large, but we are getting along. We are not making much profit at the moment. We have to pay the rent for the store, pay our store-keeper and have invested a large amount in buying the goods, and still have to clear our credit."
"Just wait," adds Dhan Maya Karki, the oldest member of the group. "This shop of ours is still in its infancy. We have to wait a while for benefits. Only then can we start thinking about expanding the business, or what to do with the surplus money."
The store has been shifted to a bigger and more convenient location and the female shopkeeper has now been replaced by a young man. "The lady who used to keep store earlier left after working for four months", says Meenaka. I remind them of our conversations last year during pre-funding visit, when they had told me that they would keep a female shopkeeper. "Did you fail in this regard?" I asked them. "Well, it is just a temporary phase. We had to hire a man since none of us had the knack of keeping accounts," explains Meenaka, and hastens to add "We still want a woman for the job."
When I questioned their faith over a non-group member looking after the shop, the women replied unanimously "We trust him completely." "He sleeps at the store, buys the goods, keeps the accounts. "The shop is open seven days a week. It doesn’t close on holidays. "Even on the day of Dasain Tika, we closed but for a couple of hours in the morning. We have another friend Mr. Dhan Bahadur Katuwal who helps us check our accounts."
When I inquired what impact the opening of the store had made in their day-to-day lives, all of them said in one voice that they had more spare time on their hands. "Earlier we used to walk an hour each way to go up to Gaighat for our daily necessities. Now that we have a store close by we can better manage our household chores, and tend to our fields and animals too."
"We have become the talk of the community too," they add. "Our neighbours are awed by the fact that we women opened a store all by ourselves, with our own labour and hard work! Many women in neighbouring communities have now organized themselves into self-reliant groups too."
The 16-member Chaukibari Mahila Samuha meets on the 7th of every month, and each member saves Rs.5/- every meeting. Some members who had trouble crossing the river to attend meetings are now in the process of forming another group in their own community.
"When we sit at the group meetings, it is separate experience altogether," says Goma Karki, a group member. We leave behind our concerns about dal-bhaat and concentrate instead on matters of business and development.... how to balance our budget, how to raise money...."
Another member, Bal Kumari Pokhrel speaking for the group says "We lack education. We have all realized that education is the key to knowledge which can propel us all forward."
All of the women agree wholeheartedly that once their store starts giving them enough monetary benefit, the first thing they want to concentrate on is promoting education of females in their community. "Most of us did attend adult literacy classes, but how much can an old woman like myself learn in six months? asks Dhan Maya. "Even those who have spent 10 years in school still need to study more.. so where does that leave us?" Bal Kumari adds "It is our lack of accounting skills that made us hire a man for our shop. I often think that, if we are given a second chance to study, I would go for it even if I had to stand on my head."
The women say another thing they have realized after coming together as a group is the discrimination between sons and daughters so inherent in society. "We will advise the youngsters not to repeat our mistakes. We tell young couples to be satisfied with two children, even if both are girls. We advise them not to burden the earth with as many children as we did. We were negligent. One of our neighbours had 11 offspring...all because they waited for a son!
I asked them what they thought about helping others in need, like Tewa for instance. The women of Chaukibari Mahila Samuha replied unanimously, "We will try to assist Tewa in whatever way we can... as much as we can. We will soon be a donor to Tewa!"
Tewa Fund-Raising Volunteer Programme
Lily Thapa
Tewa was established two years ago with the specific objectives of increasing the self-reliance of Nepalis. To reduce their dependency on foreign donors in order to promote sustainable development. In order to fulfill its objective, Tewa mobilizes local resources by inculcating the habit in Nepali men and women to donate regularly. To meet such a goal, Tewa decided to enlist the help of ‘home-makers’ and other Nepalis who have time on their hands to be involved in fund-raising activities and at thereby enrich their own individual lives by way of being an integral part of the Tewa movement.
To achieve this goal, in 1997 Tewa developed and trained 31 women and 2 men in 3 batches of Fund-Raising Volunteers (FRV) programme. The training of the volunteers was done in the following manner:- First, the potential FRV were familiarized with Tewa, its vision and its activities. Then those individuals desirous to take the training were enrolled, and given two days of fund-raising training. After the training, volunteers were asked to be affiliated with Tewa for 3 months during which they were mentored by designated members of the Tewa Team. At the end of the three months, the volunteers are feted and asked to give their evaluation of the programme. At this point, volunteers are given a choice to either continue or terminate their work with Tewa. During 1997, our FR volunteers raised more than Rs.122,000 and were able to disseminate Tewa’s vision to over 1,000 men and women.
The self-evaluation done by the volunteers shows that this programme has increased their self confidence and they are encouraged by what they were able to accomplish. This statement was reinforced by the fact that more than 50% of the volunteers have decided to continue with their fund raising activities during 1998.
In this time of escalating inflation and economic instability, Tewa realizes that fund-raising is a difficult job, but it has been proven that is not impossible. This belief is reflected in Tewa’s endeavor to acknowledge and honor the efforts of these volunteers by honoring them publicly. For this purpose, a Tewa Board Member, Sadhana Shrestha and volunteer staff, Lily Thapa have instituted two running awards. These will be awarded annually at a public function to FRVs raising the maximum amount of donation and those raising donations from the maximum number of donors.
Tewa will continue to mobilize the help of such volunteers to propagate its vision and will always try to make available opportunities to its volunteers for their personal growth by inviting them to take part in various training and other relevant programmes. Tewa will continue to review and refine the fund-raising programme in tune with the changing circumstances. In the process we hope the volunteers will be empowered to be involved as leaders in their own communities addressing diverse and appropriate issues
In 1997 Tewa held a monthly networking meeting in which various representative of NGOs, INGOs and professionals were invited to Tewa. They were given an orientation about Tewa as well as solicited for their support and feed back. Many of them were impressed and inspired to help Tewa, which they did! The first grantee groups supported by Tewa was selected from the contacts provided by one of our initial Network Programme.
Another social services programme started by Tewa is that for the adolescents and teenagers, for they are our future. Children between 12 to 16 years ages were brought together to brainstorm and clarify on issues of their concern. This programme was very useful and proved to be very relevant in the context of present society. In 1998 Tewa wishes to start this programme regularly in various communities with the help of our volunteers, the parents and appropriate resource persons.
In conclusion, we have every reason to continue these programmes which we hope will stand out as the most effective volunteer mobilization programme in Nepal.
Snippets from my field visit ...
Deepak Dewan
In the course of visiting the grantee groups, I visited the saving and credit groups in Siraha who had received Tewa grants in 1996 in the form of seed money through Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO), Kathmandu.
• Samaj Bikas Mahila Samuha at Kuthnama village ward No. 4. Group has 16 members. Initially they were saving Rs. 5 per month, but when Tewa contributed Rs. 4,000, they were inspired to save more and as a result they have revised their monthly sav
Among the many members present that day, I was able to talk to Chandra Kala Mahara, Chairperson and Rasa Devi Mahara, General Secretary of the group. They showed me their account books which showed the loans that the group had given to its members. The loaned amounts ranged from Rs. 200 to Rs. 800. They normally borrowed the money for a period of 4 months at a time with Rs. 3 per Rs. 100 per month interest.
They also told me that defaulters were given a grace period of 8 to 15 days to clear their loans. If they failed to clear the loan then, they would charge a Rs. 10 penalty for every month. Money collected in this manner from defaulters would be another means of augme nting the group’s income. But the records showed only four such defaulters within the last one and half years.This clearly indicates the group’s trend for timely repayment of loans.
Members told me that they take loans for business purposes. They use the money to buy/sell vegetables and spices for trade during Hatiya days. When I asked them how much profit they made they said their business ventures fetched them an average net profit of Rs. 50 per week.
The group seemed to have realized the advantages of taking part in saving schemes. They were able to outline the differences between the difficulty they had to bear as single individuals and the benefit they could reap working as a group. They vividly narrated their experiences of the time when they had not formed a group and when they had no choice but to take loans from local money-lenders at very high interest rates. It was not only the matter of high interest they said, but also the other "extras" they had to give to the money-lenders - like free labour, paddy etc. Now they do not have to do all that. This has relieved them from a bondage. Being organized in a group has further enhanced and encouraged their collective thinking and how to further the group’s advancement. Now they even have time to dream for a better tomorrow...they aspire to buy their own land and start a community forest. They hope that will enhance the group’s income from the sales of timber and fodder.
The next group I visited was - Pragati Mahila Samuha in Jiba, Mirchiya 3. They have 19 members (two dropped out, they had moved away to another locality). This group was formed about a year and half ago and have saved Rs. 7,000. A majority of the members who were present in the meeting seemed to have taken loans and invested them in animal husbandry projects. Members of this group too had stories to tell which were not very different from what I had heard from other groups. They too aspired to have their own common land for tree plantation. When I asked them why they opted for tree plantation, they said it is a project which could continue for ever and improves the environment. They want their group to exist for ever too!
I felt what Tewa had invested in a small way to give tewa to these groups was worth many folds. It was able to support the process of self-empowerment and self-reliance of Nepalis in general and Nepali women in particular. This gave me more confidence in Tewa’s vision - the vision of tomorrow’s Nepal when we no longer have to look beyond ourselves for some messiah to come to our rescue. It is all here. All you need to do is to s..........t..........r..........e..........t..........c..........h a bit to give tewa to each other.
FUND-RAISING - My experience
Aruna Thapa, FR Volunteer III Batch
The two-day fund-raising training conducted by Tewa began a very interesting journey for me. In a warm introductory training environment I had a very strong impression that fund-raising would not be a very difficult job, even though Rita Thapa, the lead facilitator, kept stressing during the whole course of the training that fund-raising would be anything but easy, and that as a fund-raising volunteer one should not feel disappointed if the results of ones fund-raising efforts were poor. I still personally felt that fund-raising would be easy.
After the training ended I started going from person to person to raise money and what I experienced was quite contrary to my long standing expectation. Those people whom I thought would contribute generously did not react as positively and contributed very little or nothing at all. Some others about whom I was not too hopeful contributed quite generously!
All the people we visited were given a detail briefing of Tewa’s philosophy. Personal work assessment at a later stage showed that those who were aware of social work were quick to contribute but those who were less exposed took time to think and contribute. I found that many people were supportive of Tewa’s objectives but many were critical about the role of NGOs. Some of the people we approached for support requested us to come back later and I learnt that they had taken that time to reflect about Tewa’s work before pledging a contribution.
I felt that one of the main reasons why people did not contribute as generously as expected was because we went to them during the festival season of Teej, Dashain and Tihar. This taught us a lesson that the timing of fund-raising is also equally important.
The whole experience of fund-raising was a new and interesting experience.The very fact that we were able to convince some rather adamant people that Tewa’s philosophy was noble, gave us immense satisfaction. I felt that time and effort spent for fund-raising was worth it because this money would go a long way to support women’s groups in Nepal. At a later stage we hope to inform the donors what their donation has been utilized for.
I enjoyed my fund-raising experience even more since I teamed up with my sister Amita Adhikari. Most of the people that we approached were our own family and friends. Even though we did face some frustrating moments, the experience as a whole was an enlightening one. We were able to convince some Nepalis that they as donors could help uplift disadvantaged women groups and translate traditional means of giving to suit our present need. Many people we visited were surprised that they, rather than "Bideshis", could be the donors! I feel I can learn to be a good fund-raiser.
A Significant day for Tewa 14th August
Tewa Talks
Prominent Visitors during the second half of 1997