Positive Impact Seen on the Lives of Targeted Young Women: Mayor sah

Janakpurdham — The annual joint monitoring of the project “She Leads: Life Skills and Livelihoods Support for Most Marginalized Girls in Nepal” has been successfully completed. The project aims to improve the living standards of highly marginalized adolescent girls and young women.
The monitoring visit was conducted in the last week of March with the participation of the Mayor of Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City, ward chairpersons from different wards, and other stakeholders. The project is being implemented by Janaki Women Awareness Society (JWAS) with technical and financial support from Street Child.
During the monitoring visit, the team reached various communities and held direct interactions with adolescent girls and young women who have benefited from the project. The team also observed the income-generating activities being operated by the participants.
According to the project, in its first phase, the program targeted 425 married young women and women between the ages of 15 and 25. Under the project, participants received five months of life skills training and two months of financial literacy education, along with additional support for business development and management. They were also provided financial assistance to start small businesses in their own communities.
Women who benefited from the project are currently operating small businesses such as tailoring, grocery shops, beauty parlors, cosmetic shops, and livestock farming (including cows, buffaloes, goats, and pigs). The project has helped improve their financial independence and has also brought positive changes in their social participation.
During the monitoring visit, the Mayor of Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City, Manoj Sah, appreciated the positive impact of the project on the community. He emphasized the need to continue such programs to strengthen women’s economic empowerment and self-reliance. He also expressed the municipality’s commitment to providing necessary support for similar initiatives in the future.

The monitoring team also mentioned that some challenges were observed during the implementation of the project. In particular, it has been difficult to ensure regular participation of newly married women and women with small children. Similarly, in some areas, a large number of similar small businesses being operated in the same locality has increased competition among participants.
Overall, the ‘She Leads’ project has played an important role in improving the living standards of targeted women, boosting their self-confidence, and developing their leadership skills. It is believed that expanding such programs in the future will further support the long-term economic and social empowerment of women.