EARTHWARD
Campaigns in Nepal
Turn your vision earthward -
'Tis we must lend
a hand.
Projects of HUMAN
(HUManist Association of Nepal; an EARTHWARD affiliate)
We are pleased to have HUMAN as our first EARTHWARD affiliate, and below we describe the projects HUMAN is working on that fall within EARTHWARD's mission. At the bottom of the page is information on how you can help.Nepal is a small, poor nation in Asia that borders both China and India. Some basic information on Nepal is available on Atlapedia, as well as an excellent map. Additional information may be found on the fact sheet of the Nepal Homepage.
According to Human's past publications:
"The Humanist Association of Nepal (HUMAN) was established in 1997 with the objectives to spread humanist values, principles and ideals through secular humanist education campaign activities. One of major focal points of HUMAN activities includes its fight against superstitious and para-normal practices, dogmatic and fundamentalist forces prevalent in contemporary Nepali society. HUMAN upholds and promotes scientific rationality, human dignity and freedom through secular democracy. HUMAN has carried out right-based advocacy and action researches on superstitious and paranormal practices and victims of social evils emanated from such practices in Nepali society...
Humanist Association of Nepal is the country member of International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) London and Council for Secular Humanism, USA..."
EARTHWARD has decided to approve funding for three specific projects of HUMAN. One is to help the victims and families of those accused of witchcraft, the second is to help ex-Kumaris, and a third is to help victims of the Hindu caste system. Please see HUMAN's synopsis of these activities as well as additional information on the Kumari.
More information on Kumari worship is available at Catmando and Visit Nepal websites. Also, an article in the Sunday Leader outlines some of the downsides of being a "goddess".
Finally, HUMAN also seeks to help the Dalit, also known as the "untouchables", or people who do not have a caste in the Hindu caste system. Your lifelong job or career is determined solely by your caste. In the Hindu religion, it is believed that you are born into the caste that you deserve based upon your behavior in your previous lives. Those who are without caste, also refered to as "outcastes", "untouchables" or Dalit, are the lowest in status and are very much discriminated against and oppressed. The Dalit, particularly the women and children, live in dire poverty and most are illiterate. Conflicts between the Dalit and high-caste members have resulted in bloodshed.
HUMAN seeks to empower the Dalit by providing legal training, literacy education, information on human rights, other informal education, and job skills training. HUMAN is also educating the community to combat fundamentalism and increase acceptance of the Dalit, as well as providing gender relations education and public awareness of AIDS and preventing the trafficking of girls. They also hope to increase school enrollment for Dalit children, and improve the status of women.
For the first year, this project will concentrate on the Jhapa district in East Nepal. Approximately 1,250 Dalits women and children will be directly benefited, and the community as a whole will benefit indirectly.
What you can do:
Donate to the Fund for Victims in Nepal by selecting your preferred currency, entering the amount of your donation, and clicking the Nepal Fund button below:
or similarly Donate to the Earthward General Fund:
Thank you!