Shearing Meeting in Nepal

30 September-2010,Lalitpur, Nepal

District level sharing meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction and climate change adaptation was successfully completed.

Sharing meeting was jointly organized by JCYCN, HRELIC, HIMAWANTI, Hoste-Haise and WCDF. In the sharing meeting different people from different organization were participated. 14 people from NGOs based on Bangladesh.  Nepalese journalist, political leaders, Government officers, social workers including other total 70 people were participated in that meeting.

During the meeting participants share their best practices of adaptation process on climate change. Meeting conclude climate change issue is our global issue so we should work together.

The meeting was conducted by the chairman ship of Kamala Sharma of HIMAWANTI, welcome speech and topic clarified by Tilottam of JCYCN and the program announce by Ramesh Prd. Timilsina of HRELIC Nepal.

Report of the training on (CMDRR) and (PDRA) in Nepal

28th November 2010, Kathmandu, Nepal

           Five days (24 to 28, November) Community Manage Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) and Participatory Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) training was successfully completed.

The training was organized bye Concern Universal Bangladesh in the support of Cordaid Netherland and local management support from JCYCN.

         13 participants from different five NGOs (JCYCN, HRELIC, HIMAWANTI, WCDF, HOSTE-HAINSE) are participated in the training.

           In the Opening ceremony of the training, President Ramesh Prd. Timilsina of Hrelic Nepal and President Tilottam Paudel of JCYC-Nepal welcome and thanks to participants and facilitators.

          Human development and education Head of Concern Universal, Abdul Hamid, Training Officer, Sabrim Sultana, Vice President of JCYCN, Radha Dhakal and vice Treasure of Hoste Haise Sarmila Ranabhat had played facilitator role on the topic of CMDRR and PDRA.  Abdul Hamid told that CMDRR is the best and long term process by the community to reduce risk of disaster. Sabrim Sultana stress this is a participator method and people use utilized their local resources. Similarly Radha Dhakal and Sarmila Ranabhat also share some idea to find the risk assessment.

          During the training session facilitators and participants share their ideas and experience like how to motivate community people, government, political leaders and others. To make training more fruitful participants did the group discussion/work, entertainment. To reduce risk of disaster participant make some strategic plane and action plane according to their group division.

After certificate distribution the program was formally end by Tilottam Paudel.

Report Prepared by

Bhisha Kafle

A Tale of Sona Fakir

‘Bahirchar Lathimara’ is the name of a village which is located on the edge of river Bishkhali. Almost two thousand families reside there. Of them Sona Mia is a fisherman, who became a legend of this village. He comes of a family where spiritual practice and humanitarian activities were the sole aim. His father Hossain Ali was a man of philanthropic activities. He was incomparable to all in his spirit. That is why he was well known as ‘Fakir’. The paternal belief tradition and activities have made a deep impression on Sona Mia in his nature.

On last SIDR, Bahirchar Lathimara was greatly damaged. Water level rose above 15 feet or more and destroyed all the belongings of nature and society. Since then there was none to extend rehabilitation & reconstruction activity. Sona Mia came forward and emerged as a legend of human being. He could realize that it was the moral responsibility to stand by the distressed people and to extend helping hand in these evil days. He took the responsibility of repairing the damaged roads and re-excavates the cannels.

After being trained as Radio Spot Manager under CBDRR project, he became more enthusiastic. He made realized to all through the monthly meeting of CLC and has become successful in repairing some roads. He also constructed temporary bridge made of the timber of Cawra and Data plant over two cannels. Thus he managed walking facilities for the people. Though he is a fisherman in profession, he sometimes became so much involved in social welfare that he cannot even go for fishing. Being a man of 50, he bears a very energetic impression in his body and mind. He is seen carrying the heavy bar of timber.

If he is inquired he replied smilingly and said indicating to his father’s benevolent activities that he was following the footprint of his father and was trying to reduce the suffering of the people. He said’ there is great mental peace in serving people”. He also remarks that he has worked for raising homestead of 11 houses since has received training. He also inspired for making portable oven and specially enjoys the activity of disseminating the early warning messages to the community people. 

Sona Mia believes that it will be followed then these would be no suffering during and after disaster. He wants to be immortal like his father and to live forever in the memory of the community people for his good work.

 

Reported by,

Md.Jahangir Alam

Coordinator, Disaster Management Unit
Dhaka Ahsania Mission

A determined advocate fighting for gender equality in the community

 The district of Patharghata, at the extreme end of the coastal belt of Bangladesh, is not only one of the most vulnerable areas to cyclones and tidal surges but it is also located in a very conservative part of the country. This combination has led to an unacceptable price in lives paid by young girls of the surrounding villages during cyclones. When a cyclone is about to hit the coast of Bangladesh, the community-based early warning system enters into action to mobilize all villagers and organize movement to the nearest cyclone shelters. Due to lack of awareness of local authorities on gender and child protection, the shelters are not a safe place for young girls: poor lighting, no separation of sleeping spaces and latrines, and absence of a security system all combine to create an environment where abuses are widespread. Many fathers prefer to leave their young girls at home, completely exposed to the winds and tidal surges, rather than risk taking them to the shelters.

Satu is aware well of this reality. A 14 year old girl and a student of class IX, she has already experienced two major cyclones in her lifetime. She recalls that when she took shelter in the school-cum-shelter close to her home with all the surrounding villagers, it was a very uncomfortable time for her and the other women and young girls. “In the shelter, other girls and I were repeatedly harassed by groups of boys, but when I complained to the leader, he did not listen to me”. She also observed discrimination against women and girls in the distribution of relief items and emergency services, which were always managed by men. Satu does not want to have to choose between her safety and her dignity: “it is not fair that some girls are left behind because their families are too scared taking them to the shelters”.

From the day she has been enrolled as a student brigade member in the Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) project, Satu has been waiting for the opportunity to raise her concerns to the authorities of her Union and to finally be heard. The project works with communities to better understand and plan around the risks they face. In doing so, the project emphasizes the participation of women, children and people with disability as being the most at-risk groups when a disaster hits. In October 2009, Satu represented the students in a Risk Assessment and Planning workshop organized by the CBDRR project in coordination with the local authorities of her Union. Not only did Satu share her preoccupations with the assembly, but she insisted that her recommendations towards enhancing the protection and participation of girls be included in the official Risk Reduction Action Plan and demanded to become a permanent member of her Union Disaster Management Committee – the mandated body for shelter and emergency response management at local level.

With continuous support from the CBDRR team, Satu is now a full member of her Union Disaster Management Committee and a powerful advocate for the rights of women in disaster. She took part in the First aid, search and rescue training representing as a member of Union Disaster Management Committee. In the training, trainer asked the participants: How do you make the community more aware of and more able to act during disaster?

“There are lots of similarities in the way of accidents, injuries, as well as illnesses. It is also observed the needs for first aid also having some common features in the country. When we consider all these things it is possible to come up with a common kit that will suit to all the communities and we need to mobilize the people more on that context” Satu replied.

            Now she is working as a change agent in the community playing legendary role for making women aware especially for disaster risk reduction. Moreover she also believes that she has more capability to deal with the vulnerable people with enough confidence.

Reported by,

Md.Jahangir Alam

Coordinator, Disaster Management Unit
Dhaka Ahsania Mission
Phone:(880-2) 8119121,Ext-145
Mobile:01710-231671

Meeting with Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, the Honorable President of NEPAL

“Capacity Building of Local NGOs in Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation” project funded by Cordaid (Netherlands) capacitating 67 local NGOs in Bangladesh, India and Nepal

        On 1^st of December 2010 Concern Universal, Together with the 24 representative from seven local NGOs from Bangladesh (Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Friendship, Fight for Hunger based in Chittagong, Integrated Development Association of Bangladesh (INDAB) based in Barisal, Palli Gono Unnayan Kendra (PGUK) based in Barisal, PIDIM Foundation and Voluntary Association for Rural Development (VARD) based in Sylhet) and, five NGOs from Nepal (Himalayan Grassroots Women’s Natural Resources Management (HIMAWANTI), Hoste Haisne, Jagrati Child and Youth Concern Nepal, National Committee of Human Rights Education Club (HRELIC), Women and Children Development Forum) met with Dr. Ram Baran Yadav the President of Nepal at Rastrapati Bhawan (President Palace) in Katmandu, Nepal.

        During one hour meeting the discussion topic was around disaster risk reduction and changes from climate. The President of Nepal has been very cordial and interested to discuss the effects of climate change which are already severe on the Himalayan Chain. The President ensured to support to the NGOs.

        The meeting took place in the frame of the project “Capacity Building of Local NGOs in Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation”, funded by Cordaid (Netherlands) working with 67 local NGOs in Bangladesh, India (Assam and Meghalaya), and Nepal.

Reported by,

Abdul Hamid
Head - Organisational Development and Education
Concern Universal