Extending the Impact of Our Captivating Village Development Program
We recently met with Panchkhal Municipality’s Deputy Mayor and local representatives to share our advocacies, and plans for the Captivating Village Development Program II.
The second quarter of this year has been a joyful time for our Captivating Village Program (CVP) beneficiaries. Many of our girls graduated and are on to the next chapters of their lives. One of those is Ritika.
Ritika grew up in a simple family in Bijauna. Like most village girls that we support, her parents sustain their daily livelihood through farming. This alone is not enough, and meeting all their needs has been challenging, especially with four children.
Ritika is also a victim of child marriage. When she was just 15 and in eighth grade, she got married. At that time, protesting against it was not an option because it seemed like the norm. To her, there was no concept of a “child bride”, only a “bride”. It was also a way to ease her parents’ financial burdens.
Like a blessing in disguise, her husband complained of her physical and mental maturity and asked her to go back to her family. She felt embarrassed to go back to school because of how her classmates and society viewed her. She felt impure unlike her peers, and somehow she felt stuck between being a child and a grown woman because of her experiences. She felt discouraged and dropped out for a year. She may have given up, but the people around her had not. With the combined effort of her family, friends, and our staff—she completed grades 9 and 10!
She did not end there, we also assisted her in pursuing grades 11 and 12. While we were at it, we made sure she truly understood the concept of child marriage, its consequences, and how to prevent it. Her parents were also educated about the importance of keeping girls in school so that her younger siblings would not be married off like her. Now that Ritika knows the risks of it, she can now educate other village girls and empower them.
Ritika and her family are very grateful for the support and expressed their gratitude to our organization, our partners, and donors. She credits us for enabling her to complete grades 11 and 12. Now that she has graduated 12th grade, she is currently studying the Japanese language for more employment opportunities.
In 2024, the Captivating Village Program initiative reached 21 villages in Nepal. Every time $5,000 in funding is secured from a generous donor (or group of donors), another village program can be planned and implemented. Our team then keeps you updated on the difference you are making possible. Interested in learning more? Contact our CEO directly, andrewc@captivating.org, for more details. He’d love to hear from you.
Our Partners
We recently met with Panchkhal Municipality’s Deputy Mayor and local representatives to share our advocacies, and plans for the Captivating Village Development Program II.
We conducted a needs assessment in Panchkhal and uncovered challenges in the community, including a troubling rise in suicide rates linked to child marriage.
Some girls cannot pursue education, but it does not mean that learning stops there. Our Captivating Village Program (CVP) aims to provide out-of-school girls with a vital opportunity to continue their education in alternative learning environments.
Every year, hundreds of students in Nepal are compelled to leave school due to their family conditions. According to statistics, 4.8% of students in Nepal still leave school each year.
When we first met Neeta a few months ago in Nepal, she lacked confidence and had low self-esteem.
We started a Women’s Reproductive and Child Health Camp around different areas in Gaurishankar Rural Municipality in October, and November 2023, and April this year.