Reading Rooms

Women Awareness Centre Nepal (WACN) | Nepal

In 2013, GO Campaign provided 558 children with the construction of four children’s reading rooms at the Women’s Awareness Center in Nepal (WACN). Many of the members bring their young children with them to the cooperative, and WACN wanted to start to an early intervention program to ensure that these children have a strong educational foundation. Grant funds were used to establish reading rooms in 4 cooperative centers to develop the literacy and learning skills of the youth. In the reading rooms, a staff member also provided tutoring classes. In addition, books and reference materials were available for children to use, learn, and enjoy.

Led by Local Hero Prativa Subedi, WACN was created in 1991 to improve the socio-economic status and self-development capacity of the disadvantaged. Specifically, WACN helps to empower women in rural communities through the creation of economic opportunities through cooperatives. The mission of WACN is to help the women become financially independent and self-sustaining. Prior to the creation of the cooperatives, these women were often relegated to the lowest rank in society, confined to their home and farm. They were discouraged and prevented from participating in society, and girls and women were not able to get out of the vicious cycle of daily household work and poverty. Since joining the cooperatives, members have been able to earn and save money to support their families, allowing them to send their children to school and provide proper nutrition. WACN works with villagers in the Kavrepalanchowk district, Chitwan, Makawanpur and Kathmandu Districts to implement its program, which are tailored to the specific needs of each community.