Mitini Encouraging Cultural and Knowledge Exchange
On July 13-15 of 2018, EmpowHER conducted Mitini, a special session for the changemakers of the program. Mitini is a cultural and leadership exchange program, run as a subset of EmpowHER since 2017. This year, in Mitini 18 changemakers from Kathmandu and 9 changemakers from Kalikot district came together to exchange their knowledge, culture and to learn about leadership from each other’s experience.
As one of the core themes of this year’s EmpowHER is diversity, the Mitini program has truly helped make the platform a more diverse and unique one for the changemakers to engage in. The 9 young women changemakers who came from Kalikot, one of the most underdeveloped districts in mid-western Nepal, attended various sessions on leadership skills, problem analysis, advocacy, sexual and reproductive health rights.
As the name goes Mitini, which means sisterhood in nepali also engaged the changemakers from Kalikot and Kathmandu valley in various bonding activities including homestays at Mitini’s house (changemaker from Kathmandu valley), site visits, and a dinner bonding event.
Below is an excerpt from a conversation with the women about the program and their Mitinis.
Gaumati Shahi is a 19 year-old student of Grade 11. Some of the problems that she wants to solve in her community is to improve the roads and help people in need.
“I am very happy with the Mitini program as I am learning things through Mitini that I had no way of learning otherwise and I got to be a part of relevant trainings such as leadership, sexual and reproductive health. The most important session for me was learning how to make reusable sanitary napkins which is good for our bodies. Some of the things that I expected to get from Mitini was a sense of respect and to learn about women leadership and now I do consider myself a leader. I would also like to teach and provide the information I have learnt here to my community.”
Nanda Singh is an 18-year-old student. She wants to become a teacher and is also working on her skills to become a better leader.
“Mitini has been a fun experience for me. We met new people and learnt new things. We learnt about reproductive health of women, about menstruation and reusable sanitary napkins and the Chhaupadi ritual that we practice. We built friendships with our Mitinis as we stayed at their house. I liked the program thoroughly.”
Jaukala Sunar is a 30-year-old resident of Kalikot. She is involved in farming but wants to learn stitching and sewing in order to open a tailoring shop.
“I didn’t know a lot about the program before coming to Kathmandu. However, after attending the sessions, I have received a lot of useful information. I liked learning how to make reusable sanitary napkins. We also stayed at our Mitini’s home which was nice. They were very friendly and hospitable towards us. Overall, I was very glad to be a participant of the program. Everyday we are involved in farming and agriculture but attending the program and the sessions was a new experience for me.”
Mitthu Kumari B.K. is an 18-year-old student of Grade 9. One of the problems she wants to solve in her community is untouchability.
“I heard about the women empowerment program and got to be a part of it immediately. We came here the next day. Coming from Kalikot and meeting other women of Kathmandu has been a fun experience and Mitini provided me with immense happiness. The knowledge I received here was quite practical and I would definitely exchange them with the women in Kalikot as well. The session on reproductive health, sightseeing at Swayambhunath, were especially informative and fun. Similarly, the session on menstruation and Chhaupadi ritual was also thought-provoking for me. I now consider myself a leader as I do take a lead and complete the work.”
In their words:
“Yes, I do consider myself a leader. As long as you have confidence, trust, knowledge on necessary things, you are a leader.” - Gaumati Shahi
“I want to consider myself leader as I will teach what I learn here when I return back.” - Mitthu Kumari B.K
“Yes, I am a leader now. I will focus on removing Chaupadi,teach others to make pads.” - Nanda Singh
