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By Alina Shrestha, World Vision International Nepal Communications
A group of 65 women who live in the area surrounding Begnas Lake have been working to keep their environment clean and conserve the rare flower that grows in the lake, white lotus.
"Save our lakes, save our environment” is the catchphrase for the women in Begnas Lake, Lekhnath Municipality-11, Kaski District.
Begnas Lake Women's Group, formed with the support of World Vision’s development programme in Naulo Abhas, has been raising awareness in preserving and conserving nature through their much-used slogan 'use without abuse'.
Fish farming, lotus rearing, household waste management, sanitation campaigns, adult non-formal education and leadership training are some of the many activities these women carry out in their community.
The funds raised by their own activities have been helping them sustain their development efforts around the Begnas Lake, which has 120 households.
Shanti Khanal, 42, the chairperson of the Begnas Lake Women's Group, says “Long before the intervention of World Vision, we were like a rudderless boat, now with the direction provided to us, we have formed an active working group. We monitor the sanitation situation around the lake and meet up monthly to discuss our achievements or challenges.”
“We began our work with sanitation and have ended in conservation.”
The women learned composting, vermi-composting, and paper recycling from World Vision and can now manage their solid waste to reduce landfill and pollution. Awareness sessions on gender, child rights and leadership development training formed a part of the various activities carried out to build the group’s capacity and confidence.
The women’s efforts have empowered them and impacted the whole community. Today, children also feel equally responsible for their environment.
A member of the group, Durga Adhikari, 36, says, “My children have become so conscious, they bring their waste home to dispose, without leaving it on the roadside.”
The women also hold an Annual Lake Festival, where they launch cleaning campaigns and sell homemade products to support their activities.
Tireless efforts and unfailing duty has paid off with good results. Bishnu Maya Tiwari, 58, an active member of the group, recalls, “The surrounding of Begnas Lake used to be so littered and unhygienic that the place was often used by young people to take drugs. Now with our hard work we have been able to reduce those problems and promote a healthy space.”
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