Realization to act comes from within

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Today we visited a village called Majilang in Pokhara, Nepal, where the Kopila Nepal team is facilitating community-led responses under the ARC initiative. We were joined by SALT facilitators from  Peace for People and Shakhi.

We facilitated a SALT conversation with community members (Men, women and youth) to explore the strengths and capacities that exist within the village.  We heard stories that reflected courage, determination and care for others.

We noticed  commonality  between those living in the community and those of us who had come from NGOs. Despite different roles, we shared many of the similar human experiences.

Reflecting on the SALT conversation, community members shared that they had spoken about things they had never shared before, even with their own family members. They said that these days there is very little time for such conversations. People are busy with work, and when they do have time they often spend it on their mobile phones.The excessive use of mobile phones was something that many participants were worried about.

Another concern that emerged strongly was migration. Many young people have left the village. One older man shared that he had tried to persuade his son and his family not to migrate. However, they insisted on leaving.  Earlier people had to walk long distances to fetch water. Today the village has a water supply, electricity and is connected to the highway. The weather is pleasant, and the scenic beauty of the area is striking.Older people mentioned that though the village life has improved greatly over time, yet migration continues as people value opportunities in  outside world than those available locally.  

Education was another topic that people raised. A high number of children are dropping out of school, partly because families migrate. Parents consider private school education better and remove their  children from government schools. Community members said that they have tried to encourage families to send their children to government schools, but they have not yet been successful.

People shared that they have tried many things in the past to address challenges in the community.  One woman who heads the hamlet mentioned that when the village had a small  fund, she suggested that instead of spending it on a notice board, they should use the money to make dustbins so the village could remain clean. The community agreed and acted on the idea. Recalling their past efforts, villagers felt confident that they could find ways to respond to the current issues they are facing. Several community members expressed appreciation for Kopila Nepal for bringing people together to think about the future of the village.

Conclusion: When conversations begin with strengths, assets and what already exists within people and communities, it builds confidence. People begin to see that they have the capacity to shape their own future. Then the communities are able to look at their challenges with a stronger sense of collective will.

Bina di, who heads Kopila Nepal, shared an important observation. During earlier visits, people often asked what the organization could do for them. This time she noticed something different. Community members themselves began discussing what they could do to address the issues they face. Peace for People  team captured the essence of the day. They observed that external push does not necessarily lead to change in behaviour. People do not change simply because someone from outside asks them to. Rather, change happens when the realization to act comes from within the community.