when the Community Chose the Path of Change

[nisha Baskota]

How long can we continue living like this?
One woman quietly broke the silence during a Group SALT conversation. Her voice was calm, but the pain she had carried for years was evident in her eyes.

Before anyone could respond, another woman added, Alcohol has brought constant conflict into our families. Our children live in fear. They cannot concentrate on their studies, and sometimes even the home no longer feels like a safe place. That day, community members had gathered in the Chepang settlement of Bhogatini–Simpani for a Group SALT conversation. They sat together in a circle. No one came to blame anyone, and no one came with ready-made solutions. Instead, they listened to one another with respect and openness.

Under the(ARC) Project, Peace for People (P4P) has been working closely with the Chepang community through the SALT (Support, Appreciate, Learn and Transfer) approach. The purpose of the conversation was simple—to listen to the voices of the community and help people recognize their own strengths and potential.

As the discussion continued, one issue kept coming up: excessive alcohol consumption and the domestic violence associated with it. Women shared their personal experiences. Men also acknowledged the problem. Everyone agreed that the greatest victims were the children, whose education, health, safety, and future were being affected.

For a moment, the group fell silent.  Then one participant spoke up. Why don't we invite the police and other local stakeholders to organize an awareness program? It will help everyone better understand the issue and encourage positive change in our community. The idea did not come from Peace for People. It came from the community itself.

Respecting this initiative, Peace for People coordinated with the Nepal Police. As a result, on July 12, 2026 (28 Asar 2083 BS), an Awareness Program on Alcohol Abuse and Violence Prevention was organized in Bhogatini– Simpani. The program brought together 40 participants, including women, men, youth, representatives from Nepal Police, and other community stakeholders. The discussion focused on how excessive alcohol consumption affects families, especially children's education, health, safety, and future. Guided by the message, "Do not commit violence, and do not tolerate violence," participants learned that no one should suffer violence in silence. They were informed that support is available through the Judicial Committee, Nepal Police, and Safe Houses whenever needed. The program also emphasized the importance of using respectful language, valuing every form of work, and working together to reduce alcohol abuse in the community.

As the program came to an end, the atmosphere had changed.Several parents reflected on their own behavior.
Today we realized that the consequences of our actions affect our children the most," one participant admitted.Others expressed their commitment to reducing excessive alcohol consumption, preventing violence within their families, and helping build a safer and more respectful community.

The greatest achievement of that day was not simply that forty people attended a program.
The real achievement was that the community identified its own challenge, developed its own solution, and took the initiative to put that solution into action. Through the SALT process, community members discovered that they already had the strength, knowledge, and leadership needed to create lasting change.

The story of Bhogatini–Simpani reminds us that sustainable change cannot be imposed from outside. It grows when people are listened to, when their strengths are recognized, and when they are trusted to lead their own journey.That day was more than the end of a community meeting—it was the beginning of a new journey of hope, responsibility, and collective action.