Association for Dalit Women Advancement of Nepal (ADWAN) is a human rights organization for Dalit and marginalized women, girls and children, founded in 2055 BS, 1998 AD and registered at District Administration Office Kathmandu with reg. no. 99/055/056) and is affiliated in Social Welfare Council.
The main objective: The empowerment of Dalit and marginalized women, girls and children. It is working in rural Nepal promoting solidarity for women across caste lines and empowering them through education, skills development, micro-finance, human rights and health trainings.
Workings areas: ADWAN is currently working in Gorkha, Tanahu, Arghakhanchi, Baglung, Chitwan and Sarlahi district of Nepal. The Gorkha, Tahanu, Arghakhanchi and Baglung is hilly districts, chitwan and Sarlahi is tarai district.
Vision: "To establish equitable society; free of caste, class and gender discriminations."
Mission: The mission of ADWAN is to bring Dalit & Marginalized women into the mainstream of state governing mechanism by empowering and sensitizing them to establish human right, democracy, sustainable peace and equitable society.
Goal: ADWAN aims to eliminate caste and gender based discrimination against Dalit and Marginalized women and to empower them socially, economically, politically and educationally.
Regular Programs: ADWAN is working dominantly in Dalit & marginalized communities of rural parts of Nepal, neglected by other development agencies. It focuses on community mobilization, and creates women's solidarity groups of mixed castes. ADWAN has organized 97 (67 in current) saving and loan groups comprising of more than 2300 women (Dalit in major roles and number).
ADWAN is currently operating in 4 themes; 'REAL'
1. Rights:
a. Economic and Social rights,
b. Cultural & Political rights
c. Social and political awereness trainings.
d. Health rights
e. Gender equality.
2. Education:
a. Non Formal Education
b. Pre-school education
c. Sponsorship for School level
d. Scholarship for college level
e. Vocational Education
3. Advocacy: ADWAN advocacy;
a. To raise voice of voiceless
b. To support one-another
c. To get involved
d. To educate next generation
e. To know their rights
f. To make them leader
4. Livelihood:
a. Self Help Groups saving and credit program
b. Micro loan support program
c. Agriculture & Livestock promotion program
d. Soft and life skill development trainings
e. Vocational Skills training
f. Entrepreneurship development trainings
g. Relationship building with local elite and government entities.
Donor and Partner:
1. International
a. European Union (EU)
b. Global Fund for Women (GFW)
c. CREA, India
d. Karuna Trust (KT), UK
e. Friends of Nepal (FoN), USA
f. Friends of ADWAN Nepal (FAN), USA
g. American Jewish World Service (AJWS), USA
2. National:
a. British Council, Nepal
b. NNDSWO, Nepal
c. TEWA, Nepal
d. Green Tara Foundation, Nepal
e. Dalit Welfare Association Nepal
f. Local Government of Nepal
Project:
1. Past: 2016/017
a. Improved Livelihood of Earthquake affected people of Gorkha - Karuna Trust
b. Temporary shelter support for Earthquake affected people of Gorkha - AJWS
c. Empowering Women and Educating Girls project - FAN USA
d. Ensuring Rights through Skills & Voice - EU-British Council
2. Current:
a. Young women leadership development and Mentoring project - GFW
b. Improved Livelihood of Dalit & Marginalized women - KT & FAN
c. Higher Education Scholarship project - FoN
d. School level's Sponsorship Program - FAN
e. SGH empowering and advocating project - FAN
f. Organizational Core Support project - FAN
