Suna Kasai
I am Suna Kasai. I reside in the Tuhuarepasal Ward no 6 of Bhanu Municipality with my son and daughter. My husband never really was by my side. Occasionally, he would send a little money, but for the last five or six years, he has completely stopped contacting us or showing any interest in our children. When he cut off all contact, it felt like a huge thunderstorm hit me. But I’m not someone to give up so easily.
Meera informed us that before starting the seven-day training, there was an important preliminary step we needed to discuss. As planned, we gathered to address this, and Meera, our trainer, warmly welcomed us. After a few informal conversations, she began by asking us what came to mind when we heard the word “situation.”
We exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of what she meant. Was it about material things or something else? Some of us seemed to have ideas, but no one felt confident enough to speak up. Sensing our hesitation, Meera explained that a situational analysis involves identifying the issues we face in our daily lives.
The room fell silent for a moment, as her words sunk in. Then, Meera resumed, guiding us to focus on five specific themes: personal hygiene and sanitation, child rights and child development, women’s rights and empowerment, resource identification and mobilization, and marketing. She elaborated on each theme, describing the challenges we might encounter.
For instance, under women’s rights and empowerment, she highlighted the various forms of violence women face—mental, social, financial, and political—as well as the discrimination they endure. She gave us relatable examples that opened our eyes. We realized we had never considered many of these issues as part of our struggles, and the discussions made us recognize how limited our understanding was.
Meera also emphasized the importance of speaking up. If we remain shy or reluctant to share our challenges, the issues will persist unresolved. She encouraged us to build trust within the group and assured us that everything shared would remain confidential within the room.
As she spoke, I felt hopeful and inspired. It became clear that identifying our problems and discussing them openly could lead to meaningful solutions. Meera then explained the next steps: we would pinpoint our key issues and create indicators to measure progress toward resolving them gradually.
For me, everything felt new and enlightening. This experience offered a fresh perspective, and I am eager to learn more and see how we can bring positive change together.
November 2024
During this period, I have been focused on when the training will start. After hearing from our trainer that there are still many processes to complete before we begin, I realized the importance of building a strong foundation. Our trainer emphasized that to establish a solid base, we need to prepare and understand all the situations that could arise, ensuring that everyone is ready to start their businesses after the training.
I have participated in all three Information Sharing Meetings (ISM), which was not necessary, but I chose to engage while waiting for the other processes. The team conducts home visits and engages with my children; however, I feel an internal frustration and struggle to remain patient during discussions. When I heard about the Economic Status Ranking (ESR), I didn’t fully understand it, but I am more hopeful now that training will start soon.
When I arrived at the meeting place, a few women and our trainers had already gathered and were preparing for the session. The meeting began with a warm welcome from Meera, who explained what we would be doing that day and how we should participate. It was clearly stated that everything had to be done by us, not by the trainers. Meera then asked us to define who we consider to be ultra-poor, poor, medium-poor, and not poor. We shared our thoughts, and it was concluded that we would have four categories: ultra-poor, poor, medium-poor, and not-poor.
After finalizing the categories, the trainer provided us with nametags that needed to be posted in the appropriate sections. Initially, I thought I belonged in the ultra-poor category. However, when I started to post my nametag, I was asked if I was sure about my placement. All the members agreed that I indeed belonged to the ultra-poor group, which made me very happy, knowing that the group will be formed soon.
After we posted everyone’s names, it was confirmed that 26 members had been finalized for the group, and all the women looked very happy.
October 2024
Namaskar. I am Suna Kasai. I reside in the Tuhuarepasal Ward no 6 of Bhanu Municipality with my son and daughter. Despite having lived here for many years, the past continues to intertwine with the present and future, no matter how challenging it may have been. This means that wherever one goes, their past remains connected to their life.
From the moment my husband married me and brought me into his life, he never really stayed by my side. Occasionally, he would send a little money, but for the last five or six years, he has completely stopped contacting us or showing any interest in our children. When he cut off all contact, it felt like a huge thunderstorm hit me. But I’m not someone to give up so easily. During that time, I climbed many steps of hardship and happiness, though I don’t have a clear account of them.
For my children, I had to play the role of both father and mother, navigating through both joys and struggles, to make ends meet. My husband’s absence left an undeniable void, not only emotionally but also financially. Even though my son and daughter are grown now, as a mother, the responsibility still rests on my shoulders. It was always a challenge to earn enough through small labor work to cover household expenses.
One day, a younger sister from the village told me about an organization called Slisha that had come to our village and shared some information about the WAWCAS program. She mentioned an upcoming meeting of the women, and I decided to attend.
That day, I went to the meeting, and the staff explained what the organization does and how it operates. They detailed how Slisha empowers women like us—women who have the desire to do something but lack the necessary financial resources. They provide a 16 months program with many trainings and offer seed money to start up their business, enabling the women to become economically independant. I was so impressed by this initiative! Hearing about this WAWCAS program, which was designed to support women, filled me with renewed hope. I returned home feeling like a new strength had been added to my heart.
Now that I understood the WAWCAS program, I was eager to join a group and start my journey with WAWCAS. The mere thought of the possibilities ahead filled my heart with joy.
Dear Readers,
Namaskar,
Hi, I am Meera Achhami, and I’m writing the blog for Suna. I will be with all of you for the next 16 months. During this time, I will share Suna’s journey—the ups and downs she experiences as she transforms her life through the WAWCAS program. I am very excited to see her progress, and I’m sure all readers will enjoy her stories.
Warm regards,
Meera Achhami
LPL Tanahun