Dalit Feminist Upliftment Organization (DAFUO) is dedicated to improving the status and livelihood of Dalit community members in Nepal. The organization works directly to support the education, awareness, and capacity of youth and women in the community. To date, DAFUO has provided legal support for survivors of gender-based violence, supported vocational training, raised awareness on child marriage across multiple municipalities, and provided immediate and long-term assistance to disaster survivors.
In Nepal’s Bardia district, Dalit communities face a lack of resources and are frequently overlooked in the budgets and programs of local and non-governmental organizations. The settlements in Bardiya face threats of flooding, extreme poverty, and vulnerability to wildlife. Girls are at a higher risk of trafficking and child marriage, and are often impacted by harmful norms around dowries, menstruation, and abortions. Limited sexual and reproductive education contributes to a cycle in which girls frequently resort to early marriages to escape the stigma of unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.
With support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund, DAFUO will implement community awareness programs to address discrimination and harmful social practices. The organization will provide skills training for economic empowerment. Additionally, it will offer classes and campaigns focused on promoting literacy, health education, and legal education for women and girls. DAFUO will also engage community stakeholders to identify ways to address gender discrimination and poverty, and will train impacted girls to support other marginalized girls.
Through this project, DAFUO expects to directly reach 150 girls and an additional 200 community members from communities who are typically unreached and often lack parental support. The organization hopes to eventually end child marriage and gender violence, and promote participation and leadership from women and girls in their community.
To learn more about DAFUO, please visit the organization’s social media page:
See more projects: Asia