NDWA Empowers OPDs in Chitwan through Financial Literacy Training

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The image shows a group of people posing for a group photo indoors, after the event. They are standing and sitting in two rows in front of a green wall with certificates and a banner in the background. The banner contains text in Nepali and English, mentioning the name of the event, partners and other details. The group consists of both men and women of various ages, and everyone appears to be smiling or in a positive mood.

Participants posing after 2-days financial literacy training in Ichhakamana, Chitwan. Picture credit: NDWA

Bharatpur, Chitwan

April–May 2025

The Nepal Disabled Women Association (NDWA) successfully concluded a series of two-day municipal-level trainings across Kalika, Ichchhakamana, and Madi municipalities in Chitwan district, furthering its commitment to empowering people with disabilities and strengthening the voices of Organizations of People with Disabilities (OPDs).

These capacity-building trainings aimed to equip OPD leaders with essential knowledge on disability rights, financial literacy, and strategies for inclusive advocacy to promote financial access and opportunities for all people with disabilities in their communities.

The program was supported by experienced professionals including Mr. Vishwo Ram Shrestha, Financial Inclusion Specialist from CBM Nepal, Mr. Kedarnath Paudyal, Project Coordinator from SAPPROS, and Mr. Milan Kharal, GEDSI Advisor at NDWA. The financial literacy sessions were delivered by locally trained facilitators certified by the FAIDA project as Financial Literacy Trainers i.e. Ms. Kabita Acharya from Kalika and Pabita Subedi Acharya from Madi. These trainers are now leading the movement to spread financial literacy within their respective municipalities.

Participants included community leaders, OPD representatives, and local people with disabilities. Notably, OPD representatives such as Mr. Min Bahadur Gurung from Kalika, Mr. Arjun Bohora from Ichchhakamana and Mr. Yam Bahadur Adhikari from Madi actively contributed to the sessions.

Across the three municipalities, a total of 121 participants engaged in the trainings, including 64 males and 57 females. Among them were people with various disabilities: 61 with physical disabilities, 8 with visual impairments, 2 with speech and sound related disabilities, 1 with hearing disability, 1 with psychosocial disability, and 2 with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, 24 caretakers of people with disabilities were also present, highlighting inclusive community engagement.

NDWA’s initiative not only fostered peer learning and collaboration among OPD leaders but also strengthened local capacity to advocate for financial inclusion and equitable access to development opportunities.

“This effort will create a significant step toward building a more inclusive and economically empowered community of people with disabilities in Chitwan and thanks for FAIDA project”, said Min Bahadur Gurung, Chair of Madi Apanga Samanwaya Sanstha.