PROJECT MUSAHAR

Pramadaya Nepal is organizing this fundraiser to benefit Daayitwa US.

Tax deductible

The videos above have been added so that we can understand the lived reality of the Musahar community.

The above videos were already available on Youtube and have been added as reference.

For donations on Esewa: 9863725404

PROJECT MUSAHAR

Pramadaya Nepal in collaboration with Daayitwa US: Nepal Rising is raising funds to uplift the Musahar community in Dhanusha, Janakpur. We aim to ensure children from the particular Musahar community consisting of 45 households and their families live a life of dignity with their basic needs met and the Musahar children are provided a platform to unlock their potential.

The word Musahar means "rat catcher" owing to their former occupation of catching rats and eating those rats as food. The community still relies on eating wheat rats. The Musahar community has been branded as "untouchables"- the lowest strata in the traditional caste system which further perpetuates social and economic hardships.

By donating you are helping us uplift the Musahar community especially the children realize their potential and foster their self belief.

Fund Utilization

Short term goals

Provision of winter clothing to the community.

Medium term goals

We aim to create a fixed deposit account in partnership with a local NGO - People Promote Centre based in Dhanusha. As this fixed deposit account reaps quarterly interest we aim to tailor support to vulnerable families accordingly.

Long term goals

Provide holistic support to the children covered in our stories till they turn 18 years.
Support education for the children covered in our stories.
Foster an environment conducive to learning and overall well-being for the children through online classes tailored for the Musahar children.

Pramadaya Background

Pramadaya was founded in May 2021 aiming to counteract COVID-19's educational setbacks by linking volunteer tutors with students, later partnering with five schools and aiding marginalized children in Nepal. By 2023, we pivoted to support first-generation and socioeconomically disadvantaged learners, evident from our tablet donations to Janakpur, Dhanusha. It was then that we were made aware of the issues faced by the Musahar community in Dhanusha and thus began PROJECT MUSAHAR. The Musahar community in Nepal, labelled ' untouchables ', grapple with discrimination, 93% illiteracy, and economic hardships. This community's challenges range from nutritional struggles and educational barriers to deep-seated casteism. To address these issues, the proposed solution is ensuring their basic needs and sponsoring children's education and holistic development.

Our Holistic Development Class to Boost Creativity Among Students

Our Math Online Class

Problems faced by the Musahar Community

1. Nutritional Struggles

In the community, there is limited knowledge about eating balanced meals. Immediate survival often takes priority over long-term health. This lack of awareness about proper diets and essential nutrients leads to malnutrition, causing health problems. Economic instability worsens their nutritional situation. Unpredictable daily wages make it hard to afford regular, healthy meals. Nutrient-rich foods are expensive, and irregular income makes it tough for many to buy nutritious items within their budgets. Infant mortality rates are also high due to poor nutrition and health.

Our proposed Intervention

Providing nutrition education can be highly effective - Teaching the community about affordable, nutrient-packed food choices can lead to positive dietary changes. Methods for maximizing the nutritional value of available resources and preparing balanced meals on a tight budget can empower individuals to make healthier choices.
Donations of nutritional food grains once a month or on a quarterly basis could also be considered depending on funds raised.

2. Illiteracy and lack of educational opportunities

In the Dhanusha District, despite education's profound impact on societal development, a grim reality persists. Many children here remain illiterate and are denied educational opportunities. Education is vital for progress, yet the Musahar community faces a staggering 93% illiteracy rate. Lack of literacy among parents hampers children';s educational aspirations. Financial hardships further compound the gap between aspirations and reality, with poverty obstructing educational advancement. Gender discrimination exacerbates this divide, as boys attend school while girls are confined to household duties, their potential dimmed by societal perceptions.

Our proposed Intervention

Establishing sustainable businesses and skills training to uplift families setting up buy back guarantees.
Empowering Girls through Education by providing scholarships.
Conduct fundraising drives to donate affordable electronic tablets to ensure more students access online classes.
Providing access to resources like uniforms, stationery and other essential school supplies.
Exploring scholarship possibilities for the students to aid higher education.
Identifying and linking for possible job opportunities.
Volunteer as module makers/ volunteer tutors at Pramadaya to implement existing virtual teaching platform facilitated by Pramadaya to provide tailored support Musahar children.

3. Impact of Casteism on Children's Development in the Musahar Community

The marginalized Musahar community grapple with the profound impact of casteism, which compounds existing challenges like poverty, limited opportunities, and malnutrition. This deeply ingrained discrimination hinders the development of Musahar children, impeding their potential amidst a backdrop of societal bias and exclusion. As 'untouchables' they face exclusion and stereotypes perpetuated by upper castes such as Yadavs, Sahs, Brahmins, Chhetris, and Mandals, further hampering their progress.

Our Proposed Intervention

To counter the entrenched prejudices and provide the Musahar children a platform to realize their potential, online and in-person workshops are being proposed. These workshops will be meticulously crafted to bolster their self-esteem, making them aware of their innate worth and rights. By exposing them to new perspectives and supportive environments, these sessions aim to foster a renewed sense of self-confidence and ambition. Collaborating with educators, community leaders, and psychologists will ensure the content remains relevant, empowering, and therapeutic. These interventions can be instrumental in breaking the shackles of centuries-old biases, allowing Musahar children to envision and pave a brighter path for themselves and future generations.

Our First Story from the community

Resilience Amidst Adversity: The Tale of the Sada Family in Dhanushadham

In the heart of Dhanushadham lies the village of Sarsa. One of the 45 modest homes that make up this tight-knit neighborhood carries the burden of a special story—a story weaved by fate and adversity. This is the family of the late Jiwan Sada Mushar, a family that has endured hardship but remains firmly rooted in love and unyielding spirit.

The patriarch of the family, Jiwan, had two wives: Maya Sada and Samjana Kumari Sada. The first wife, Maya Sada, is the hearing-impaired and speech-impaired daughter of Shyam Mushar from the Sarsa village and the second wife Samajana Kumari Sada, son of Prem Sada Mushar is a person with a disability from Ramdaiya Bhawadi village of Dhanusha. Maya, who was infertile, watched as her husband wed Samjana- a woman facing her own challenges as her hand is not functional.

Despite the odds, the family was blessed with four kids: two boys and two girls.

Their home, a small structure made of indigenous materials like straw, clay, and bamboo, represents their simple way of life.

When their father, Jiwan, passed away too soon due to alcoholism, the family was left in a desperate situation. They felt terribly burdened by their situation and with no other option,

Maya became a domestic helper to support her family. The six-person family living in a small

cottage with only one breadwinner feels the ominous shadow of poverty. Samjana the second wife with her four children.

Samjana the second wife with her four children

Maya the first wife and the family of six supported by Maya

Bijay Sada, the youngest son an eight-year-old, attends Sri Rashtriya Aadharbhut Vidhyalaya, which encompasses preschool through class 8. Meanwhile, his older brother, Kiran Sada, at eleven years of age, is enrolled in class 1. Additionally, Riya, aged 14, and Bidhya, aged 15, find themselves studying in grade 2. Their ages clearly don't correspond with the classes they are in, and there is a significant gap between their age and educational level. The discrepancy between age and grade is a testament to the challenges these children face in getting access to quality education. Due to the demands of their domestic duties, they seldom attend school. They actively participate in domestic duties or accompany their mother to the fields where they help with the production of crops like paddy and wheat in order to make ends meet. However, their commitment to their family duties has a price—their education is frequently compromised. They experience significant mental stress as a result of juggling the demands of their family, the pressure to succeed academically, and the weight of expectations. Their academic success as well as their mental health are both impacted by this load.

For Bijay, Kiran, Riya, and Bidhya, the path to nutritious meals, clothing, and education is paved with thorns. These kids carry a remarkable amount of emotional baggage. No child should have to withstand the pressure of severe economic hardship with a lack of opportunities. Due to societal hurdles and economic limitations of the family, the Sada children face a very difficult time accessing education and are thus shut out from opportunities that could have improved their lives. They battle with the harsh reality that they have little control over. Their emotional stress is made worse by the absence of educational tools and supervision, which results in dreams being postponed and unrealized potential. Their daily struggles for basic necessities of having decent meals, adequate clothing, and school supplies highlight the need for help and intervention.

Their spirits are unwavering despite the difficulties, and hope shines through the gloom.

GLIMPSES OF THE COMMUNITY