In the past 7 years, Rukmini Foundation has grown in its strength and scope. We started out with tentative steps to help few girls in rural areas of Kathmandu change their lives through education. Today, we are made stronger by hundreds of our scholars, mentors, mothers, and community, who have all helped us grow through the years.
Celebrating our 7th Anniversary with our Scholar Bahinis and Didi Mentors
Our mission, to empower girls through education so that they are not victims of child marriage but instead able to contribute to their own bright future and that of their community has grown strong and a few branches. We started a day-meal program in a partner school where students were always starving and malnourished; after-all, no one can change the world on an empty stomach. Rukmini has also started its own Mom’s Club with the mothers of Rukmini scholars. These mothers get together to talk about their lives, to network and to empower each other, so that they may fight to provide a better future for their children.
Additionally, Lit Club Nepal has become an integral part of Rukmini foundation in the last few years, providing girls a platform to grow in confidence and their dreams. We also participated in Global G.L.O.W HerStory event in New York, putting Rukmini Foundation and our work out in the global platform. Lit Club Nepal in association with Rukmini HerStory chapter hosted international members of Global G.L.O.W, and we worked together to nurture our scholars and encourage them to have dreams and think about their future.
Mom’s Club celebrating Teej with Global G.L.O.W HerStory visitors
This year, to celebrate the past 7 years, and future years of growth and empowerment, we had two celebrations to mark the 7th anniversary of the Rukmini Foundation. On 11th October, a Rukmini Club run by students at the University of Pittsburgh organized an event to mark this occasion, attended by many students, parents, foundation members, and well-wishers. The team in Nepal celebrated Rukmini Foundation’s 7th Anniversary and alongside, we also celebrated the Stand Up for Girls Day on 13th October at Shikharapur Hall.
Anniversary Event organized by Rukmini Club at the University of Pittsburgh
Principals of different partner schools’ took this opportunity to talk about the success of Day-Meal program running at Kalidevi school and also the positive influence Lit Club has on the girls in their community. We talked further about Rukmini’s journey with partner schools on the road to women empowerment and community development through education. We also discussed what could be further done to protect young girls from child marriage, domestic violence and substance abuse in rural parts of our country. One step at a time, Rukmini is moving forward with its partner organizations to help provide our girls with equal life opportunity and our society with a chance for sustainable development.
The 7th year anniversary event brought together over 100 participants, including principals of our partnered schools (Shikharapur Community School, Seti Devi School,Arunodaya School, Kalidevi School), various board members of Rukmini, staffs, mentor Didi’s, members of Mom’s club, Lit Club members and mentors, RF scholars and graduates and many community members.
Our Different Branches
Many scholars and members of Rukmini foundation showcased different talents and skills from dance to poetry to celebrate both Rukmini Foundation’s and their journey with us. RF scholars Purnima Shah, Swastika Karki, and Kaurna Lama showcased a beautiful dance and another scholar Sabina Rumba sang a melodious song for everyone. Also, Neha Bisunke also shared with everyone a beautiful song she learned from Ms. Ceinwen King. RF Scholar Saru Shrestha and Mom’s Club member Muna Tamang shared a poem they wrote with other participants.
While the road ahead is long and difficult, we at Rukmini Foundation are determined to pave a bright future for the girls in our community and our country. And we strive to do this with our various partners through education, literacy, empowerment, and encouragement for the young girls to write their own story and make history. In the coming years, we hope to have more mentors grow from our many Rukmini Scholars and Didi’s, mentors who will help nourish and encourage the new members of Rukmini Foundation.
- #ChooseToChallange: Rukmini Foundation Challenging Patriarchy Through Women’s Education - April 4, 2021
- Advocate Didi Rukma: on education, women’s rights and child marriages - March 30, 2021
- Programming Our Future - August 25, 2020
- To Establish a Culture of Reading Foundation Leaders Start a Book Club - January 15, 2020
- Conversation with Didi Wong: education,communication and development - August 31, 2019
