Background                                                                                                                     

The Girls Empowerment Project (GEP) Phase – I , a joint initiative of Population Connection, USA, and the Rural Women’s Development and Unity Center (RUWDUC), commenced on January 1, 2023, and concluded on December 31, 2023. After successful completion of the first phase, the second year, project is being implemented with the timeframe of January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, at Mahendra Secondary School, Dadeldhura district, SudhurPaschim Province.

Population Connection is the national grassroots population organization that educates young people and advocates progressive action to stabilize world population at a level that can be sustained by Earth’s resources. Population Connection works at the nexus of sustainable development, health, and human rights. In a similar vein, since 1995, RUWDUC has worked to promote the welfare of women, children, and youths. It strives to provide women, kids, and youth more authority so they can contribute to Nepal’s overall socioeconomic and environmental growth.

Objective of the Project:

• To sensitize students, guardian and teachers about Menstrual Hygiene and WASH, Family planning, Child Marriage, Chaupadi, Drug Addiction and other issues
• Increase the attendance rates of adolescent girls in schools though access to sanitary products and enhance their overall academic performance.
• To improve the overall sanitation status of the school and
• To develop leadership skills and boost self-confidence among adolescent girls through workshops, and extracurricular activities.