On May 10^th an art competition will be held at Shahid (Martyred) Memorial School for children who have lost parents and other family members as a result of Nepal’s 10 year civil war. Through art, they will have the opportunity express their feelings, and about the situation of their families as a result of the conflict.

Kopila Nepal is pleased to announce that since we started Hamro Chautari program in partnership with Hope for Himalayan Kids, Australia in January 2012, 11 children who had previously stayed in NGO run children’s houses have been reintegrated into their families and communities, where they—alongside previously reintegrated children—are receiving on-going support and follow-up as needed. Small family units run by Kopila Nepal have shifted to Hemja VDC, and these children have been enrolled in school. 3 children are awaiting the results of their 10^th grade School Leaving Exam, and 2 of them have been enrolled in a 2 year skills training program with Jyoti Vocational Training Center, thanks to support of Children Welfare Scheme, Nepal.

Kopila Nepal is happy to announce that Inspired by People will continue supporting the salary of our psychosocial counsellor for another year. With this support we are able to continue essential psychosocial services—especially to women, children, and persons with mental illness in our working areas. Inspired by People is also planning a charity trek to our working areas in November 2012! For more information, see http://www.inspiredbypeople.org/charity-trek-nepal.

Kopila Nepal is happy to announce that our community-based program in Kaski, which was started in 2009, will be continued for another 3 years with the support of World Development and Relief Committee (WDRC). This project includes the Village Development Committees of Majthana, Saimarang, Shildujure, Bhachok, Thumakodada and Mijure.

In partnership with the Local Peace Committee, Kaski, Kopila Nepal is running a 4-day training in Theatre for Development, focusing on the topic of peace and reconciliation. Trainees will discuss various aspects of peace and reconciliation, determine roles, and create their own play. They will perform this drama on the street in Hemja, Sardi Khola, Pumdibhumdi, and Lekhnath Municipality. Participants include staff of various local organizations and community members, who will then be able to facilitate others in the Theatre for Development process for others.

Kopila Nepal’s Executive Director Bina Silwal was invited by our long time partner Methodist Development and Relief Fund, UK (MRDF) to the United Kingdom on April 10-28, where she participated in a 5 day planning workshop for a partner organization capacity building training to be held in Uganda in September 2012. She also presented on the work of Kopila Nepal to schools and churches that support MRDF’s work, and presented key outcomes of the Social Movement for Gender Equity Project to MRDF’s Executive Committee. It was a great opportunity for Kopila Nepal to meet those who have contributed so much to make our work possible!

Kopila Nepal is happy to announce that we have received funding to conduct trainings to other NGOs on psychosocial wellbeing. The funding comes from Loyds TSB, through Development Media Workshop (DMW).  Dr. Michael Brown, Director of Development Media Workshop and Dr. Katrina Collins, freelance evaluator  visited Kopila Nepal in order to assist in the development of an implementation plan for the training. Kopila Nepal will provide training to 10 NGOs from Kaski, Syangja and Tanahu districts on psychosocial wellbeing within 2012.

Through the Methodist Development and Relief Fund, UK 24 students and 9 teachers form Kent College, London visited to Kopila-Nepal’s working area in Majthana on April 14th. They met with the child club members to discuss education, economy, and socio-cultural practices in the UK and in Nepal. The Nepali children performed a drama created by the child club members highlighting the gender discrimination on education in Nepal. A brief presentation of Kopila Nepal’s activities was made for them in Kopila Nepal’s office. The teachers and students appreciated the work being done by Kopila Nepal. They were particularly happy to know that Kopila Nepal works in such remote villages where hardly other NGOs work.

Through the Hateymalo Program, self-help groups of Families of Missing Persons are making plans to commemorate their loved ones, each in their own way. Also, on May 10^th, Hateymalo staff members will receive training on legal and property rights.

Laura Cook,   World Action in Methodist School Officer, from MRDF UK visited Kopila-Nepal on 10- 12 April 2012. The primary purpose of her visit was to develop in depth case studies with the people with whom Kopila Nepal is working. She visited three Village Development Committees of Syangja district, and made three case studies of the women who were supported by Kopila Nepal.