Theatre Forum

The Dalit Welfare Organisation Sindhuli (DWO-S) created this series of street dramas to reach out to the masses and educate them about peaceful conflict resolution.

Description

The Maoists have been fighting the state since 1996 and the two conflicting parties have consistently turned their backs on peaceful solutions to the conflict. In response to this, DWO-S developed the Theatre Forum initiative to make people aware of peaceful techniques for conflict resolution and launched a mass campaign based on street drama.

This has stimulated opinions amongst the people and created pressure on both conflicting parties to solve the conflict through dialogue.

Aims / Objectives

• To raise mass awareness of peaceful methods of conflict resolution; and
• To make people aware of specific non-violent techniques for resolving conflict, such as dialogue, mediation, or negotiation.

How it is Articulated

DWO-S devises a drama of two conflicting people (or parties) in which the problem is solved by direct negotiation, or through the involvement of a mediator. This drama is then performed in the streets to mass audiences.

Achievements / Learning Points

These street dramas have been performed since 1999 to make people aware of peaceful conflict resolution methods. They have raised mass awareness about peaceful means to resolve differences and disputes, and have also created a strong desire in some people to solve the conflict through dialogue.

Street drama is one of the most effective ways to communicate with people who are illiterate or uneducated (which is especially relevant to Nepal, where literacy is only about 39%).

The street drama has proved popular not only in Nepal, but also in India, Denmark, and Austria, where demand was such that DWO-S went out and performed in those countries.

Geographical Area of Operation

Nationwide, India, Denmark and Austria

Funding Resources

• United Nations Development Programme - Support for Peace and Development Initiatives (UNDP-SPDI); and
• European Union (EU).

Organisations Involved

• Dalit Welfare Organisation central - Kathmandu (DWO);
• Gurukhul; and
• Danish Association for International Co-operation - Nepal (MS-Nepal).

Stories

Around 6,000 people gathered to watch a street drama by DWO-S in the Dang district of the mid-western region of Nepal. It was the largest number gathered before or since for the street drama, which actually created some problems in controlling the crowd.