Insight on Conflict » Rural Development Centre

Rural Development Centre

This Nepali organisation works in Sankhuwa Sabha, mobilising local people to run awareness campaigns, cut down on domestic violence and set up income generation programmes, as well as launching peace projects in local schools.

Overview

RDC is a local NGO, registered in Sankhuwa Sabha District Administration Office in Sankhuwa Sabha. It has been working as a partner organisation with the German Technical Cooperation's Rural Programme Nepal (GTZ-RPN), the Rural Access Programme (RAP) and the District Development Council (DDC) for the last five years.

RDC works in the development, income generation, human rights and peace sectors. Through its development and income generation programme it has prevented people from reverting to violence. The organisation also runs a training and awareness campaign to promote respect for peace and human rights.

RDC aims to:

Raise people's awareness of peace and human rights;
Develop people's economic status;
Eliminate domestic violence and motivate people in the practice of non-violence as a means for conflict resolution; and
Raise children's awareness of peace.

RDC has formed 59 Self Help Groups (SHGs) in its working area in Sankhuwa Sabha district. These groups have mobilised in the rural areas of the district to make people aware of human rights, peace, development, and social justice. The organisation has also trained hundreds of local people involved in human rights, development, peace and social justice activities in the district on "Conflict Management". These people and members of the SHGs have gone on to help solve local disputes and differences.

Almost all schools (8-10 grades) in Sankhuwa Sabha participated in a peace-oriented folk song competition. The competition took place in three different places at three different stages in 2006. A booklet and audio of the peace folk song has been published and it is continuing to gain popularity. These are available at the RDC office in Sankhuwa Sabha.