Dalit Welfare Organisation, Sindhuli (DWO-S)

This organisation was founded to work on behalf of the 'untouchable' cast of Nepal, but recently it has moved into the areas of conflict transformation and peace-building. Its focus is on minimising the effect of conflict on children and raising awareness about non-violent conflict resolution.

Overview

DWO-S focuses on issues affecting Dalits (the Dalit caste is the lowest in the caste system). It has been working to eliminate caste discrimination and to improve the status of Dalits.

For the last couple of years, DWO-S has worked in conflict transformation and peace-building. It has focused its efforts on minimizing the effects of conflict, in particular the effects of conflict on children. It has also been working to raise awareness and train people in non-violent methods of conflict resolution.

The organisation has three principle aims: to build people’s capacity to address the causes and consequences of conflict; to promote peaceful methods of conflict resolution; and to campaign for ‘children as a zone of peace’. This last aim responds to the fact that children in Nepal have been victims of the Maoist conflict since 1996. DWO-S is just one of many human rights and children’s organisations that have sought to focus on child victims.

DWO-S has been working to support child victims of the conflict by providing them with emergency relief services. These services include (amongst others) admission and readmission to school, school uniforms, educational materials, medical supplies and treatment, clothes, and food. The organisation has also provided psycho-social counselling and trauma services to the child victims.

DWO-S has supported the concept of ‘children as a zone of peace’ by protecting many of the places associated with children, such as schools and health posts, from the conflict. The organisation has also repaired some schools and health stations.

In addition to this, DWO-S has also launched awareness campaigns on non-violent conflict resolution and provided training on how to use these methods to solve local disputes and differences.

The Central Office of the Dalit Welfare Organisation (DWO) in Kathmandu has collaborated with DWO-S to organise street dramas across the nation to further raise awareness of non-violent conflict resolution. The street drama grew in response to suggestions from people in India, Denmark and Austria who had contact with the DWO and who had run successful dramas in their own countries.

What Services are Provided?

Emergency support to child victims of the conflict (including admission to school, school uniforms, medical treatment and supplies, school and health building maintenance, psycho-social counselling, and trauma services) and street drama.

Geographical Area of Operation

The Sindhuli District in the Janakpur zone

Funding Resources

• United Nations Development Programme - Support for Peace and Development Initiatives (UNDP-SPDI);
• European Union; and
• Save the Children, Norway.

What Further Information Would You Like?

Information and contacts for regional, national and international efforts to eliminate the concept of the ‘untouchable’ from society.

What New Contacts Would You Like To Make?

Individuals and organisations who have been working to eliminate the concept of the ‘untouchable’ from society.

Associated Organisations

• Dalit NGO Federation (DNF); and
• Laingik Samanata Sanjal-Sindhuli.