Project Title: SuMa Women’s Literacy: Educating and Empowering for Change

Location: Nepal

Grant Amount: $25,000 (over 2 years)

Grantee Website: sunsarmaya.org

Areas of Impact: Education & Literacy, Gender Equality, Health

Mission of Sunsar Maya
Sunsar Maya builds pathways out of poverty by improving the livelihoods of vulnerable women and children through holistic, community-based services.

Summary
The women and girls in the Sunsar Maya community face challenges such as high dropout rates, high poverty and income inequality, cultural and caste barriers, early marriage, and pregnancy. The project teaches women conversational and written English, Nepali, mathematics, and life skills. By using role play and experiential learning, this project provides women with the education and support they need to transform their lives and build pathways out of poverty.

Why We Love This
Sunsar Maya is an organization led by women at all levels, working hard to eradicate barriers to women’s self-determination in their communities. Extreme poverty, illiteracy, and patriarchy hinder women’s access to health services, economic activities, and the ability to exercise agency over their lives. By learning practical skills and gaining literacy and numeracy in an engaging format, women in these communities are developing leadership and self-sufficiency.