Strength TogetHER 2- Session 3


A design for our upcoming post about Netflix latest series #GIRLBOSS

25th July 2020

By this time, Strength Together, a virtual program facilitated by 'LOKOPAKAR' youth organization has achieved to provide a space and platform for each individual (especially girls and young women) to share their views, opinions, perspectives, experiences, even their issues and find solutions to them.

Continuing with the same energy as of the previous sessions, we’d our third session of Strength TogetHER cohort 2, themed " LETTING MY SELF RESPECT WIN" on 25th July 2020, Saturday.

Our moderator of the session was respected Bhawana ma’am, currently a marketing manager at Fightback Nepal; a social enterprise that works to reduce the risk of sexual violence all across Nepal and India. She is a cheerful person who loves to meet new people, share ideas, perceptions, thoughts, and experiences.

This session provided the opportunity for four of the girls to share their stories about the time when they stood up for themselves and let their self-respect win.

Our first speaker shared her story about how she dared to speak out in front of the people who talked about her and pulled her leg for her decision of not applying for foreign study despite scoring good in IELTS. As a matter of self-respect, she spoke for herself how it was her decision and how she didn't need other people's comments on her present or future.

Our second speaker shared her story about how she stood up against her teacher when she was humiliated for witnessing a fault of the particular teacher's team member in a school event. She opposed the teacher's behavior towards her and stated that her self-respect was major.

Our third speaker shared about how her relatives didn't really accept and appreciate her family. It happened to be a day when her elder sister was falsely accused of something she wasn't responsible for, by the same relative's member (her cousin). She could no longer keep ignoring the disrespect done to her and her family which led her to take a stand and speak the words of self-respect in front of those relatives. Our speaker says, that a great step taken by her sister was worthy enough to establish a healthy relationship between the families.

Our fourth speaker recalled the time when she and her friend were threatened by a senior boy's classmates at school when she insulted the boy back right after he commented on one of her friend's skin color. As a matter of self-respect, her friend (who was threatened along with her) dared to speak out in front of the seniors and fought against them while our speaker could not utter a word. This incident made her realize how important our action is concerning self-respect.

After hearing all 4 of us, our moderator had a big smile on her face. She said that being an early 90's kid, she didn't know much about self-empowerment and self-respect, and hearing us girls take stand for ourselves as a matter of self-respect at this very young age has made her very happy.

 

Some of Bhawana ma'am's inspiring words were:

· We need to recognize ourselves and our worth.

· We have to give love and respect in order to be loved and respected.

· We are here to listen to each other and motivate each other.

· Every person has self-respect. It’s just that some people speak for themselves and don’t want to make an issue out of it.

This session was one of the most beautiful 60 minutes of our 12 girls' life journey who had active participation in discussing the topic. Concluding the session with a quote "YOU CAN'T FORCE PEOPLE TO RESPECT YOU, BUT YOU CAN REFUSE TO BE DISRESPECTED”, brought a big smile on all of our faces that it added charm to our group photo taken at the very end of the meeting.

Coming to me, I am Binisha Bhattarai, participant of Strength TogetHER and I’ve always loved writing. And this time writing on all those cheerful and strong ladies' views, stories and experiences has warmed my heart. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the entire team of 'LOKOPAKAR' 's contribution, help, and support. 

 

Written by: Binisha Bhattarai

Edited by: Barsha Tamang (LOKOPAKAR)

 


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