Nepal Literacy Program

BPW NZ’s relationship with Nepal BPW started when the NZ Federation learned that

the newly formed BPW in Nepal had no access to foreign currency and therefore

were unable to affiliate with IFBPW. The NZ Federation paid their fees and continued

to do so for many years.

The support for the Literacy Programme that the Kathmandu Club organised started

when former Past President, the late Pauline Gapper, who had been travelling

regularly to Nepal since 1980 when she retired from teaching, met with President

Mrs Ambica Shrestha in 1988. A lasting friendship developed based on mutual

respect. Pauline was very impressed with the calibre of the BPW women she met

and the projects they were running. In 1990 Pauline escorted of 5 BPW women and

2 non-members to Nepal to meet BPW members and see first hand, the work of

these projects. Out of that meeting grew NZ support for the Literacy Programmes for

women – first with the Kathmandu Club but extending to the Pokhara Club. The

Literacy Programme was funded solely by voluntary donations from BPW Clubs and

individuals in NZ. Technical assistance and textbooks were supplied by the Nepali

Ministry of Education and Culture but all other costs were paid for money forwarded

by the NZ Federation. The first class commenced in May 1991 and comprised of 20

women factory workers who had had no schooling. The women learned to read and

write simple Nepali and do simple arithmetic.

In 2004 I travelled with Pauline and a small group of BPW members to the Asian

Pacific Regional conference. As part of the tour we visited Pokahara. We met with a

group of women who had been involved in the Literacy and Numeracy Programmes

run by the Club. These women came to meet us despite the city being closed down

by the Maoists because the King was visiting. Buses were running under a curfew

and had armed soldiers on board.

Pauline worked tirelessly over the years to encourage Clubs to raise money for the

Literacy Programme and to this end donated a trophy to be awarded each year to

the club who had raised the most money. In addition to this she encouraged

members to knit warm garments for the children in the Day Care Centres run by

BPW. Over the years many many suitcases of warm hand knitted garment winged

their way with Pauline on her many trips to Nepal. In 2004 (her 20 th trip), we took

three large suitcases, one of which we took to Pokhara. Contact on a personal level

has become more difficult since Pauline’s death and the programmes have evolved

with time. However BPWNZ can be proud of the assistance they have given and still

give over the years to promote literacy and value the friendship they have had with

Mrs Ambica Shesthna.

Diana O'Brien

President Meena and Pokhara BPW members admiring

the suitcase of knitted garments that had travelled 

from NZ with us.

President Meena and Pokhara BPW members admiring

the suitcase of knitted garments that had travelled 

 from NZ with us.

BPW President Ambica Shrestha presenting Pauline Gapper with an award for BPW NZ's continuous support of the Nepalese Literacy programme. Diane Glenn and Diana O'Brien supported Pauline.