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.
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