Programs
1. Research and Advocacy
2. Training and Capacity Building
3. Conference and Lectures
4. Fellowships
1. Research and Advocacy
Taking into account, the widening and generally lacking of Research on Dalits, the Foundation is conducting various research on Dalit based issues. Through such research and advocacy, the Foundation will articulate the issues of Dalits and excluded groups at the grass-root, national and international levels. Currently, the research has mainly focused on the constitution building process and Dalit rights. However in general, research is divided into four broad areas:
Current project: Ensuring Dalit rights in the new Constitution 2009/10
The Land, Livelihood and Food Rights component recognizes that Dalits and other marginalized communities remain deprived of their fundamental rights, such as the right to land, livelihood and food security. Such deprivation seriously limits their potential for social and economic growth. Therefore, the Foundation is working to improve Dalit communities’ access to food and assisting the Dalit land rights movement in Nepal. To this end, it conducts research and drafts policy papers on the socio-economic condition of Dalits and other marginalized communities.
The Human Rights and Peace component aims to thoroughly document cases of human rights violation against Dalits and other marginalized communities across the country. In order to practically deal with such cases, the Foundation hopes to coordinate with human rights and legal aid organizations. It will also conduct a study on the impact of the decade-long conflict on Dalit communities and provide psychosocial counseling to the victims. The program will work proactively to end inhuman and discriminatory practices and to attain just and sustainable peace within Dalit and other marginalized communities.
The Culture, Education and Media component will focus on using the media to promote Dalit culture, educate Dalit communities and raise public awareness about Dalit issues. The Foundation believes that the rich cultural heritage of Dalits and other marginalized communities have long been ignored as a result of their exclusion and their subsequent lack of resources. Therefore, projects have been planned with the goal of protecting the culture and tradition of gandharva musicians, highlighting the contributions of Dalit musicians and artists and promoting Dalit literature in Nepal.
2. Training and Capacity Building
In order to cope with the vicious circle of social exclusion, the Foundation conducts training courses on the basis of the findings of the Foundation’s research and advocacy work on the issues of social inclusion, with a focus on Dalit communities. The target group for the training are, both Dalits and non-Dalits; political leaders, youths, activists, woman etc. The well designed training course is expected to enrich the capacity of the participant to enlighten their understanding on issues related to Dalits, so that they can genuinely and logically involve themselves in and deal with Dalit issues on policy formation, activities and planning at the national and international levels.
3. Conference
In order to articulate the issues of Dalit communities and social inclusion, the Foundation organizes local, national and international conferences. On par with this, the Foundation is organizing an international conference entitled "Envisioning the New Nepal: Dynamics of Caste, Identity and Inclusion of Dalits" from May 20-22, 2010 in Kathmandu, Nepal. For details click here (link to conference).
4. Fellowships
The Foundation is providing opportunities and a platform for various individuals and researchers to conduct research activities and fulfill its objectives. As part of this, currently, the four research fellows are doing research on a variety of topics related to Dalits and the Constitutional building process through support from the Open Society Institute. Besides their own research topics, they are critically reviewing the various thematic committee reports from the constitution of Nepal from a Dalit perspective. For details of their activities, click here (link to profile of Fellow)
Any interested researcher can contact the Foundation if they wish to undertake a research fellowship through the Foundation. However, the Foundation does not guarantee funding for research.
2. Training and Capacity Building
3. Conference and Lectures
4. Fellowships
1. Research and Advocacy
Taking into account, the widening and generally lacking of Research on Dalits, the Foundation is conducting various research on Dalit based issues. Through such research and advocacy, the Foundation will articulate the issues of Dalits and excluded groups at the grass-root, national and international levels. Currently, the research has mainly focused on the constitution building process and Dalit rights. However in general, research is divided into four broad areas:
- Democracy and Social Movement
- Land, Livelihood and Food Rights
- Human Rights and Peace
- Culture, Education and Media
Current project: Ensuring Dalit rights in the new Constitution 2009/10
The Land, Livelihood and Food Rights component recognizes that Dalits and other marginalized communities remain deprived of their fundamental rights, such as the right to land, livelihood and food security. Such deprivation seriously limits their potential for social and economic growth. Therefore, the Foundation is working to improve Dalit communities’ access to food and assisting the Dalit land rights movement in Nepal. To this end, it conducts research and drafts policy papers on the socio-economic condition of Dalits and other marginalized communities.
The Human Rights and Peace component aims to thoroughly document cases of human rights violation against Dalits and other marginalized communities across the country. In order to practically deal with such cases, the Foundation hopes to coordinate with human rights and legal aid organizations. It will also conduct a study on the impact of the decade-long conflict on Dalit communities and provide psychosocial counseling to the victims. The program will work proactively to end inhuman and discriminatory practices and to attain just and sustainable peace within Dalit and other marginalized communities.
The Culture, Education and Media component will focus on using the media to promote Dalit culture, educate Dalit communities and raise public awareness about Dalit issues. The Foundation believes that the rich cultural heritage of Dalits and other marginalized communities have long been ignored as a result of their exclusion and their subsequent lack of resources. Therefore, projects have been planned with the goal of protecting the culture and tradition of gandharva musicians, highlighting the contributions of Dalit musicians and artists and promoting Dalit literature in Nepal.
2. Training and Capacity Building
In order to cope with the vicious circle of social exclusion, the Foundation conducts training courses on the basis of the findings of the Foundation’s research and advocacy work on the issues of social inclusion, with a focus on Dalit communities. The target group for the training are, both Dalits and non-Dalits; political leaders, youths, activists, woman etc. The well designed training course is expected to enrich the capacity of the participant to enlighten their understanding on issues related to Dalits, so that they can genuinely and logically involve themselves in and deal with Dalit issues on policy formation, activities and planning at the national and international levels.
3. Conference
In order to articulate the issues of Dalit communities and social inclusion, the Foundation organizes local, national and international conferences. On par with this, the Foundation is organizing an international conference entitled "Envisioning the New Nepal: Dynamics of Caste, Identity and Inclusion of Dalits" from May 20-22, 2010 in Kathmandu, Nepal. For details click here (link to conference).
4. Fellowships
The Foundation is providing opportunities and a platform for various individuals and researchers to conduct research activities and fulfill its objectives. As part of this, currently, the four research fellows are doing research on a variety of topics related to Dalits and the Constitutional building process through support from the Open Society Institute. Besides their own research topics, they are critically reviewing the various thematic committee reports from the constitution of Nepal from a Dalit perspective. For details of their activities, click here (link to profile of Fellow)
Any interested researcher can contact the Foundation if they wish to undertake a research fellowship through the Foundation. However, the Foundation does not guarantee funding for research.