The Nepal Disabled Women Association (NDWA), in collaboration with Gorkha Municipality, successfully organized a three-day Livestock Management Training from 6–8 June to enhance the livelihood opportunities of women with disabilities through sustainable goat and poultry farming.
A total of 17 participants attended the training, including women with physical disabilities, Deaf women, women with psychosocial disabilities, blind women, and guardians of women with intellectual disabilities. Participants were selected from different wards of Gorkha Municipality based on their socio-economic status and family conditions to ensure that the support reached those most in need.
The opening session began with a welcome address by Gita Maya Shrestha, followed by remarks from the Chief of the Social Development Branch of Gorkha Municipality and Dipa Khanal, Treasurer of NDWA. Participants introduced themselves before sharing their learning expectations through a participatory meta-card exercise. Based on these expectations, the training sessions were facilitated by the Livestock Officer of Gorkha Municipality.
Goat farming and poultry farming were identified as priority livelihood options under the municipality’s livelihood support initiative. Throughout the three-day training, participants gained practical knowledge on livestock management, including animal health, farm and shed management, common livestock breeds, disease identification and treatment, breeding and fertilization management, nutrition, feeding practices, and disease prevention. Practical demonstrations and educational videos further strengthened participants’ understanding and confidence in managing livestock effectively.
The final day included a practical session where participants learned to identify signs of disease through observation of livestock and their dung, followed by discussions on the importance of animal nutrition and the link between healthy livestock and healthy communities.
The training concluded with a closing ceremony chaired by Gita Maya Shrestha, with the Deputy Mayor of Gorkha Municipality attending as the Chief Guest. The municipal livestock trainer and representatives of NDWA also attended the event.
As part of the municipality’s livelihood support, seed money was distributed to participants to help them establish or expand goat and poultry farming enterprises. Eleven women with disabilities received the financial support through their personal bank accounts, while four participants received the support through their guardians’ accounts due to the absence of personal bank accounts. One participant received the assistance in cash because opening a bank account was not possible.
Two participants shared their reflections during the closing ceremony, expressing their appreciation for the practical and inclusive nature of the training. The municipal livestock trainer praised the participants for their active engagement and enthusiasm throughout the program.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Deputy Mayor encouraged participants to invest the seed money wisely to improve their livelihoods and become economically self-reliant. The municipality also reaffirmed its commitment to allocating resources and continuing support for women with disabilities through future livelihood initiatives.
The program concluded with closing remarks from Gita Maya Shrestha, who thanked Gorkha Municipality, the trainer, participants, and all stakeholders for their continued collaboration in promoting disability-inclusive economic empowerment.
Through this initiative, NDWA continues to strengthen the economic independence of women with disabilities by equipping them with practical livelihood skills and fostering stronger collaboration with local governments for inclusive development.