COPPADES, a grassroots NGO in Nepal.  COPPADES promotes economic and social rights for the poorest of the poor within the Lamjung region in Nepal.  In particular, COPPADES focuses on the right to sustainable income and women's rights. 

COPPADES teaches and develops micro-financing in villages, with the ultimate goal of forming a legally recognized co-operative.  Co-operatives are similar to corporations, but they provide banking  services.  Savings and loans may be made by villagers in order to invest in a small business, such as goat or vegetable farming, that may improve their economic situation.  However, many Nepalis are illiterate.  Thus, COPPADES assists in completing legal documents and explaining the key points.  More importantly, when co-operatives do not operate smoothly (loans are not paid, money disappears), the role of COPPADES as a mediator is key to solving conflicts.  The government or third parties are simply unavailable to provide support in resolving issues.

COPPADES also supports women's rights by disseminating modern family planning to villages.  By educating women, COPPADES hopes to give them the knowledge they need to control their reproductive rights and protect their health from sexually transmitted diseases. View More...

My experience with COPPADES brought me a large knowledge on microcredit and its impact on discriminated communities as Dalits and women.

Working in Nepal taught me alot of patience because of a lack of facilities , but also showed me that the western way of apprehending time doesnot mean to be more efficient.
My time here made me feel that lots of change remain to happen for Neplese people to live a better life, but working with COPPADES proved me they were on their way.

COPPADES is a non-profit, non-governmental social development organization with activities in the rural areas of Nepal. During the thirteen years of its operation, COPPADES has focused on the empowerment of the poorest and the most discriminated segments of the population and sought to build self-reliance among the people in the more poor and remote parts of Nepal. As a rural based social development organization COPPADES was founded with a belief that sustainable development requires a process that proceeds with combined activities that enhance the educational, organizational and economic freedom of people. Faced with oppressive poverty, a lack of alternative opportunities for income generation, political conflicts and violence spanning almost a decade, the people of rural Nepal now find themselves entrenched in a vicious cycle, hopelessly surviving on their rapidly depleting natural environment. The situations and conflicts have resulted in a drastic deterioration of health and educational opportunities as well as the absence of financial and other necessary services that they deserve as citizens. Furthermore a host of superstitious beliefs, unchanged due to a prevailing lack of literacy, work to promote social ignorance and discrimination. These situations add to a lack of awareness which compounds their insecurity and hinders the abilities of these societies to successfully respond and adapt to their dynamic environments. View My Internship Report With COPPADES...