IWEN's main focus is presently educational scholarships for Nepalese females. Scholarships provide primary, elementary, upper elementary education, vocational, and literacy education as well as life skills training.
In rural Nepal, family education monies usually are spent to educate sons rather than daughters. Daughters marry and move to their husband's home. However these uneducated wives also have sons and daughters. IWEN firmly believes that in educating a women, a whole family is educated as well.
Nepalese law states that all International Non-Government Organizations must work directly through a local Nepalese NGO. The Director of Nepal has investigated the integrity and operationally practices of several Nepalese Non-Government Organizations [NGO].
The following NGO's are those that the Director of Nepal has chosen to collaborate closely with since these are well established and functioning NGO's. Each Nepalese NGO is described in the scholarship programs which IWEN is supporting
Women's Development Society
Creating Possibilities
Ecological Protection Forum
Sungava
SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS:
Scholarships are awarded following the selection criteria set by IWEN's Board for developing countries and as well as for Canadian recipients.
Recipients must be female
Recipients' primary goal is the advancement of their education either in an educational institution, life skills and/or vocational training.
Recipients live in poverty and are not in a financial position to cover the cost of their educational needs.
MONITORING CANDIDATES SCHOLARSHIPS:
Once a scholarship has been awarded, the following monitoring is undertaken unless there is a grave danger and/or obstacle to the person visiting the student's district.
At least one and if possible two visits are made to the student's home and school.
During the visit the family is informed of how to help the daughter succeed. A commitment is agreed upon to help the young student to study at home. Respectful educational advice is given to the parents/guardian of the student in order to maximize her success.
IWEN keeps accurate records of each candidate's results and work. This is accomplished through close
collaboration with each Nepalese NGO .Scholarship funds are released only to the school principal at the beginning of each school term. No monies are directly given to the student's family to avoid any misappropriation of funds as the facilities are extremely poor.
Copies of student's report cards and end of year results from the school are required and a summary report is sent to the scholarship donors.
If for some reason a selected candidate fails a school year, the reasons are examined closely as many factors can be the cause of the unsuccessful results.
If the reasons found for failure are valid the candidate does not loose her scholarship. However if the reasons for failure are due to negligence and lack of responsibility on the part of the family or the student, then the scholarship is withdrawn.
IWEN's $450.00 FIRST PRIORITY SCHOLARSHIPS – FOR FEMALE VICTIMS OF CONFLICT:
These ten scholarships are IWEN's first priority for securing funding. These scholarships were IWEN's first commitment when the Society was founded. IWEN commits to sponsoring these females until their high school graduation which is class ten
These ten scholarships go to females victims of conflict who live in rural areas of Nepal. See Newsroom.
IWEN is collaborating with the Women's Developmental Society , founded by a retired Nepalese teacher Mrs. Purna Shova Chitrakar in 1991. Though a small NGO, the Women's Developmental Society has had a huge impact on the education of females in all areas of educational development, especially those of disadvantaged and untouchable castes, illiterate, and presently victims of conflict.
Females with mental challenges especially those with Down's Syndrome are provided with basic literacy and life skills education with a $125.00 scholarship.
IWEN is collaborating with "Sungava" the only educational center in Kathmandu founded in 1995 by Mrs. Subarna Keshari Chirakar, herself the mother of a daughter with Down's Syndrome.
Mrs. Chitrakar was recently awarded a prestigious award from the United Nations
Women's Organization for her work in the field of education for disabled females.
DHADING – FEMALES from Disadvantaged and Untouchable CASTES: $145.00 SCHOLARSHIPS:
The females of disadvantaged and untouchable castes in Dhading suffer greatly because they are both females and belong to a Hindu caste system that has destined them to be identified as disadvantaged and untouchable for their whole lives. This limits their future opportunities in all areas of their lives.
IWEN is collaborating with “Ecological Protection Forum” [EPF] founded by Mr. Ramesh Dhamala, a retired teacher and resident of Dhading in 2002. EPF has worked extensively in Dhading for many years through educational, health, and irrigation projects.
IWEN sponsored seven Dhading teachers for the school year 2005-2006. See Newsroom.
WOMENS DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY: HEALTH EDUCATION AWARENESS FOR WOMEN PROJECTS:
$300.00
Women in rural areas often rely on the local Witch Doctor for medical services. IWEN's Health Education Awareness Program for women is a basic life skills program to teach women basic health principles which avoids pre-mature deaths during delivery and assures the health of the newborn as well as the family.
IWEN is collaborating with the “ Women's Development Society” to present these life skills workshops.
WOMENS DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY: Rural Literacy Program for Women Victim of Conflict:
$3,500.00 PROJECTS:
Nepal's armed political conflict has claimed over 15,000 victims. Instant death, kidnapping and disappearances of the men folk were common in rural districts of the country. Culturally women depend on their husband's for status in Nepalese society. Widows do not remarry due to cultural reasons. Unfortunately, these widows are often illiterate with little resources to take care for their families.
IWEN is collaborating with the "Women's Development Society" to present literacy programs to rural illiterate women.
IWEN's $450.00 FIRST PRIORITY SCHOLARSHIPS – FOR FEMALE VICTIMS OF CONFLICT: 
NEPAL $125.00 DISABLED FEMALE SCHOLARSHIP PROJECT: 
DHADING – FEMALES from Disadvantaged and Untouchable CASTES: $145.00 SCHOLARSHIPS: 
TEACHER TRAINING: SCHOLARSHIPS: 
WOMENS DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY: HEALTH EDUCATION AWARENESS FOR WOMEN PROJECTS:
$300.00 
WOMENS DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY: Rural Literacy Program for Women Victim of Conflict:
$3,500.00 PROJECTS: 
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