Since its establishment in 2001, SETU Nepal has worked with women in prison and for women living with HIV (WLHIV) and women survivors of violence, empowering them individually to challenge stigma and discrimination, demanding essential and integrated public services, and advocating for their rights and inclusion in the multi-level government development efforts in Nepal. SETU has a long-standing history and experience of working on ending violence against WLHIV and supporting women survivors of violence by adapting and employing various strategic initiatives around individual empowerment, entrepreneurial skill development and livelihoods support, healthcare and psychosocial counseling, providing support in the treatment and care through rehabilitation and shelter and also educating their children by providing shelter and scholarships support so that WLHIV and women survivors of violence and their children able to lead an independent, decent and dignified life. SETU has implemented various initiatives in the last five years. However, few are the most impactful interventions, as follows:
- Economic empowerment: SETU has capacitated women from marginalised communities and survivors of violence through targeted initiatives of assets-based livelihoods, and climate change adaptation supported women's economic empowerment. SETU provides resources, life skills, and enterprise development opportunities to create a safe and productive economic activity. About 900 WLHIV and women survivors of violence trained in enterprise development and benefitted with seed money to start up individual and group businesses. Among them, 63.7% are actively engaged in small-to-medium business enterprises leading to increased income and enhanced livelihood resilience (SETU rapid assessment 2022). This initiative helped build market linkages to distribute and sell products (handicrafts) produced by WLHIV. In addition, SETU supported WLHIV and women survivors of violence using ICT tools to reach and connect with other trained WLHIV to build a stronger network, peer support, and community mobilization. Education support for children (either HIV/AIDS affected or infected) of WLHIV and women survivors of violence: SETU has promoted education as a foundation, and a means to attain the full potential for children's productive and dignified life.
- Education: Educating children of WLHIV and women survivors of violence is integral to SETU; therefore, till date 1,775 children have received scholarships and support to attain formal education. In addition, every year education support is provided to about 100 children those who are staying with their close family members and relatives (e.g., kinship) with an ultimate goal to support them until graduation.
- Shelter and rehabilitation support : SETU has a residential transit home, "Aarati Home," to provide education, shelter, and healthcare support to children of WLHIV and women survivors of violence. Currently, SETU is providing shelter for educational productivity for 10 children through the residential transit home "Aarati Home." We can currently accommodate 20 children in total. In addition, children receive regular psychosocial and healthcare support, social and life skill training, and in-house extra- curricular activities to create a productive study environment and support their educational productivity. Extra-curricular activities and life skills development include making them aware of social values, ending gender-based violence, child protection and development, and seeking peer support to be more productive in their everyday lives.
- Referral Mechanism:Utilizing our extensive network forged over years of dedicated work in this field, our referral mechanism ensures seamless support for our beneficiaries. We stand ready to connect those in need with additional resources, whether it be other NGOs, hospitals, or shelters, spanning various provinces. Our commitment extends beyond immediate assistance, striving to refine and optimize every aspect of our outreach to better serve those we aim to support.
- Community mobilization, training, and advocacy: SETU has organized over 70 residential training events focusing on economic empowerment, life skill support, and educational productivity.By fostering collaboration, offering tailored training programs, and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities, SETU works towards creating sustainable and inclusive change at both local and national levels.