Rashmi Chettri, a student studying in Birendranagar, Chitrakot, says, “After getting involved in this campaign, I have been able to speak about my problems openly and also speak up against the abuse which women endure. I tell people about the campaign and the issues it addresses and this has enabled me to interest a lot of people; many of them have come forward to become Change Makers. I think the campaign has helped women open up and address their problems – they are each finding ways to tackle the violence in their lives.”

Lalita Chaudhary, a house wife from Saptari, says, “The people of my village used to believe that cases relating to women should never be addressed at the panchayats as such public arbitration would bring disgrace to the family. Now with the campaign gaining ground, they are much more open to dealing with issues that affect women adversely in the public arena. Many women, after seeing the change and confidence that has come over me after I joined the campaign, invite me to settle disputes at home and ask for advice.”

Gauri Lal Khadka,, an army personnel from Lamosanghu, Sindhupalchok, says, “I plan to change attitude and behavior of my colleagues and our entire work force towards the women and girls. People who misbehave with women should not be allowed to go unpunished.”

Rudra Poudel, a student in Surkhet in the mid-western region of Nepal, says,“Before I joined the campaign, I was convinced that all the problems that needed redress lay in the larger society and that my family members and I were beyond reproach. As part of the campaign’s effort to help a girl in our neighbourhood continue with her studies, it dawned on me that my own sister lives in an environment that will not support her studying for much longer. When the truth hit me, I was stunned. I am making efforts to ensure that she can finish her studies uninterrupted.”

Anima Ghimire, a student in Kathmandu, says, “I did not relate mental torture and restriction of mobility against women with violence. Now I do. Armed with that realization, I have begun to see the world I live in with different eyes. I have begun to see violence within my own family when once I thought all was normal. My uncle forbade any freedom to my aunt. I talked to him. He was furious with me for interfering in what he called his ‘private’ life. I was crestfallen.

Eighteen year-old Kritisha G C of Sindhupal Chowk, Sadi, Nepal, says, “Sexual assault and relationship violence are pervasive problems in our communities. The victims of these crimes (who are overwhelmingly women) suffer psychological, physical, and sexual violations, or a combination. We speak to women who have suffered abuse and offer counseling. We use dramatised versions of real life stories in our plays to show people how much damage violence against women can cause.”

Nineteen year-old Rama Parajuli writes scripts for plays from Sindhupalchowk district, Nepal, says, “It is easy to write scripts for dramas. But it is difficult to speak up within homes and try to stop violence against women. But I did speak up when my sister-in-law was abused at home. This was the beginning of my journey to address the issue of violence against women. I am convinced that we should not remain mute spectators to violence.”

Thirty seven-year-old Sita Gurung from Makawanpur district attempts to change attitudes and behaviour of people who live in her community towards women and violence against them. Her manner may be quiet but it is courageous. Sita says she heard of the ‘We Can’ campaign while at the Women’s Skill Creation Centre. “Discrimination against women and domestic violence is very common in my area and it really bothers me as it negatively affects each and every family in the neighbourhood. The minute I heard about the campaign, I immediately enlisted as a Change Maker.

Sixteen year-old Nischal Pakhrin of Sri Nepal Madhyamik High School in Bara district is in class nine. She is diminutive and soft-spoken. But her determination to help girls in her community to search for their identity is firm.

Bobby Karmacharya who studies in class twelve at the SV Academy in Kathmandu is keen to draw in her fellow classmates into the campaign. “Boys in my school are decent (though they sometimes tease us) and are not unwilling to hear us out. I think if the youth energies can be gathered it can help address many issues, particularly issues relating to violence within homes. I am keen to discuss the campaign with my friends and convince them to be a part of it. We need to together give girls and women confidence and a sense of self worth and help break walls within and without.”

Adolescent girls in Kathmandu have banded themselves into ‘kishori’ groups with the help of an organisation called Shakti Samuha. Their aim is to help women combat violence in homes and in the society at large. They also provide support to battered women.