Posts Tagged ‘Prativa Subedi’
Vini Bhansali & Prativa Subedi - photo by Jan Sturmann
Our guest Speaker Prativa Subedi, Founder and President of the Nepalese community organization Women Awareness Center Nepal (WACN), and author of “Nepali Women at the Crossroads,” delivered a moving speech that underscored the power of cooperation and the importance of local, long-term projects to help women achieve self-sufficiency.
“With a little opportunity women can stand on their own two feet,” said Subedi who is on a 17-day visit to San Francisco to discuss WACN’s work. “To improve the social and economic status of women we must work with them.”
Current IDEX Executive Director Vini Bhansali also stressed the power of cooperation to reduce poverty and inequality, and praised IDEX partners for their cost-effective, innovative solutions to poverty during a year marked by a diminishing of economic opportunities worldwide.
“Most durable solutions to poverty come from the ground up,” she noted. “The most durable solutions to inequality are based on transformative relationships.”
We were also pleased to have a multigenerational presence at the event – three former IDEX directors were among the energetic guests who mingled over wine, appetizers and tasty vegan tamales courtesy of Gracias Madre.
“I came because people involved in development work always have openness and something to share,” said Michael Levitin, a San-Francisco-based journalist who has been involved in Latin American issues for many years. “Whenever I see an organization reaching out to indigenous communities…I am always supportive.”
By the conclusion of the evening, IDEX had raised approximately $13,500 to provide continuing support to our partners. We extend a sincere thank you to our board, staff, interns, volunteers and to all of our guests who made the evening such a success.
Blog by Erin Zaleski, Journalist & IDEX Volunteer
