In rural Nepal, behind the beauty of the hills and close-knit villages, many women, children, and families live with the hidden consequences of poverty, disaster, and domestic violence. NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief, an Israeli humanitarian organization, has been working to change this reality—combining emergency response with long-term community resilience and protection.
Project HOPE: From Emergency Response to Sustainable Change
Between April 2023 and December 2024, NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief, together with its local partner Relief Nepal, implemented Project HOPE – Creating Hope for Women, Children and Families in Hariharpurgadhi Rural Municipality, Sindhuli District.
The project focused on prevention, early intervention, and treatment of domestic violence, recognizing it as both a humanitarian and public health challenge. Project HOPE was designed not as a short-term intervention, but as a sustainable, community-driven model that strengthens local systems and empowers those closest to the problem.
The program operated through three interconnected pillars:
Prevention and awareness – raising community understanding of domestic violence, women’s rights, and available support mechanisms.
Early response – creating discreet, accessible pathways for women and families to seek help safely.
Treatment and rehabilitation – ensuring survivors receive professional psychosocial care and referrals to medical, legal, and social services.
Local leaders, health workers, community volunteers, and counselors were trained and supported to take ownership of these efforts—ensuring that the impact would continue long after the project’s formal conclusion.
Lives Changed: Sita’s Story
The humanitarian impact of Project HOPE is best understood through the lives it touched.
Sita (name changed for privacy), a woman from Hariharpurgadhi, was married at the age of 14 and never had access to formal education or independent income. Over time, her husband’s alcohol addiction led to escalating physical, verbal, and psychosocial violence. Isolated and overwhelmed, Sita reached a breaking point.
Through Project HOPE’s community-based referral network, Sita was connected to professional psychosocial counseling. After several sessions, her confidence and emotional stability began to return. With support from NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief and Relief Nepal, she was also linked to a local employment opportunity as a caregiver—providing her with income, dignity, and independence.
The transformation extended beyond Sita herself. Through community mentoring and engagement, her husband abandoned violence and began supporting the family. Today, Sita speaks about her journey with quiet strength:
“Thank you, NATAN team, for giving me a new life and hope.”
Strengthening Systems: A 2025 Humanitarian Ground Assessment
In February 2025, a NATAN delegation conducted a comprehensive humanitarian ground assessment across Sindhuli District to evaluate the feasibility of expanding Project HOPE into neighboring Dudhauli Municipality.
As an Israeli humanitarian organization working in partnership with local actors, NATAN prioritized collaboration and coordination. The delegation met with:
Local and national NGOs
Municipal leaders and ward chairpersons
Health post officials and Community Psychosocial Workers
Academic institutions and universities
The Israeli Embassy in Kathmandu
The findings were clear: there is strong local demand for the continuation and expansion of Project HOPE, alongside a willingness from municipalities to contribute personnel, infrastructure, and funding. Community Psychosocial Workers—many previously trained by NATAN—are already embedded within local government systems, providing a solid foundation for sustainability.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Hope Through Partnership
Based on the assessment, NATAN and Relief Nepal are now exploring partnerships with international and local organizations, academic institutions, and municipal authorities to secure long-term funding and expand Project HOPE to additional regions.
The next phase aims to:
Deepen prevention and awareness efforts
Expand professional training for counselors and health workers
Integrate education and research components through university partnerships
Strengthen referral pathways for survivors of violence
A Humanitarian Model Rooted in Dignity and Collaboration
NATAN’s mission in Nepal reflects its global approach as an Israeli humanitarian organization: combining professional expertise with cultural sensitivity, local leadership, and long-term commitment.
From emergency relief to capacity building, NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief works to ensure that humanitarian aid does more than address immediate needs—it builds systems of care, protection, and resilience.
As Project HOPE looks toward its next chapter, the lessons from Sindhuli are clear: when communities are trusted, trained, and empowered, hope becomes something tangible—and lasting.
Together with our partners and supporters, NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief will continue working to ensure that women, children, and families in Nepal can live with safety, dignity, and hope.