"Now I wish to be his wife in seven more lifetimes.": Laxman and Puja's story
Watch a short film in which Puja and Laxman reflect on how couple sessions, run by expert VSO volunteers, helped make their home a more equal place.
One in four women in Nepal experience gender-based violence
After attending the couple sessions, there has been a change in me.Laxman
Because of deeply embedded harmful social norms, girls are pulled out of school and forced to marry when they’re still children. Without an education, girls and women are at higher risk of discrimination and gender-based violence.
Puja unfortunately experienced this first-hand. Her husband, Laxman, believed that a woman’s role is to raise children, cook and clean. He never supported her in her day-to-day life. He wouldn’t even feed their children if Puja wasn’t home to care for them, as he believed this wasn’t his role as a man.
He didn’t realise how much the unequal family dynamics harmed Puja’s wellbeing and confidence in their marriage.
Providing hope for women in Nepal
This is not right or fair. Things had to change. Expert VSO volunteers engaged Puja and Laxman in a 10-day couples session to help improve their relationship. Initially, the couple didn’t know much about gender-based violence. They believed it only involved physical abuse.
The sessions helped them understand that marital rape, emotional abuse, and gender-based discrimination are all forms of gender-based violence. This helped Laxman realise how the social norms in Nepal are causing a power imbalance between men and women. He understood how these norms, and he, were causing harm to his wife – and family.
Attending VSO’s couple sessions was a powerful turning point for Puja and Laxman
Expert VSO volunteers engaged them in exercises and discussions designed to improve their communication skills and relationship. Laxman learned he needed to be a partner Puja could rely on. He realised his equal responsibility in household chores, and this marked a positive fresh start for the couple, with better communication and understanding of each other’s needs.
Sharing the responsibilities of their children and wholeheartedly assisting his wife fostered a more balanced and harmonious marriage.
If you'd like to hear more about the impact of this project, the Sponsor a Volunteer Hub is a great way to stay up-to-date. Here, you'll find regular updates from VSO volunteers and ask them any questions.