Microfinance in Action (Winter School, Nepal, 2016) - EN

Описание: Microfinance in Action: the video documentary about the Winter School 2016/2017 in Nepal, made by the MA human rights students of the University of Padova (Italy).

It recounts the experience of the second edition of the Winter School held in Nepal from 24th September to 8th October 2016. The study trip was sponsored by the University Human Rights Centre and the Department of Political Science, Law & International Studies of the University of Padova in collaboration with Katmandu’s Apex College.

Eight students of the Master Degree in Human Rights and Multi-level Governance attended the Winter School, accompanied by Prof. Alberto Lanzavecchia and Dr. Luca Gazzola.
http://unipd-centrodirittiumani.it/en/MA

The video shows the travel and study experience of the Paduan delegation and explores the role of microfinance as a tool to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality from a human rights perspective.

The first part of the video focuses on the theoretical and technical aspects of microcredit seen during the first few days of the journey, thanks to the seminar work with students and teachers in Nepal Apex College in Kathmandu, and meetings with experts in microfinance institutions.
The experience and impact of microfinance projects was documented in the field through visits to farms and other commercial activities financed by microloans arranged with the Nepalese microfinance bank Muktinath Bikas Bank Ltd., in the region of Pokhara. The role of microfinance institutions is also of social inclusion and active citizenship, as highlighted by the unique participation of Paduan students in a public initiative to protect the environment.

The second part of the video focuses on human rights, gender inequality, social discrimination and education. The meetings with different women’s groups made it possible to see how microcredit works as a tool for women's empowerment. In Butwal, in the Terai region, students were hosted by Aman Pariyar. Aman is a human rights defender and, with his charity Farm House Nepal, has adopted a comprehensive approach to combating poverty in the most marginalized groups in his community. Farm House Nepal's projects are supported by NGOs and international experts and aim to promote educational training in new agricultural techniques, support local schools, and promote activities on women's rights.

The group’s last stop was the northern district of Sindhupalchowk, the Nepalese region that was hit hardest by the 2015 earthquake. The group visited Koldaung Shree Devi Secondary School in the village of Meshipa. The school was heavily damaged by the earthquake, and therefore the students delivered funds raised through the "United for Nepal" campaign, organized for the second year running in June 2016 in Padova, to facilitate the reconstruction of school buildings. Future projects were discussed with the teachers of the school, as was renewing the commitment to support these activities by means of exchanges and cooperation.

The video documentary was made by Luca Gazzola with the collaboration of Professor. Alberto Lanzavecchia and students of the MA in Human Rights and Multi-level Governance who participated in the Winter School: Angela Bertocco, Giulia Cau, Martina Daelli, Ludovica Dal Molin, Szilvia Gulyas, Erin Huynh, Elisa Speziali and Pietro Vinti. Other contributors include Daniel Marino, Camila Casal, Alice Correale and Rosemary Burnham. The video lasts 45 minutes, is in English, and is available with subtitles in both English and Italian.