During the summer months of 2012, I lived a most opportune adventure, from which I received an education beyond the limits of my home in Kentucky. In May, I travelled to Sarangkot, Nepal, where I lived in the village with a family in order to conduct social research for the NGO Volunteer Aid Nepal. Through prior training and the cooperative work with an interpreter, I interviewed villagers from various local volunteer organizations in order to study how their village groups functioned and contributed to the development of their society. Following a month’s stay in Nepal, I jaunted to Cochabamba, Bolivia. As a student, I attended classes daily at Sustainable Bolivia, taking advantage of the one-on-one classes provided. With my improved language skills, I applied them as I worked as an intern for Movimiento Sonrisa in the pediatric unit of Hospital Viedma. Prior to the trip, I organized and packaged arts and crafts to take to the children. With the supplies, I taught art projects to the children, at their bedside, or in the post-op lobby. During my internship, I lived with a wonderful host family, the Rameros. Every single day was a blessing and a rewarding experience to learn from.

1. An Investigation of Civil Society Organizations in the Communal Level in Nepal
and an Exploration of Pediatric Medical Care in Bolivia
Johanna Yun
University of Louisville Brown Fellow, Class of 2014
ABSTRACT:! RESULTS:! PART II:!
During the summer months of 2012, I lived a most opportune adventure, from which I
received an education beyond the limits of my home in Kentucky. In May, I traveled to An Exploration of Pediatric Medical Care in Bolivia"
Sarangkot, Nepal, where I lived in the village with a family in order to conduct social "
research for the NGO Volunteer Aid Nepal. Through prior training and the The Movimiento Sonrisa internship allowed me a grand opportunity to see the internal
cooperative work with an interpreter, I interviewed villagers from various local work of pediatric care at Hospital Viedma. Unlike my experience in Nepal, I had the
volunteer organizations in order to study how their village groups functioned and advantage of having the ability to communicate with the Bolivian people. In order to
contributed to the development of their society. Following a month s stay in Nepal, I improve and practice my language skills, I lived with a Bolivian family while attending
jaunted to Cochabamba, Bolivia. As a student, I attended classes daily at Sustainable classes every morning. In the afternoon, I worked with children who were recovering
Bolivia, taking advantage of the one-on-one classes provided. With my improved from surgery or awaiting operations. I frequently visited the general surgical unit and
language skills, I applied them as I worked as an intern for Movimiento Sonrisa in the the burned victims unit to introduce fun and interactive craft projects to inspire
pediatric unit of Hospital Viedma. Prior to the trip, I organized and packaged arts and creativity. I brought canvas backpacks, fabric markers, pencil cases, journals and more.
crafts to take to the children. With the supplies, I taught art projects to the children, at I believed that if the children could functionally use the materials that they crafted for
their bedside, or in the post-op lobby. During my internship, I lived with a wonderful educational purposes, they would be motivated to learn as well as create art. Working
host family, the Rameros. Every single day was a blessing and a rewarding experience to at the hospital increased my enthusiasm for my medical career path in public health, as
learn from. ! well as teaching others.!
!
CONCLUSIONS:!
Based on case studies and surveys from a total of 25 interviewed groups:!
-The female membership population overrides the male population in civil society
FUTURE PROJECTS:!
PART I: ! organizations as a whole. Women s groups seem to be the most populous type of CSO in
I have remained in touch with my friends in Sarangkot and plan to return to Nepal
next summer, but with something more than my completed research paper. Based on
An Investigation of Civil Society Organizations in the Communal Level in Sarangkot, most likely due to the democratic development and movement for women as the results I discovered from my research, I plan to create a women s scholarship fund
Nepal" well as their marginalized position in society. Children and youth groups often support each
for Sarangkot in order to educate and increase the health and well-being of females in
other and collaborate with women s groups for community projects.!
! -Although there are few Dalit members in the CSOs, they are becoming widely accepted by
the community. I developed a strong relationship with the women there and I intend
to strengthen that bond by helping to develop their community and contributing to
BACKGROUND:! community groups. Dalits have formed groups to improve their standards of living in the
their life work for their abundant kindness.!
In society, there are three sectors, which include government, business, and civil village.! My experience in Cochabamba, Bolivia equally left a deep impression on me. The week
societies. Civil society organizations (or CSOs) play a significant role in supporting -Communication within the groups is generally carried out by word of mouth, mostly
before I left Bolivia, I involved the children in a project, which I named the Hands of
democracy and provide an opportunity for communities with diverse ethnic, religious, through the secretary of the club. Policies or rules are created by the members and enforced
Hope Project. Taking the handprints of the children using finger paint, each child from
cultural, and racial identities to come to a common ground and work together. Prior to by the president, or members with a leadership position. Meetings to discuss issues are held
the pediatrics ward stamped his or her hand onto a piece of cloth to be sewn onto
1990, the Nepalese government existed as an autocratic political regime that monthly, usually at home.!
artisan crafts that I purchased in the city. I will be selling these crafts with the
discouraged the registration of civil society organizations and did not protect freedoms -Although there are growing numbers of civil society organizations, membership capacities handprints in hopes of raising awareness and money for the children who cannot afford
of speech and association. In 1990, the democratic movement of Nepal overthrew the of particularly female groups are largely limited by lack of financial support. While forest
operations (which is a greater number of patients than one would expect). I also left
autocratic regime and established the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, which user groups and internationally supported groups can collect steady funding, most female
supplies and instructions for the next volunteer from the Movimiento Sonrisa
guaranteed freedom of speech, assembly, respect for the International Declaration of organizations do not have financial support. Many women s and mother groups use
internship to do the same and to continue to spread the fundraising project. I hope to
Human Rights and other International Covenants that were important for the growth indigenous knowledge, such as basket weaving, farming training, and cultural programs, to
also return to Bolivia to maintain the progress of the Hands of Hope project. To see a
of civil societies in Nepal. Civil societies experienced a sudden emergence and collect money for their purposes. !
mini-video clip of the project pictures, search YouTube The Hands of Hope Project or
development. As of now, there is little known about how civil society organizations are -The main issues hindering the growth of CSOs include lack of financial support, lack of
El Proyecto de Las Manos de Esperanza. Improvements to the project are still being
functioning in the local level. Since the current trend of the non-profit world is to work education, and lack of time commitment (since most of the villagers are farmers). Although made. !
from the grassroots upward and there are large democratic movements in the the VDC supports CSOs that are registered, which is more than half of the groups, 92% of
formation of the constitution, I focused on the study of functioning civil society groups maintain that the funds are not sufficient enough and hence, do not consider its
organizations and how they are currently transforming village societies. With my support as significant financial aid.!
previous background knowledge of democratic movements in Southeast Asia, my -Societal perspectives on CSOs in Sarangkot are almost unanimously positive. Individual
academic interest in Anthropology, and non-profit work, I decided to utilize this surveys show that volunteer work is an essential part of their village s development and has Thank you to the Brown Foundation, UofL, and
program as a method of gaining research experience in social work.! improved the cultural acceptance of advocacy for marginalized groups and cultural
! reformation. ! mentors for making this summer project possible.!
! !