In a remote village in the rural municipality of Bijayanagar, the Better Future Council (BFC) partnered with Karuna-Shechen to transform local health and hygiene.
The starting point: critical access to resources
In Kapilvastu, prior to the intervention of Karuna-Shechen, local awareness regarding health and hygiene was minimal. Basic necessities like clean drinking water and toilets were viewed as luxuries reserved exclusively for the wealthy or socially exposed.
Open defecation was standard practice, and water access was a grueling daily struggle; fifteen households had to share a single water tap, forcing many residents – particularly women- to travel kilometers away from home just to fetch safe water..
When Karuna came with their health and hygiene program, they made us realize the true value of our health. They showed us why toilets and clean drinking water are essential. Before, it wasn’t the community that was the problem, it was our mindset and priorities. – Jitman, a representative of the BFC.
The introduction of Karuna-Shechen’s health and hygiene program marked a major turning point, working closely with local leaders like Jitman through the Better Future Council.
The Better Future Council (BFC) is a group of 2 to 10 villages (~5,000 people) represented by a gender-balanced pair (one man, one woman) of volunteers and elected officials. Trained in project management and guided by values of compassion, these representatives jointly identify, design, implement, and evaluate local initiatives through monthly consultation meetings. They ensure inclusive and transparent governance and coordinate and cooperate with local authorities and other local organizations.
A Shift in Mindset
Rather than simply handing out materials, the initiative focused heavily on shifting community mindsets and resetting collective priorities regarding health and dignity. Guided by this new awareness, the Council mobilized the community into a collective effort to build essential infrastructure, including individual household toilets and a comprehensive, safe drinking water pipeline network directly connected to the village.
The mobilization sparked rapid and sweeping progress:
- Within just six months, 59 households successfully constructed their own toilets.
- Additionally, the new pipeline successfully delivered dedicated water taps to every single household.
This structural overhaul has transformed daily life, freeing women from the physical burden and safety risks associated with fetching water over long distances. Thanks to the installation of toilets, accessible water taps, and increased awareness, the village has gained valuable time, improved health, dignity, and pride.
With the support of Karuna-Shechen, we realized that we have the power to change our own lives and those of the next generation – Jitman