Nepalese group stands and supports

WOMEN of Ballarat’s Nepalese community met last month to participate in The Clothesline Project, taking a stand against domestic violence.

All members of the Ballarat branch of the Didi Bahini Samaj Victoria organisation, unit coordinator Bimala Pokhrel said their local initiative, displaying messages about the issue that can sometimes be ignored, aligned with October’s The Week Without Violence.

“Didi Bahini Samaj Victoria has been doing small projects in other parts of the state since 2016, and this is the first time we’ve done a small Clothesline Project in Ballarat,” she said.

Approximately 150 Nepalese people live in Ballarat, contributing to the medical, hospitality, research and education sectors.

Aussie Action Abroad director Graeme ‘Baje’ Kent OAM attended as guardian and supporter of Didi Bahini Samaj Ballarat.

“It was great to see this initiative being implemented by this group, showing strong support for each other and their connection with the wider community of Ballarat,” he said.

The Ballarat branch of the women-led organisation launched last year with a volunteer project supporting international students at ACU and FedUni affected by the pandemic, offering them food, resources, and assistance.

During a recent local Nepalese Festival Didi Bahini Samaj also organised small gift hampers for women across the city.

“Ballarat is a bit like back home,” Ms Pokhrel said. “It’s a convenient and friendly town.”