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Community members participating in a local planning and mapping activity with SAHAS Nepal

Poverty in My Local Community: A Barrier to Human Development

publisert 28.07.2026 00:00:00

Poverty is one of the most serious problems in today’s Nepali society. It affects millions of Nepalis and prevents people from living healthy and dignified lives.

Text: Sarita B.K

Poverty is not only the lack of money but also limited access to opportunities, education and resources. People living in poverty often struggle to meet their basic needs, such as food, shelter, healthcare, and education, making it a major barrier to human development.

My name is Sarita B.K, and I am from Nepal. In many parts of Nepal, poverty continues to affect communities in different ways. Unfortunately, my local community also faces this issue. Many families struggle to earn enough income to support their daily needs. Even though people work very hard, they often receive low wages. As a result, it becomes difficult for them to improve their living conditions or plan for a better future.

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Sarita B.K, Act Now student from Nepal

The Challenges My Community Faces: A Personal Perspective

In my opinion, poverty is a serious problem because it limits people’s opportunities and prevents them from reaching their full potential. One of the main problems in my community is the lack of jobs and access to quality education, especially for young people. Many youth complete their studies but struggle to find stable employment due to limited opportunities and high competition. Even when jobs are available, the salary is often very low and not enough to support a family. Because of this, many young people feel frustrated and uncertain about their future. The lack of quality education and job opportunities also affects families. Many children cannot access good education because their families cannot afford it. 

At the same time, limited jobs and high competition make it difficult for people to find work. As a result, many people are forced to go abroad for better income and employment, leaving their families behind. This creates emotional and social challenges for both workers and their families.

For example, I have seen a family in my community who could not provide good education for their children because of financial problems. Later, due to the lack of job opportunities and high competition, one member of the family went abroad to work far from home and loved ones. This issue is very important to me because I have seen many hardworking people in my community struggle every day. I am concerned about the future, as limited education and employment opportunities make it difficult for people to improve their lives

Working Towards Change

To reduce poverty, governments and local organizations should create more employment opportunities and support education, vocational training, small businesses and entrepreneurship. Communities can also contribute by promoting cooperation, skill-sharing and mutual support.

The organization I am involved with, SAHAS Nepal, has also helped reduce poverty in some parts of my community by providing vocational training and knowledge about growing unseasonal vegetables. It also distributed vegetable seeds to local people. As a result, many families are now able to grow vegetables, sell them in the market, and earn income which has improved their living conditions.

Group of Helping Hands – SAHAS Nepal – is a non-profit, non-governmental social development organization established in 1996. Since its inception, it has been working in remote rural areas to support vulnerable and socially excluded families who lack access to development opportunities. The organization mainly focuses on livelihood, education, adolescent development, and mental health.

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Sarita facilitating a SAMVAD activity in her community

In addition, the organization provides training programs for adolescents, such as Samvad classes and other educational activities. These programs help young people gain valuable knowledge, skills and awareness, making it easier for them to access better opportunities in the future.

SAMVAD is one of the major projects of SAHAS Nepal, supported by Strømme Foundation. It is designed to support the overall development of adolescents. It helps them build personal and professional skills, enhance their abilities, and prepare for a better future.

The word “samvad” means dialogue or conversation between two or more people on a specific topic to exchange ideas and find solutions. Through this project, adolescents can freely share their opinions and discuss issues such as social awareness, life skills, career planning, and personal development. It also organizes programs on social issues, encouraging young people to raise their voices, participate actively, and contribute to positive change in their communities.

Looking Ahead

I believe that poverty in the community can be effectively reduced through improved access to education, increased employment opportunities, vocational training and continued support from governments and organizations. In addition, financial assistance and support for farmers and small businesses can help people become self-reliant and improve their quality of life.

Young people raising awareness in their community through a local campaign