About Us
Friends of ADWAN Nepal is a US-based nonprofit organization that promotes awareness about Dalit women and children in rural Nepal. We raise funds and work in partnership with Association for Dalit Women’s Advancement of Nepal (ADWAN), a grassroots NGO in Nepal, to implement high-impact programs that break the cycle of discrimination.
ADWAN has been working to empower women, children, and Dalits who have been marginalized in society since 1998. There are 6,200 Dalit and marginalized women involved from 253 women's groups that benefited: 153,000 +PEOPLE! For these determined rural women the future looks promising. They are true agents of change in a society where intergenerational social ills such as caste-based discriminations, gender-based violence and illiteracy have been replaced by newfound dignity and self-determination.
Friends of ADWAN Nepal champions a grassroots approach to development. In our view, eradicating caste- and gender-based oppression is an integral part of building a just and flourishing society. When Dalit women gain a voice and socioeconomic standing, they transform their communities for the better.
FRIENDS OF ADWAN NEPAL:
OUR STORY
The idea for the Association for Dalit Women’s Advancement of Nepal (ADWAN) was first born when Bishnu Maya Pariyar, a Dalit woman from the Gorkha District of Nepal, began organizing Women’s Groups to challenge the caste system and empower women of all backgrounds. Trusting the wisdom of women, regardless of caste, to define what works best in their village, Bishnu applied this grassroots approach in formally establishing ADWAN in 1998 as a registered nonprofit in Kathmandu. Through the implementation of livelihood programs, human rights workshops, and practices designed to promote the dignity of all human beings, ADWAN has been engaged in the important work of overcoming the barriers of caste and gender discrimination among all marginalized women in Nepal for the past twenty years.
In 2015, Bishnu founded Friends of ADWAN Nepal (FAN), a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit, to serve as the fundraising arm of ADWAN in the United States. Based in Boston, FAN works in concert with ADWAN to raise funds for its programs and to promote its vision of human dignity and the empowerment of low-caste and marginalized women. Together, FAN and ADWAN serve 6,200 rural women from 253 women’s self-help groups in Gorkha, Kailali, Chitwan, Rupandehi, Palpa, Baglung and Tanahu. Currently, there are more than four thousands Dalit and marginalized women involved in these women groups. These rural women are true agents of change in the society where social ills such as caste-based discriminations, gender-based violence and inequalities are holding back their dignity and prosperity. In addition, FAN and ADWAN support numerous children affiliated with the Women’s Groups through sponsorship programs and educational opportunities.
Meet the FAN TEAM
Friends of ADWAN Nepal
Founder & President
Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar, Hon. DLItt.
Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar, Hon. D.Litt. is a recipient of multiple awards and is a scholar, a prolific social entrepreneur, and one of the most admired Nepali-American personalities and founding President of ADWAN.ORG, a rights-based Nepali organization which has supported more than 25,000 children and more than 125,000 Dalit and marginalized women and their family members in Nepal since 1998 and co-founder of Friends of ADWAN (FAN). She is the current FAN President. Dr. Pariyar’s brain-child social integration organization, ADWAN, aims to foster a measure of economic independence, to boost self-esteem, dignity and to instill solidarity among diverse community and build a sense of national pride.
Past President
Joan Goldmann
Joan Goldmann is immediate past President and has been working side by side with Bishnu since 2006. Joan has served on the Board as Sponsorship Coordinator since 2015. She is a psychotherapist in private practice in Lexington, MA.
Executive Board Member
Prof. Dr. Diana J Fox
Prof Diana J Fox (she/hers)is Interim University Director at the Institute for Gender and Development Studies at the Regional Headquarters of the University of the West Indies in Jamaica on leave as Professor of Anthropology at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts, USA. She is a cultural and applied anthropologist, scholar-activist, and documentary film producer. Her work in Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago focuses on issues of gender and sexual diversity, transnational feminisms, and women’s social movement activism for ecological sustainability and the human rights of girls and women.
Executive Board Member
Prof. Dr. Janine Bloomfield
Janine Bloomfield is a seasoned science-based strategic advisor, grants consultant, and communications expert with a passion for driving social impact. With a background in strategic planning, technical communications, policy advising, and program management, she has a proven track record of translating complex scientific and technical information into actionable insights for stakeholders at both the local and national levels.
Previously, as a senior scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund, Janine played a pivotal role in raising awareness about climate change at a critical time. Her work on climate change impacts and forest carbon sequestration was instrumental in influencing national policy and educating diverse audiences, including Congress and the White House.
Janine holds a PhD in Ecosystems Ecology from Yale University, an MS in Biology from Stanford University, and a BA in Biology from Reed College. She has also earned certificates in Software Product Management from the University of Washington and Mindfulness Education.
Executive Board Member
Dipti Parmar
Dipti Parmar bio is being updated.
Director
Sumitra Manandhar
Ms. Sumitra Manandhar is a seasoned development professional with extensive experience in governance, economic empowerment, and program management. She currently serves as the Director of Friends of ADWAN Nepal (FAN), where she leads the organization’s strategy, business development, and advocacy efforts to foster solidarity and transform lives.
Before assuming her role at FAN, Ms. Manandhar dedicated over two decades to the U.S. Mission in Nepal, where she managed bilateral and multilateral programs in collaboration with the governments of Nepal and Afghanistan. Her leadership in these initiatives focused on good governance, economic development, agriculture, education, and private sector growth.
Ms. Manandhar holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from Tri Chandra College, Kathmandu, Nepal. Her career also includes serving as an AID Development Program Specialist in Nepal and a Design Specialist in Afghanistan, where she played a pivotal role in advancing U.S. government initiatives. Additionally, as a co-chair of advisory committees representing Foreign Service Nationals, she worked to address key institutional challenges.
Now based in the United States, Ms. Manandhar continues her mission of advocating for economic empowerment and community development through her leadership at FAN.
We believe in the potential of every woman to embrace who they are, define their future, and change the world.
Our Mission
At Friends of ADWAN Nepal, our mission is to empower Dalit women and children in rural Nepal by providing access to education, healthcare, and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a society where Dalit women and children are treated with dignity, equality, and respect, and have the resources to thrive and lead fulfilling lives.
