EMPOWERING WOMEN OF NEPAL
Through Empowering Women of Nepal, we support women in pursuing education in tourism. Empowering Women of Nepal (EWN) is based in Pokhara, Nepal, the country's second-largest city and a true mountaineers' paradise at the foot of the Himalayas. In our research on how we could contribute to this initiative, we met Lucky. Lucky, together with her sisters Dicky and Nicky Chhetri, founded EWN and 3Sisters Adventure.
Through EWN, young, disadvantaged women from the mountain regions of Nepal are trained free of charge to become mountain guides. However, the training offers more opportunities than just that. After completing the guide training, during which the women also learn about sustainable tourism, participants can also take free English lessons, a three-month basic computer course, and a rock-climbing course. Experience shows that this offers participants greater job opportunities, allowing them to work in other roles and sectors or even start their own businesses.
When we asked Lucky where our support could make the biggest difference, the answer was funding accommodation so that the poorest women could be given this opportunity.
MOUNTAIN GUIDE FOR (FEMALE) (SOLO) TRAVELLERS
When participants choose to continue as mountain guides, they can find employment through 3Sisters Adventure Trekking. 3Sisters Adventures focuses on tours for female solo or group travellers, travelling families, and academic groups. In addition to Nepal, the sisters are also active in India and Bhutan.
HOW WE SUPPORT EWN
The first six months of training are conducted on-site. Although EWN offers the training for free, the women are required to cover their own accommodation costs. Lucky informed us that this is not feasible for the poorest women. When we asked how we could provide the most support, it became clear that covering accommodation costs would enable the very poorest to seize this opportunity.
We are supporting this goal with €5.000, which will allow us to provide accommodation for approximately three women during the first six months. Additionally, this funding will also cover the costs of the training that they offer to women for free.