Nepal / Kathmandu, Women's Center

Originally in Ghaikur, the women's center has now shifted to Kathmandu due to the Maoist conflict. The training center was developed to house the offices for work being done in Nepal. It creates a facility in the capital city where the women from the rural areas can come to learn many different handicraft techniques.It teaches them skills that they can use to provide for their families while keeping their cultural traditions alive.

Its location makes it easy for us to bring in highly qualified professionals to work with the women.

Due to the economic state of Nepal, many families with education or money have also left the region. Gorkha's poverty stricken rural communities feel hopeless against the downward spiral of the economic and cultural development of the region and how this will effect their families.

The women's center, known as "Ashaghar" (House of Hope), is located in Gorkha district, approximately three hours west of Kathmandu in a village called Gaikhur. To get to the center, you cross a sturdy cable bridge from the village of Turture and climb a one hour walk up a hill. The center is strategically placed in the center of a large number of tailor caste families with many skills, but no opportunity to work. Many of the women at the center have survived hardships such as; husbands who have passed away, families plagued by alcoholism or violence or living with physical challenges. In these situations, the women are the only members of the family able to obtain income.

The bottom floor of Ashaghar opens out to a yard and allows for a healthy indoor-outdoor working environment for the women. The climate is mild year-round so the women can enjoy the fresh air, large floral gardens, and views provided by the centers prime location. The upper three floors have been re-decorated to provide comfortable accommodations for visiting designer's and others wishing to come to the center and work with the women.

Talents

The women at the center are well trained in knitting, embroidery, beadwork, quilting, and jewelry making. The staff is flexible in developing new items and quickly learn ways to transform their traditional methods into items for the market today.