Support Education and Livelihoods in rural Nepal

Maya, 32, lives in the challenging landscape of Chitwan, Nepal. She opted to learn how to farm tumeric and ginger, also receiving gender equality training as part of the skills to equip her with her own business, in an environment that many women face the double-discrimination of caste and gender oppression.

Maya undertook the training for 11 months and is now a ginger and tumeric farmer, managing her own crop and finances. Previously unable to consistently provide their children with clothes and schooling, this additional income has been a huge boost for Maya and her husband.

Additionally, through the gender equality training, Maya has formed connections with other women who support each other in work and in the domestic sphere; they have learnt violence, domination and restriction of their movements is not acceptable.  Together, they are stronger than ever.

Maya says of the experience: 'I'm happy to have the chance to attend fruitful skills development and gender equality training. We 15 women from different groups became so close and familiar, we want to work together for long periods through ginger and turmeric farming. The ginger farming is hard work; planting, weeding and digging so we need to have support from our families. We also learnt so many things about gender discrimination. Actually, even things we thought were normal such as male violence and domination, is not. Now we know the forms of discrimination, domination from elders and where and how to file a case against violence. Cultural and social norms are not scientific and natural."

Thank you for supporting this project and empowering Maya and others like her to reach their independence and potential.