Chitrakali comes from the Magar community in the western hills. She
has taken her traditional skills in collecting and weaving wild
Himalayan stinging nettle, and turning the "allo" fibres into a
multitude of products. She now provides indirect employment to
hundreds of women in her district. She is a highly successful
entrepreneur and community leader.
Devaki is from the hills in Nuwarkot, north of Kathmandu. Born into
the highest Brahmin caste, her family lost all that they had during a
major flood. She now lives on a small piece of land, where she leads a
workshop and cooperative, weaving Nepalâs traditional "dhaka" cloth.
Pinki is from the Maithili community of Nepalâs eastern Terai
(plains). Her story shows the changing family dynamics especially in
conservative Hindu societies of the Terai. Her enterprise is based on
an old traditional practice of making bangles from a native tree-sap
called âLahaâ.
Mina comes from a ethnic caste of Kumal, which for generations has
produced clay pots. Now with cheaper plastic products coming from
India and China, they have lost their traditional livelihood. She now
runs her own beauty parlour in remote western Terai (plains).
Durga is from a marginalised ethnic group known as Danuwars, from
the inner-Terai of eastern Nepal. She has endured a difficult life,
living with disability with limited support in her rural village. She
now runs her own enterprise making daalmot (snacks) for the district
market.
Pawa is from a small Badi community on the outskirts of Dailekh
bazaar. The Badi people are one of the most discriminated and
oppressed sub-castes in Nepali society. Considered "untouchables",
they are placed at the bottom even amongst other untouchables. Their
community has begun small-scale pig farming to improve their
livelihoods.
Kalpana is a former âKamaiyaâ (bonded labourer). Now, she runs her
own tailoring enterprise, providing employment and training to other
former female bonded labourers.
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