Introduction

• Empowering Women of Nepal (EWN) is a local non-profit company, based in Pokhara, which aims to improve the lives of Nepali women and girls through adventure tourism. It was founded by three Nepali sisters, Lucky, Dicky and Nicky Chhetri, who were pioneers in the promotion of female trekking guides in the Himalayas, and was registered in 1999 under Nepal’s Social Organization Act 2034.

• The Chhetri sisters also founded 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking to work in partnership with EWN in promoting and empowering women and girls through adventure tourism. Together, we offer practical skill-based training programs free of cost to the trainees. The training is designed to extend educational, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities to disadvantaged women from all over Nepal, and can be followed by a six-month paid apprenticeship scheme.

• Vision

Our vision is to involve more youths in the adventure field and tourism.

Mission

The mission of this organization is to empower girls and women from various remote places of Nepal and to make them self-reliant, independent and decision making.

Objectives

1. To build the self-confidence

2. To develop their skills and knowledge

3. To encourage them for higher studies

4. To introduce the trainees about different places of Nepal

5. To prepare them to be involved in tourism and trekking field

Program Activities

Regular Program of the organization:

1. Female Trekking Guide Training

2. Rock climbing Training

3. Girls and Boys Leadership Training

4. Cleanliness Program

5. Girls Against Aggression

6. Leadership and Mentorship Training

7. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)

8. School Scholarship Program

9. Workshop and Seminar

10.Others

1. Female Trekking Guide Training

• Twice a year during the trekking off-season, EWN offers an intensive four-week Female Trekking Guide Training Program. The average age of the participants is 20 and, for optimal results, the maximum group size is 40 trainees. The objective is to have participants from different regions of Nepal and for the first six months of the paid apprenticeship scheme a hostel facility is provided for disadvantaged women from rural areas (Karnali Region, Everest, and Langtang).

• This year also 33 girls participated in training from 14th Aug- 9th Sep, 2016. And 36 girls participated in other training that started from 15th Jan- 10th Feb, 2017.

2. Rock climbing Training

• This year rock climbing training started from Mangsir 13 to Poush 6, 2073 where 19 girls took part in the trainnig. With our main guide Mr. Harry Brands and other 6 women who had already taken the training and were working as a guides provided this training to the trainees.

3. Girls and Boys Leadership Training

• With the financial support of Cottier Donze Foundation, EWN has been conducting this training in one of the community school of Pokhara, Shree Rameshwori Secondary School.

4. Cleanliness Program

With collaboration to other organizations EWN has been conducting cleanliness program which is to remove water hyacinth from Fewa Lake. Like wise all three sisters working members and the trainees participated in one of the local cleanliness program.

5. One Billion Rising Day

• Like every year this year also on 14 the Feb, 2017 with collaboration to the organization EWN conducted One Billion Rising Day Program with the slogan “ Enjoy in the street and dance in the street”.

6. Leadership and Mentoring Training

Nine female guides from EWN and 3 sisters Trekking Company participated in 10 days Empowering Girls Leadership Camp on the sponsorship and invitation of Soccer without border and Women Win from 14-24 July, 2016. They learnt different leadership development games and skills and implemented it on schools of 3 different districts Tanahun, Myagdi and Nawalparasi to

153 students.

7. STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Maths)

• With the objective of providing technical and practical knowledge to girls studying in Government schools EWN conducted 2 days Training of Teachers Skills Program on 17-18 April, 2017 to teachers from 7 different schools.

8. Student Scholarship Program

• This organization have been helping 13 children economically to get education in different government and private schools. According the requirement this organization have been helping children even after their SEE.

9. Workshop and Seminars

• The staff members and the members of this organization have been continuously participating in various seminars. Likewise, the founder of this organization Lucky K. Chhetri and the trekking guide Khima Thapa took part in Women Adventure Explore program on 7th Oct, 2016 in Bristol, Britain.

• Also, the founder Lucky K. Chhetri participated in tourism related program in Netherland.

Other Programs

Language and Leadership Class

• Usually many volunteers from different countries visit the organization every year, they provide English, French, German language classes to the girls.

• Likewise, many classes about skills and leadership development have been conducted every year specially including Female Trekking Guide Training.

Homestay Training

• With the intent of providing support in the economic status of local people of earthquake affected areas, EWN conducted 6 days Homestay training in Sindhupalchok on 21st May, 2017.

16 days Expedition Against Gender Violence

• Every year from 25th Nov- 10th Dec EWN in collaboration with Three Sisters Adventure Trekking is conducting 16 days expedition against Gender Violence. This year also through street drama there was an awareness program about Gender Violence. Also, the students from GOAL program of Shree Bindhyabasini School presented a drama against Gender Violence.

Volleyball Competition

• On 19th Sep, 2016 EWN conducted inter Volleyball competition for adolescent girls of community schools of Tanahun and Kaski who had already taken the leadership training. Girls from 6 different schools participated in this competition.

Computer Grant for school students

• With an objective of supporting students to get technical knowledge, EWN provided a computer to Shree Jana Chetana Primary School situated at Bhalam, Kaski district.

Cash Handover

• With the help of Women Win, EWN handover the cash of NRs. Five Lakh Twenty-Five Thousand (5,25,000)to Mrs. Laxmi Sunar one of the guides of 3 sisters who was survived from Aeroplane crash in Jumla.

Goal Camp

• With the financial support of United Way Worldwide, EWN conducted 5 days GOAL camp for 50 adolescent boys and girls in Shanti Secondary School located at Bhankunde on 26th Dec, 2016.