WSDO Book_5x8_pages FINAL

WOMEN'S
SKILLS

DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZATION

An Introduction to our Organization and Activities

© WSDO 2018

Women’s Skills Development Organization

An Introduction to our Organization and Activities



Contents

Message from the Chairperson vi

Message from the Executive Director vii

Message from WFTO viii

PART 1. OUR STORY 1
A legacy of women’s empowerment 1
Brief history of weaving in Nepal 3
Artisanal and ethical production 5

PART 2. OUR VALUES 9

Vision and mission 9

5-year strategy plan 9

Principles of fair trade 10

Extending inclusive opportunities 11

Social programs and affiliations 13

PART 3. OUR TEAM 17

Organizational structure 17

Past and present board members 19

Life members 21

Capacity building volunteers 22

PART 4. BIOGRAPHIES OF OUR MEMBERS 25
v

Message from the Chairperson

Dear all,
It is my wish that through our

traditional craftsmanship, we
continue to share our love and
spirit with the world. For us,
cultivating our art of weaving
on a backstrap loom has become
an important way to empower
women in Nepal with new skills,
promote sustainable practices and continue to reveal the creativity and
beauty of our culture.
Though in my later years now, I still remember being one of the
first women trained to weave by WSDO. Truthfully, if my eyes only
allowed it, I would still be weaving today. When you make something
with your own hands, and the cotton flows through your fingers, you
put something of yourself in it—and in this way, it is much stronger and
enduring. With each item we make, we not only continue a valuable
tradition, but also help balance the momentum toward products that
are disposable and mass produced.
My hope is that with new abilities, women in Nepal themselves
become inspired, stronger and more resilient, and that they can equally
create opportunities for themselves and their children.
In the future, I hope that the local market also grows to appreciate
our craft and the ways in which we try to present Nepal and our artistry
to the world around us.
Thank you for sharing in our story.

Sincerely,
Bandi Kumari Gurung

vi

Message from the Executive Director

Dear all,
Let me take this opportunity

to thank you for considering
what we do. Even with many
social and political reforms over
the last decade, women in Nepal
continue to face very palpable
challenges.

As access to education remains
a significant hurdle for women in our society, my primary focus has
always been on ensuring that women, expressly those experiencing the
most difficult of social and economic hardships, have the opportunity
to gain those skills, which can enable them to be self-reliant and
support their children and families in a positive way. Not only is
WSDO dedicated to empowering women with new skills—having
offered trainings to well over 12 000 women already—but also, to the
development of the women’s confidence in their own capacities and
strengths. It is with these convictions in hand that women can actively
participate in decisions that shape their communities.

Trying to stay resilient to the changing markets and trends, I am
overjoyed that the items we produce continue to be admired by so
many around the world. By choosing our handmade products, you are
connecting with women who have overcome adversities to discover
their potentials to become artisans in their own right, and to whom
I am dedicated to. With this, I wish to share my sincere gratitude and
appreciation for your support.

Thanking you, best regards,
Ramkali Khadka

vii

Message from the World Fair Trade Organization

Dear Ramkali Khadka and friends of WSDO,
It is with great pleasure that I write a message

for this publication.
First of all, I would like to congratulate you

from the depths of my heart for all the time since
1975 that you have empowered poor, vulnerable
and excluded women in your country.
You started with just three working women and a derelict property
in Pokhara. Since then, your organization has grown to a remarkable
network with a wide range of activities.
The dedication of your organization to support marginalized women
in Nepal, the global network of partners that you have built and your
contribution to create Fair Trade Group Nepal and other solidarity
networks in your country is remarkable.
The market for fair trade handicrafts is becoming more and more
challenging, and great effort is needed to be able to guarantee continuous
work for the women, which you support. Luckily, there are still new
opportunities for fair trade products that can be explored. WFTO will
do its best to support all our fair trade Guaranteed Members to explore
these new opportunities so that you may continue to follow your
vision—to improve the quality of life for all women in Nepal.
No doubt that it continues to be necessary to create and support skill
development opportunities in the handicraft sector that augment the
social and economic status of marginalized women in Nepal.
In the name of WFTO, I wish you and the whole WSDO team a lot
of dynamism, enthusiasm and creativity to continue the excellent work,
which has been done for more than 40 years in support of marginalized
women in your country.

Warm greetings,

Rudi Dalvai
WFTO President

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OUR STORY

A Legacy of Women’s Empowerment

Women’s Skills Development Organization (WSDO) was
created more than 40 years ago. It was the product of both crisis
and extraordinary vision. The crisis came in the form of long-
standing social and gender inequalities in Nepal. The vision came
from a group of women who realized that enabling marginalized
women to learn and develop new skills can transform their lives
and communities.

The organization’s history began on International Women’s
Day (March 8) in 1975, when a group of Nepalese women formed
an association known as the Women’s Skills Development
Project to empower poor, vulnerable and excluded women—
who had no education, were dependent on or abused by their
husbands, or generally in poor health due to a lack of money
and other tough circumstances. Their insight was to teach these
women new skills related to making handicrafts.

The project started with an investment of Rs 10000, just three
working women and derelict property in Pokhara that had been
granted by the local municipality.

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In 1977, Ramkali Khadka joined the project and materialized
its vision with formal programs and activities. At this time,
trainings in sewing, cutting and knitting were provided,
educational courses were held, health trainings as well as facilities
were established, awareness on women’s rights and health was
raised, advice on family planning and childbirth was offered,
and counseling to help abused women was arranged. Over time,
the main focus became creating and sustaining employment
opportunities for women to become financially independent.

When democracy was introduced in Nepal in 1990, many non-
governmental organizations that focused on health, education
and human rights were established, and the Women’s Skills
Development Project started to provide greater empowerment
and employment opportunities, even for differently abled
women, along with offering high quality, free vocational
trainings in making handicrafts.

Due to the increasing interest in, and popularity of, the project
and its results, commercial activities started in the early 1990s.

In 1994, the Women’s Skills Development Project was
formally registered in the District Administration Office (Kaski),
and in 1996 became a founding member of Fair Trade Group
Nepal. In 2003, it joined the World Fair Trade Organization and
with that, customer numbers began to greatly increase.

Since many people questioned the longevity and monetary
support of the Women’s Skills Development “Project”, in
2010 the association changed the last component of its name
to “Organization” to ensure its permanence and ability to exist
without financial aid.

WSDO experienced an unforeseen setback in 2015, when it
had to give up its established premises, which for forty years,
it had developed, enhanced and adjusted. The then thriving
WSDO was forced to move when the District Development
Committee claimed back its once granted land. After one year of
searching, new property was found nearby, but the task to make

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

the organization what it was before the relocation proved to be
a great challenge.

Since its inception, WSDO has also weathered other challenges.
The search for markets where contemporary, handmade
products would sell, and designing the right products at the right
time was difficult. That said, the organization has been able to
grow steadily with more and more women showing interest in
the trainings and employment opportunities offered, and with
more customers supporting WSDO’s artisanal craft and ethical
production practices.

Today, as WSDO continues to grow, it remains hopeful that it
can play an important role in transforming the lives of women
in Nepal.

Brief History of Weaving in Nepal

The backstrap loom, common among the Gurung and used by
the women of WSDO, is thought to be the oldest form of loom
in the world.

In the region of Pokhara, where WSDO is based, along the
slopes of the Annapurna Mountain Range, live the Gurung,
whose cultural traditions incorporate elements of both Tibeto-
Burman and Indo-Aryan origins. The Gurung were traditionally
herdsmen, but in the early 20th century they became skilled
agriculturists and reputed soldiers (Ghurkas). The continued
employment of Ghurka soldiers in the Nepalese, Indian, British
and Brunei military has been a valuable source of income for the
community. A smaller but longer established source of income
was, and continues to be, based on the extraordinary skill of
the Gurung weavers who most likely started the textile trade
in Nepal. They are famous for their traditional woolen blankets
(rari), which are still valuable trade items today.

The primary feature of the backstrap loom, an entirely non-
mechanized instrument, is that the lengthwise threads (warp)

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are secured from a post or other stationary object to a backstrap
that a woman wears around her waist. By moving her body, the
woman can control the amount of tension in the warp threads
throughout the weaving process.

a. warp bar; b. shed rod; c. heddle rod; d. sword; e. bobbin; f. backstrap; g. warp
lashing; h. heading string; i. lease cord; j. leash cord; k. warp; l. weft

To weave, the threads are stretched in a horizontal direction
and a means is provided so that the threads are separated into
two or more parts. A weft is then drawn through, inserted over-
and-under the warp threads. The warp threads can then be
reversed and a weft thread passed through again. By repeating
this process, fabric is woven creating a strong and tightly bound
cloth that allows a remarkable variety of beautifully inlaid
designs.

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

Artisanal and Ethical Production

WSDO is dedicated to beautiful, stylish items that are made
ethically and responsibly. Our products are traditional and
craft-based yet with a contemporary touch. We make the finest
quality handwoven and handmade products using 100% cotton
imported from India (mostly from fair trade raw material, but
also from non-fair trade suppliers who are from disadvantaged
and economically challenged backgrounds) and allo wool from
nettle growing in the foothills of the Himalayas.

WSDO trains and employs women artisans that face
difficult and significant social and economic hardships—being
differently abled, abused, widowed, divorced, single, orphaned
or of marginalized castes. These women are provided with free
trainings on the different steps of making our products as well
as on business management and various other skills related to
making handicrafts. All of this is meant to enable them to plan
for the future and become self-supportive.

As our production process is long, a lot of time, hard work,
dedication and care go into our products. First, the cotton must
be boiled, washed, dyed (where possible with natural products
like tea, iron, copper, persimmon, pomegranate and Nepalese
hops—or with Azo-free dyes) and washed again. After drying
in the sun, the cotton is balled and loomed, before it is ready
for weaving on a backstrap loom. In the meantime, products
are designed and drafted, and the woven cloths are then cut and
sewn into one of our lovely items. Lastly, every single item runs
through a strict quality check before it is packed, shipped and
sold in the local or global market. So, by the time our products
are ready for purchase, they have run through 12 different steps
and taken at least a week to make.

While we proudly produce our own designs, we also welcome
inquiries on customized products and colour options.

5

Today, almost eighty percent of our goods are exported—
mostly to Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea, but also to Australia,
Canada, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and
the United Kingdom.

Our products are available in retail shops in Nepal (in
Kathmandu and Pokhara), from a number of international
retailers and by placing orders directly with us. For identification
and authenticity, all our products are labelled with a WSDO
logo and “Handmade in Nepal” label.

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OUR VALUES

Vision

To improve the quality of life for all women in Nepal.

Mission

To create and support skill development opportunities in the
handicraft sector, which augment the social and economic status
of poor, vulnerable and excluded women in Nepal.

5-Year Strategy Plan

To achieve our vision and mission, our current strategy plan
prioritizes 6 key areas:

1. Training and education: Expanding women’s opportunities
with diversified vocational trainings and education programs
2. Employment and empowerment: Promoting women’s
economic empowerment with productive employment

9

3. Efficiency and infrastructure development: Improving
production efficiency through technology and innovation, and
extending education and employment opportunities through
the establishment of new branch offices

4. Outreach and engagement: Participating in promotion
and outreach activities, and forging strong, collaborative
relationships with local and international stakeholders

5. Social welfare and community wellness: Increasing
members’ health and well-being with the provision of free
biannual medical checkups and scholarships for children

6. Active fundraising: Growing annual fundraising revenue
by utilizing existing, strong relationships with supporters and
gaining more active support from the local community

Principles of Fair Trade

In 1996, WSDO became a founding member of Fair Trade
Group Nepal and since 2003, WSDO has also been a registered
member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).

In 2016, after having successfully completed the WFTO
Guarantee System process, we became their 100th Guaranteed
Member. The guaranteed member status means that we have
complied with the global standard for fair trade organizations
and passed the fair trade verification process of the WFTO
Guarantee System. This process is the first international fair
trade system that verifies organizations on their compliance
with the principles of fair trade, and ensures that improvements
are consistently carried out over the years through a scheduled
monitoring scheme. In this way, we have joined the ranks of fair
trade organizations worldwide that are implementing fair trade
best practices in their daily business operations.

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

WSDO is proudly guided by the principles of fair trade:

Extending Inclusive Opportunities

WSDO is committed to continually growing skill development
opportunities for poor, vulnerable and excluded women. For
this reason, WSDO has established branch offices that are
located around the more rural outer limits of Pokhara. They
are a kind of unification with several Nepalese Mothers’ Groups
(Aama Samuha).

Dating back almost 200 years, Mothers’ Groups are one of the
oldest civil society groups in Nepal. Although their name seems
to suggest that they focus only on women’s issues, this is not the
case. They work to improve women’s lives, but as part of their
overall goal of improving social welfare, peace and prosperity
for all.

Over the years, WSDO has united with Mothers’ Groups
around Pokhara to establish branch offices that provide training

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and employment opportunities for marginalized women. The
branch offices also help alleviate some of the challenges and
expenses for rural women to travel into the city for employment.

As opposed to our head office in Pokhara, which oversees the
entire production process, our branch offices focus on teaching
and employing weavers. They also provide trainings, which
are meant to increase awareness and knowledge of community
issues around health, nutrition and the environment.

Office Date Established

Bajhapatan Branch October 7, 2004

Rithepani Branch September 28, 2011

Lamachaur Branch July 1, 2014

Sainik Basti Branch January 26, 2018

The establishment and sustainability of each branch office is a
genuine reflection of the dedication to, and vision for, women’s
empowerment within each community. The women of each
branch office seek not only to improve their own condition, but
also of their environment.

In this spirit, and with a sense of responsibility toward the
wider community, WSDO partnered with a Canadian non-
profit organization—Meaningful Volunteer—in 2013 to support
the construction of a solar powered child day care centre in
Rithepani. The land for the preschool was generously donated
by Bir Lower Secondary School, and is located just down the
road from the Rithepani Branch Office.

Today, the child day care centre offers a free educational
program for children aged 3 to 5 and is managed by Hema
Gurung, a former weaver of WSDO. It has been running since
early 2014 and has already seen 3 cohorts, each consisting of
20 preschoolers, pass through its doors. In 2017, a playground
was added to further support the preschoolers development,
including their motor and social skills. Not only is the centre a

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

benefit for the women weavers and their children, but also for
the village’s many impoverished families.

Social Programs and Affiliations

WSDO differs in many respects from other manufacturers.
Although we produce a wide range of handmade products of the
highest quality, we are a non-profit fair trade organization with
the goal to empower women who are disadvantaged in any way.
The women of WSDO are not only regarded as employees, but
rather as family. In this way, we not only employ the women to
be able to earn their livelihoods, but also:

• Comply with the principles and practices of WFTO;
• Ensure women can manage both family commitments and

employment by requiring no production quotas, instead
paying women per item and working on a flexible hourly
basis;
• Provide women with free annual health check-ups and
arrange health and hygiene awareness camps for them and
their families;
• Enable continuing education opportunities by involving
WSDO teachers and staff in national and international
trainings as well as providing various types of refresher

13

courses to our established workers, participation in
handicraft fashion-show programs and both national and
international exhibitions, and offering English language
training when possible;
• Provide a cooperative savings and credit program, where
women can save money for the future and can obtain a loan
with nominal interest; for the senior teachers, WSDO has
a savings program where women can deposit 10% of their
monthly earnings in an interest-bearing account;
• Recognize women’s work by awarding cash prizes for the
best worker, providing clothing allowance, 60 days paid
maternity leave, and emergency allowance;
• Organize educational tours to cultural sites and organizations,
social programs, outdoor activities such as picnics, and
cultural celebrations for festivals such as Teej and Dashain;
• Organize celebrations to observe International Women’s
Day (March 8), World Fair Trade Day (the second Saturday
of May), Teej (generally in late August or early September)
and Home-Based Workers Day (October 20);
• Take care of the women’s children by offering scholarships
between Rs 1000 and Rs 7000 depending on the family’s
financial situation, and awarding cash prizes for best-in-
class or best-in-studies; and
• Provide a new dress each year for the women who help
maintain our premises.

We also care about our supply chain and the environment, and:

• Try to use fair trade products as raw materials along with
eco-friendly (natural and Azo-free) dyes; and

• Cooperate with non-fair trade suppliers who are from
disadvantaged and economically challenged backgrounds.

Further to our self-directed activities, we are actively involved

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

and affiliated with a variety of organizations and associations
to promote the advancement of the socio-economic status of
underprivileged and marginalized women.

Organization Member since
2017
PaCo (Partner Comité e.V.) 2014
NGO Federation of Nepal 2011
(Founder Member of) Kaski Handicraft
Association 2011
Federation of Handicraft Associations of
Nepal 2007
(Founder Member of) Human Rights
Organization Kaski 2009
Homenet South Asia 2003
World Fair Trade Organization 2002
Asia Fair Trade Forum 1996
(Founder Member of) Fair Trade Group
Nepal 1995
Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and
Industry

Other organizations with similar values with whom we also
work closely include Oxfam Australia, CTM Altromercato,
Citizens’ Committee in Japan for Overseas Support (Shapla
Neer) and Fair Trade Korea.

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OUR TEAM

Organizational Structure

WSDO is an non-governmental organization, which
mobilizes the sale of handwoven products in order to create and
sustain vocational trainings and employment opportunities for
marginalized women in Nepal. The organizational structure of
WSDO can be divided into three entities: Board Members, Staff
Members and Workers.

Following WSDO’s constitution, a meeting of the general
membership of the organization is arranged annually to (1)
approve WSDO’s annual budget for the coming year, (2) review
audit reports and choose auditors, (3) determine the nomination
and election of board members, and (4) distribute scholarships
and prizes.

In the day-to-day, staff members report to the Executive
Director and are responsible for the regular functioning and
implementation of programs and activities:

Name Position

Ramkali Khadka Founder and Executive Director

17

Bishnu Prasad Baral Accounting
Mina Khadka Accounting
Anup Khadka Marketing
Nanda Gurung Export Assistant
Maishree Gurung Retail Sales
Manisha Kumal Office Assistant

As our production process is long and complex, there is a
woman responsible for each department:

Name Department

Shanti Maya Thapa Production

Sita Devi Thapa Weaving

Bandana Adhikari Dyeing

Surya Kumari Pandey Cutting

Suni Maya Ale Raw Materials

Dikshya Pariyar Design

Chu Maya Purja Toys & Dolls

Bhagwati Dhakal Quality

Bibi Maya Gurung Packaging

For their part, teachers are committed to developing and
ensuring our members’ skills and products’ high quality:

Name Position

Lalu Gurung Senior Teacher

Gahamati Gurung Teacher

There is also a woman responsible for production at each
branch office:

Name Branch Office

Nanda Shree Gurung Bajhapatan

Anjana Gurung Rithepani

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

Prem Kumari Gurung Lamachaur

Nila Gurung Sainik Basti

Lastly, the day-to-day running of WSDO is also supported by:

Name Position

Dal Bahadur Kumal Driver

Ruma Shrestha Day Security Guard

Rupa Gurung Night Security Guard

Past and Present Board Members

At WSDO, board members play a critical role in our
development and sustained success. All board members are
volunteers who protect and maintain our core values and
purposes. As a collective body, they hold the authority and
responsibility to ensure our fiscal health and fulfillment of our
mission—to improve the quality of life for all women in Nepal.

2018 to Present

Bandi Kumari Gurung (Chairperson)
Kashi Maya Gurung (Vice Chairperson)
Tara Garbuja (Secretary)
Nanda Shree Gurung (Treasurer)
Sharada B.K. (Member)
Laxmi Shrestha (Member)
Bimala Devi Adhikari (Member)
Nila Gurung (Member)
Sita Ranabhat (Member representing differently abled persons)
Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson
(Advisor)

2016 to 2018

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Bandi Kumari Gurung (Chairperson)
Kashi Maya Gurung (Vice Chairperson)
Ramkali Khadka (Secretary)
Suni Maya Ale (Treasurer)
Kalpana B.K. (Member)
Tara Garbuja (Member)
Kanya Maya Gurung (Member)
Laxmi Shrestha (Member)
Kamala Gurung (Member)
Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson
(Advisor)

2013 to 2016

Bandi Kumari Gurung (Chairperson)
Kashi Maya Gurung (Vice Chairperson)
Ramkali Khadka (Secretary)
Suni Maya Ale (Treasurer)
Kalpana B.K. (Member)
Tara Garbuja (Member)
Kanya Maya Gurung (Member)
Laxmi Shrestha (Member)
Kamala Gurung (Member)
Kaski Women Development Officer (Advisor)
Kaski Local Development Officer (Advisor)
Kaski District Development Community Chairperson (Advisor)
Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson
(Advisor)

2006 to 2013

Bandi Kumari Gurung (Chairperson)
Kashi Maya Gurung (Vice Chairperson)
Ramkali Khadka (Secretary)

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

Suni Maya Ale (Treasurer)
Kalpana B.K. (Member)
Kaski Women Development Officer (Advisor)
Kaski Local Development Officer (Advisor)
Kaski District Development Community Chairperson (Advisor)
Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson
(Advisor)

1995 to 2006

Maya Sharma (Chairperson)
Surya Kumari Pandya (Vice Chairperson)
Ramkali Khadka (Secretary)
Lalu Gurung (Treasurer)
Devi Gurung (Member)
Kaski Women Development Officer (Advisor)
Kaski Local Development Officer (Advisor)
Kaski District Development Community Chairperson (Advisor)
Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson
(Advisor)

Life Members

As a non-governmental organization in Nepal, there is an
annual fee for membership at WSDO. Most members contribute
approximately Rs 50-100 annually, while life members are
women who have already contributed Rs 15000 and so, are dues-
exempt for the rest of their lives.

Name Year

Ramkali Khadka 1996

Bandi Kumari Gurung 2006

Kashi Maya Gurung 2006

Lalu Gurung 2008

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Shanti Maya Thapa 2010

Surya Kumari Pandey 2010

Bimala Adhikari 2010

Saraswati Gurung 2010

Sita Devi Thapa 2010

Gajmati Gurung 2010

Devi Gurung 2013

Maishree Gurung 2013

Suni Maya Ale 2013

Mina Khadka 2013

Anjana Gurung 2013

Bhagwati Dhakal 2013

Nanda Shree Gurung 2013

Capacity Building Volunteers

Over the years, we have warmly welcomed numerous
international volunteers who have generously come to share
their time and expertise to help build and better the capacity of
WSDO. Volunteers, whether short or long term, are invaluable
to our mission and help us maintain the momentum of our
projects, productivity and innovation.

Our volunteers have contributed to strengthening our skills
and processes and their energy and dedication have profoundly
influenced our abilities to meet market demands, solve problems
and achieve our mission of creating positive change for women
in Nepal.

We gladly accept volunteers at any given time throughout
the year, especially in the areas of product design, marketing,
financial management, business development and women’s
empowerment.

Volunteers who have stayed with us for an extended period
include:

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

Name Program Year(s) Role
2017-2018 Design &
Barbara Kubica CECI1 Communications
2016 & Management &
Jacob Alkema PUM2 2017 Production
2016 Communications
Laurie Santiago 2016 Communications

Rowan Kristy 2014 Communications

Bell 2011 Research
2007-2010 Design
Rebecca Karmalaya3 2005-2007 Design
2002-2005 Design
Ramirez 2002-2004 Marketing

Toyoko Uesaka JICA4 1993-1995 Marketing
1990-1992 Design
Yuko Toda JICA

Sanae Akaza JICA

Yuka Matsucra JICA

Darren PEACE

Defendiffer CORPS5

Teresa Nun VSO6

Anna Mackrill VSO

1 Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (Canada)
2 PUM Netherlands Senior Experts (Netherlands)
3 Karmalaya Heart Work & Soul Travel (Austria)
4 Japan International Cooperation Agency (Japan)
5 Peace Corps (United States)
6 Voluntary Service Overseas (United Kingdom)

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BIOGRAPHIES OF OUR MEMBERS

Flowers of empowerment.

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SITA DEVI THAPA

Weaving Department Head · Member since 1993

Sita Devi Thapa was born in 1977 in Pokhara, the youngest
of 4 children. Owing to a lack of irrigation around her home,
her parents farmed mostly sugar cane and buckwheat. Sita’s
childhood was rife with challenges as her father passed away
when she was a little girl, and her mother is deaf mute.

At the age of 16, Sita was introduced to WSDO through her
neighbour. She first started as a weaver and over time grew into
a leadership position overseeing the entire weaving department.

Today, Sita is married to a house painter, and they have 2
sons, the eldest of which is currently pursuing medical school
in Kathmandu. While Sita had previously only attended
school until 6th grade, she is now being tutored after work to
complete her higher secondary education. Going back to school
is something she has always wanted to do and passing her 12th
grade exams will bring an added sense of accomplishment.

Having dedicated the last 25 years to WSDO, she is also one
of our life members. Her vision for WSDO is that unskilled
women, like she once was, continue to have the opportunity to
secure work and earn a living by working with the organization.
For herself, she finds her employment fulfilling and one that
continues to get better as time goes on.

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

MANISHA KUMAL

Office Assistant · Member since 2017
Manisha Kumal was born in 1997 in Syangja district, just
south of Pokhara. At a young age, she and her mother moved to
Pokhara where she started school.
Today, Manisha still lives with her mother. Both have lost
touch with her father who travels abroad for work for years at
a time and does not share his remittance with either of them.
Fortunately, Manisha’s mother is happily employed as a day
care assistant at a Montessori school. As for Manisha, after
earning her School Leaving Certificate after 10th grade, she is
now completing her higher secondary education with a focus on
commerce. At the same time, Manisha has been fortunate to put
her skills in English and previous work experience in accounting
to use as she has been hired to assist with the administration of
WSDO’s cooperative savings and credit program. She finds this
work fulfilling and aligned with her skills.
Traditionally, Manisha would be expected to marry at this
time in her life, but instead, she first wants to be self-sufficient
before settling down with a family of her own. She hopes to
continue working at WSDO for years to come and is dedicated
to supporting her mother with whom she wholeheartedly shares
50% of her own income.

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

BANDANA ADHIKARI

Dyeing Department Head · Member since 2001
Bandana Adhikari was born in 1985 in Pokhara. She went to
school when she was very young, but as the eldest of 4 children,
when her father got married to another woman and left the
family, she stopped attending. Despite this, her younger brothers
and sister continued with their education. Today, she can read
and write in Nepali, but does not consider herself well educated.
During her teenage years, Bandana learned about WSDO from
her mother who worked here as a seamstress, and at the age of
16, Bandana was employed by WSDO. In the first few months,
she was trained on how to braid cotton, but quickly realized she
could earn more money working in the dyeing department and
re-trained to switch positions.
From the outset, many consider the dyeing process very
physically demanding, but for Bandana, it did not compare to
the labour-intensive work she had been doing before WSDO. At
16, she felt fit and prepared for this position, and over the years
has become responsible for the dyeing department.
Today, Bandana is married to a mechanic, and they have 2 sons.
She is happy in her position and appreciates that there is still
a lot to learn and accomplish in her role. Most of all, Bandana
wishes for happiness in her life.

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RAN MAYA GURUNG

Seamstress · Member since 2005

Ran Maya Gurung was born in 1971 in Lamjung district, just
north-east of Pokhara, and is her parents’ only child. She never
attended school and though she has taken classes as a mature
student, she does not consider herself well educated.

During her childhood, Ran Maya’s mother used to care for the
family, managing household affairs and doing housework. As for
her father, he worked on a farm quite far away from home. He
would often return to their home during the monsoon season
but go back again in the dry season.

Ran Maya was married at the age of 18 and they had 1 son who
is now in his 20s. While her husband works in a government
office, her son works small jobs in the city.

Ran Maya first learned of WSDO after hearing the name
of Ramkali Khadka, our Executive Director, being whispered
around town. One day she decided to seek out the organization
and inquire about employment opportunities.

Ran Maya first started as a weaver, before leaving for a few
years to help with familial duties. She eventually returned to
WSDO in 2005 and has worked as a seamstress ever since. It is
work she knows well and can see herself happily employed here
well into her later years.

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

GOMA GURUNG

Office Helper · Member since 2017
Goma Gurung was born in 1969 in Thakudwara, nearly 500
km south-west of Pokhara. She is not quite certain of her date
of birth, but 1969 is the year she goes by now. Goma remembers
attending 1st grade, but doubts completing 2nd grade.
Goma was married at a very young age and is the mother of
one daughter, her eldest, and three sons, all of whom live with
her. She suffered a lot with her husband, who has since left her
family and lives with another wife. Her oldest daughter attended
school until 5th grade, and her sons have each furthered their
education. Her youngest is now in 7th grade, and the two others
have both passed their School Leaving Certificates after 10th
grade.
Goma learned about WSDO through her daughter who works
as a night guard, looking after our premises after hours. It is her
daughter who encouraged her to ask about work opportunities
at WSDO, and it has now been over a year that Goma has been
helping clean and maintain the office environments, including
our garden.
Goma has experienced suffering in her life but believes that
things are getting better. She wishes that in due time, pains of
her life are erased, and her children have better and happier lives.

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

BHIM KUMARI GURUNG

Weaver · Member since 2007
Bhim Kumari Gurung was born in 1981 in Kaski district and
is the eldest of 3 children. She does not remember her father well
as he died when she was very little. As a young girl, she attended
school only until 8th grade.
Bhim Kumari was married at the age of 17 and had a son the
following year. Sadly, the decade-long Maoist rebellion in Nepal
(1996-2006) was a very trying time for her family. Her husband
was ‘disappeared’ from Kaski district, and she has never heard
from him since. The civil unrest also forced her younger siblings
out of school.
After the Civil War ended, Bhim Kumari relocated to Pokhara
and almost immediately started working as a weaver at WSDO.
She thought about joining the dyeing department, but as a
single mom to a young boy, it suited her well to be close to
the Bajhapatan Branch Office and be able to weave from home.
Today, she simply checks in with the branch office about once a
week to collect materials and submit finished weavings.
Presently, Bhim Kumari’s brother is working as a plumber
in the Persian Gulf and her sister has returned to school and
is in 12th grade, as is Bhim Kumari’s son. On the whole, she is
grateful for WSDO for helping her with a new lease on life.

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JUNA KUMAL TAMANG

Braider · Member since 2013

Juna Kumal Tamang was born in 1989 in the village of Gaikhur
and is the second of 8 children. At the age of 7, Juna started
losing her eyesight and was pulled out of school. At the age of 11,
she started living in a government-run boarding school for the
visually-impaired and would return home only for the holidays.

Upon completing her School Leaving Certificate after 10th
grade, Juna moved to Pokhara. And, when she was married at
the age of 19, she stopped pursuing further education. While
Juna’s husband is also blind, their young children, a daughter and
son, are both sighted.

It is through her husband that Juna learned about WSDO, who
had heard about the organization while working as an incense
salesman. At WSDO, Juna was trained on how to braid ropes,
which are integral to many of our designs. They serve as straps,
edges, seams and pockets on our products.

Juna has always been keen to learn new skills, and feels
supported by WSDO, which has tried to break down barriers
for employment for blind and partially sighted women in Nepal.
While she is faced with many challenges on a daily basis, like
getting to work safely and on time, she is thankful for the
sisterhood and encouragement she receives at WSDO.

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

MAN KUMARI THAPA

Cutting Assistant · Member since 2008
Man Kumari Thapa was born in 1975 in Baglung district and is
the second of 4 children. When she was young, her father joined
the Indian Army and never came back, leaving her mother to
care for her and her siblings.
While Man Kumari can read and write, she cannot remember
which grade she reached. Her teenage years also coincided with
a time of much civil unrest in Nepal, with Maoist rebels forcing
families out of their villages. And so, when she was married at
the age of 17, the two quickly left for Pokhara.
Man Kumari and her husband have 3 daughters, the youngest
of which are twins. After an illness in her childhood, their eldest
became deaf mute and because of their lack of finances they could
not treat her. She is now 20, and with no higher-level schools
nearby for the deaf mute, her schooling finished after 12th grade.
Man Kumari’s husband is a cook at the Police Headquarters,
and it is through an organization dedicated to supporting the
families of police officers that she learned about WSDO. Since
the beginning, she has been helping in the cutting department
by preparing the woven fabrics before they are sewn. Today, she
is grateful for the successes and opportunities that WSDO has
provided her with, like being able to send her children to school.

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

DEVI GURUNG

Rithepani Branch Chairperson · Member since mid 1980s
Devi Gurung was born in 1961 in Dharamsala, India and is the
second of 5 children. When her father retired from the Indian
Army in 1965, the whole family returned to Nepal and resettled
in Rithepani, in the rural outskirts of Pokhara.
After retirement, Devi’s father dedicated his time to the
community of Rithepani and among his contributions, began a
project to bring safe drinking water to the village.
Unlike her two youngest siblings, the oldest three never
attended school. At the age of 19, Devi was married, and she
and her policeman husband remained in Rithepani with their 3
children, who each completed their secondary level education.
In the 1980s, Devi had the opportunity to participate in
trainings to learn to sew and knit. It is then that she met Ramkali
Khadka and eventually found her way to WSDO where she
learned to weave. With her membership number being 20, Devi
is one of WSDO’s pioneer weavers, life members and a champion
for the women of Rithepani. It is she who proposed and helped
sustain the momentum for a branch office in her community.
Today, she is extremely grateful for the opportunities that
WSDO has provided for her sisters of Rithepani and hopes that
WSDO continues to empower women well into the future.

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BHAGWATI DHAKAL

Quality Department Head · Member since 1998

Bhagwati Dhakal was born in 1976 in the village of Purkot
and is the third of 5 children. During her childhood, she faced
many struggles as her parents were poor and at the age of 12, she
started working in the fields to help pay for her own schooling.

Bhagwati completed her School Leaving Certificate after 10th
grade, and in the mid 1990s, she moved to an area in Pokhara
where many women were being employed by WSDO. Because
of her own situation, she too grew interested in the organization
and the employment opportunities it offered.

Bhagwati had a daughter in 1999 and a son in 2002. Having
children motivated her to provide them with good lives. And,
since her husband showed little care or interest in the family, she
took on all the household responsibilities.

It has now been 20 years that she has been employed by WSDO.
At first, Bhagwati was trained in weaving and sewing, and now
she has taken on more duties. For the last 6 years, she has been
helping manage the quality department, which is accountable for
the meticulous inspection of each product before it is sold.

Today, her daughter is finishing her higher secondary
education, and while Bhagwati sometimes considers going back
to school, her devotion to familial responsibilities prevent her.

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

YAM KUMARI GURUNG

Weaver · Member since 2012
Yam Kumari Gurung was born in 1967 in Syangja district
to parents who were farmers. She attended school until 10th
grade and at the age of 25, she was married to a poultry farmer.
Unfortunately, just 7 years into their marriage, her husband was
diagnosed with bone cancer. They had no means of paying for
his treatment, and he passed away.
After her husband’s death, Yam Kumari was left to take care
of their 2 young sons. During their childhood, she did what she
could to put food on the table for her boys. Fortunately, she was
supported by her maternal home and her father-in-law who
provided her with a small allowance to help send her boys to
school. They both completed their higher secondary education
and are now employed. Her eldest is a waiter, while her youngest
is a shop assistant.
It has now been over 6 years that Yam Kumari walked past
WSDO and inquired about work. After speaking directly with
Ramkali Khadka, our Executive Director, she was offered the
opportunity to learn to weave. She continues to weave today and
is grateful to also be a member of WSDO’s cooperative savings
and credit program, which has allowed her to get a loan to build
a new house for her and her adult sons.

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