WSDO Book_5x8_pages FINAL

Women’s Skills Development Organization

DIKSHYA PARIYAR

Designer · Member since 2005
Dikshya Pariyar was born in 1985 in Pokhara and is the second
of 5 daughters. Her parents are both tailors and own a shop in
Pokhara. She and her sisters all attended school, but only the
youngest two completed their School Leaving Certificates after
10th grade.
Her parents’ tailor shop is located right across of the former
WSDO premises and it is how she first learned about the
organization. Ironically, while her parents are both tailors, she
only learned how to sew once she started at WSDO. For many
years, Dikshya worked alongside another designer and so, when
this woman left WSDO, it seemed like a natural fit for Dikshya
to take-over the role. It has now been over a year since she has
become responsible for developing new designs and samples.
She finds this work quite challenging, but with the support and
encouragement from her sisters, her confidence grows.
Being in her 30s, Dikshya would be expected to marry or be
married, but the truth is that she has no interest in married life—
at least not for now. Instead, she is happy with the way things
are, and is considering going back to school to learn English.
She feels a kind of love for WSDO and cannot imagine herself
working anywhere else.

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TIKA DEVI BHUJEL

Doll Maker · Member since 2005

Tika Devi Bhujel was born in 1972 in Syangja district and
is the fourth of 6 children. While she and her siblings all
attended school, none of them completed their School Leaving
Certificates; Tika ended her schooling after 8th grade.

At the age of 17, she was married. The two went on to have
a son and for a few years, they lived in Mumbai, India where
her husband worked as a cook in a hotel. By the early 2000s,
they moved back to Nepal and settled in Pokhara where her son
completed his bachelor’s degree.

Today, Tika is a widow and lives with her eldest sister,
recently married son and daughter-in-law. Her son teaches
junior and high school level students while her daughter-in-law
is a housekeeper.

It has now been 13 years that Tika was first introduced to
WSDO through a friend who was already employed here. In
the beginning, Tika learned to weave, but switched to doll
making within a year. She particularly enjoys making our
stuffed elephants and is most happy about being able to work
from home. This is hugely convenient for her as she can better
manage her home-life. While Tika is unsure what the future
holds, she hopes to continue working for WSDO.

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

KHI MAYA PUN

Weaver · Member since 2016
Khi Maya Pun was born in 1981 in Chimkhola, a village in
Myagdi district to parents who were farmers. She is the second
of 5 children.
Khi Maya attended school only until 7th grade, and at the age of
17, she was married. She and her husband have 2 daughters and 1
son. Sadly, when their middle daughter was about 2 months old,
she suffered from brain damage as a result of fluid buildup on her
brain. Their daughter is now deaf mute and unable to care for
herself. While her youngest son still attends school, Khi Maya is
helped around the home by her eldest daughter who has recently
finished her higher secondary education.
A few years ago, Khi Maya followed ‘rumours’ of women
weavers somewhere in Pokhara. After finding her own way to
WSDO, she was offered trainings in weaving. Since then, she
has joined the Lamachaur Branch Office, which is close to her
home. As her husband has retired from the Indian Army and
now works abroad in the Persian Gulf, weaving from home
means that she can more easily care for her daughter.
Khi Maya is grateful for the new skills that she has learned
from WSDO and wishes most to be able to use them to secure a
good life for her children.

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MANJU KUMAL

Design Assistant · Member since 2000

Manju Kumal was born in 1971 in Gorkha district to parents
who are farmers. She is the eldest of 4 children. While her 3
younger brothers each attended school, Manju missed out on
her education. At the age of 17, Manju married a police officer.
They moved to Pokhara in the late 1990s, and it has now been
almost 20 years that she has been working at WSDO. Trained
in weaving and sewing at WSDO, today she assists with the
development of new designs and samples.

Manju has 2 sons who are now in their 20s. One is already
married while the other is studying towards a bachelor’s in
software engineering. As both of them are presently unemployed,
Manju’s income serves primarily to support them. She rents a
house in Pokhara, which she shares with them, her daughter-
in-law (who is also employed by WSDO) and grand-daughter.
Meanwhile, Manju’s husband, who is now retired, has returned
to their homeland to earn an income raising chickens and goats.

Manju worries about her family’s well-being and not having
enough money for her youngest to finish school. It is only on
account of her stable employment and WSDO’s cooperative
savings and credit program that she has been able to help pay for
his schooling, for which she is really grateful.

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Women’s Skills Development Organization

NILA GURUNG

Sainik Basti Branch Leader · Member since 2009
Nila Gurung was born in 1973 in Bharat Pokhari and is the
youngest of 9 children. Though in the past many did not value
education for girls, Nila’s father ensured that she and all her
siblings complete their higher secondary education.
At the age of 23, Nila was married, and they had 2 daughters
and 1 son. When her son was 18 months old, he began having
seizures. Sadly, after an operation to control his seizures and
relieve fluid buildup on his brain, he suffered from brain damage.
Today, he reacts only to a few stimuli around him and is unable
to care for himself.
To help support the family, Nila’s husband worked for 16
years in the Persian Gulf and Mainland Southeast Asia. Nila also
worked for some time as a primary school teacher to ensure
that her daughters complete their schooling. Nila is incredibly
grateful for the help she has received over the years from her
family, especially her husband, who now stays home full-time
taking care of their teenage son.
Nila first started weaving at WSDO some 9 years ago, and
today, she manages the newest WSDO branch office in Sainik
Basti. She enjoys this work greatly as she is able to teach women
new skills and help them generate an income in a positive way.

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“Through their efforts and support, WSDO has brought
about positive change in the lives of many women,
and I hope this continues in the years to come.”
— CHITRA BAHADUR K.C.
Chairperson, Fair Trade Group Nepal

“May WSDO’s identity continue to thrive and that every
step of their future be fruitful and motivating.”
— SANJIV BAHADUR KOIRALA

Chairperson, Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(Province No. 4)

“WSDO has established a strong image in the social sector
and has long recognized the value of participating
and collaborating with other organizations for the
provision of important social services.”
— PADAM RAJ PAHARI
Chairperson, NGO Federation Nepal

“Established in 1975, WSDO reflects a tradition of doing
good work to empower disadvantaged women by
providing them with important skills.”
— BISHOW SHANKHAR PALIKHE

Chairperson, Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry

“WSDO’s products are sought after and recognized as
quality Nepalese handicrafts at the international level.”

— BALARAM THAPA
Executive Director, LI-BIRD

A special thanks to all the organizations that
contributed financially to our publication:

CECI Nepal
[email protected]
www.ceci.ca/nepal

[email protected] Sabhagriha Chowk Branch, Pokhara
www.wovennepal.com www.nabilbank.com

New Road Branch, Pokhara [email protected]
www.himalayanbank.com www.libird.org

We would be delighted to hear from you!

Main Office, Workshop & Factory Outlet
Chautara Marg, Simalchour 8, Pokhara

Phone: +977 61 534025

Shop in Lakeside, Pokhara
Phone: +977 61 466247

Shop in Thamel, Kathmandu
Phone: +977 14 268744

[email protected]

www.wsdonepal.com

#wsdonepal

EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1975