Yoshinkhel is situated in the medieval city of Bhaktapur near the bank of Hanumante river in Nepal. It is located within the Bhaktapur Municipality 1 km from Araniko Highway. It is a poor, backward and disadvantaged municipality in eastern part of the capital, Kathmandu. The community is inhabited by 135 families listed under disadvantaged and has a total population of 1594 people including adults, and children.
Sabina Matangi, a local from Bhaktapur was acutely aware of the domestic daily routine of the women in Yoshinkhel. She was disheartened that the women were staying idle. About two years ago Sabina’s frustrations motivated her to gather these women to be involved in income generating activities. The women from Yoshinkel were enthusiastic and so Sabina started a group called Social Action for Community Development to help focus her goals.
To start the knitting program first of all seed money was required. So the participating women contributed about Rs.50 to pay to the volunteer who trained them to knit. Sabina generously added Rs.500 from her own pocket. There were many other women who were interested in joining in however their husbands or in- laws did not allow them to participate as they regarded knitting as a low grade job. But now a smile flashes across Sabina’s face when she mentions that many husband and in-laws are helping the women‘s work. In fact many women show off garments that have been completed by their husband! Not only housewives but college students are also interested in knitting as it has been their source of income and they no longer have to ask their parents for pocket money. The knitting program has not only helped women create a source of income but it has also helped them realize that they are not inferior to any man in their community.
The women have been knitting a variety of garments including caps, socks, mufflers and mufflers attached with cap. But the greatest battle that these women have to win is to market the product effectively. Currently they have two clients in Kathmandu, one in Thamel, a tourist spot in Kathmandu and other in Jhoche, a place in Kathmandu. Clients can either place an order based on volume or on piece by piece basis. Currently they are working on volume basis. The local vendors are currently paying nominal prices for the whole orders and this barely meets costs for the women. Sabina is searching for a potential market where she can actually sell the product in or outside Nepal.
Till date, the knitting training has been held in Sabina’s house and she eagerly dreams of the completion of the building of the education centre. Sabina has been saving the money generated (after paying the women) from the knitting program to build up the centre so that she could shift the knitting centre and the education centre in the same building.
Sadly for Sabina, she does not hold much hope for grants or assistance from any local organizations. She recently asked for help and was disappointingly told they did not trust that she would use the funds properly. Sabina is truly grateful for the attention given to her project by NABUUR and the volunteer Neighbours. If Neighbour of Yoshinkel from Nabuur were not there then her dream of empowering women and educating the children would be impossible.
Sabina Matangi, a local from Bhaktapur was acutely aware of the domestic daily routine of the women in Yoshinkhel. She was disheartened that the women were staying idle. About two years ago Sabina’s frustrations motivated her to gather these women to be involved in income generating activities. The women from Yoshinkel were enthusiastic and so Sabina started a group called Social Action for Community Development to help focus her goals.
To start the knitting program first of all seed money was required. So the participating women contributed about Rs.50 to pay to the volunteer who trained them to knit. Sabina generously added Rs.500 from her own pocket. There were many other women who were interested in joining in however their husbands or in- laws did not allow them to participate as they regarded knitting as a low grade job. But now a smile flashes across Sabina’s face when she mentions that many husband and in-laws are helping the women‘s work. In fact many women show off garments that have been completed by their husband! Not only housewives but college students are also interested in knitting as it has been their source of income and they no longer have to ask their parents for pocket money. The knitting program has not only helped women create a source of income but it has also helped them realize that they are not inferior to any man in their community.
The women have been knitting a variety of garments including caps, socks, mufflers and mufflers attached with cap. But the greatest battle that these women have to win is to market the product effectively. Currently they have two clients in Kathmandu, one in Thamel, a tourist spot in Kathmandu and other in Jhoche, a place in Kathmandu. Clients can either place an order based on volume or on piece by piece basis. Currently they are working on volume basis. The local vendors are currently paying nominal prices for the whole orders and this barely meets costs for the women. Sabina is searching for a potential market where she can actually sell the product in or outside Nepal.
Till date, the knitting training has been held in Sabina’s house and she eagerly dreams of the completion of the building of the education centre. Sabina has been saving the money generated (after paying the women) from the knitting program to build up the centre so that she could shift the knitting centre and the education centre in the same building.
Sadly for Sabina, she does not hold much hope for grants or assistance from any local organizations. She recently asked for help and was disappointingly told they did not trust that she would use the funds properly. Sabina is truly grateful for the attention given to her project by NABUUR and the volunteer Neighbours. If Neighbour of Yoshinkel from Nabuur were not there then her dream of empowering women and educating the children would be impossible.
To learn more about Sabina’s work and to help her. Please login to:www.nabuur.com
1 comment:
Wonderful story
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