School of Women’s Entrepreneurship: Empowering Marginalized Women with Skill Development and Microfinance

Nepal: Poverty, Inequality, and Vulnerable Women

As a UN-designated 'least developed country' aiming to graduate by 2026, Nepal urgently needs social and economic upliftment. Low Human Development Index (146th) and high Gender Inequality Index (116th in 2023/24) reveal significant gender disparities. High poverty (20.27% of 29.69 million, mostly rural) and stark gender literacy gap (83.6% male vs. 69.4% female) underscore women's disadvantage.

Patriarchal norms limit women's household power and expose them to gender-based violence, early marriage, dowry, and trafficking.

The School of Women’s Entrepreneurship (SWE), a transformative initiative of Sano Paila supported by Give2Asia, empowers marginalized Nepali women through skill development and entrepreneurship. Targeting vulnerable women from historically marginalized communities, violence/trafficking survivors, and differently-abled individuals, SWE offers social empowerment, microfinance, and market access. By equipping them with craftsmanship skills, SWE enables them to become skilled entrepreneurs and change-makers, breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering economic independence while also addressing persistent gender disparities in Nepal.

At SWE, dozens of women from the most marginalized communities – survivors of unimaginable violence and the cruel grip of human trafficking, women navigating the world with disabilities, and those long held back by societal barriers – are finding their voice and their power. SWE is more than just a training center; it's a space where broken spirits are nurtured, and latent talents are ignited.

Through the patient guidance of skilled artisans, they learn the intricate art of jewelry making, the rhythmic dance of basket weaving, and other crafts that connect them to their heritage while equipping them for the modern market. But our support extends beyond skill-building. We understand that true empowerment requires economic stability. That's why SWE provides crucial microfinance support, offering small loans that allow these women to launch their own micro-enterprises, to become the architects of their own financial futures.

Our social ventures, like "Kaasya," further weave these threads of opportunity into tangible employment. "Kaasya" becomes a platform where their handcrafted creations find their way to market, connecting their artistry with appreciative customers and generating sustainable income.

Read the Impact of SWE

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Impact of SWE

Imagine a woman, her hands bearing the marks of hardship, now carefully shaping delicate brass and silver into a shimmering earring. Or another, her fingers once trembling with fear, now weaving vibrant threads into a sturdy, beautiful basket. These are the women of Sano Paila's School of Women’s Entrepreneurship (SWE), a haven where vulnerability transforms into vibrant skill and economic dependence gives way to growing independence.

Every delicate curve of a necklace, every tightly woven strand of a basket represents more than just a product; it embodies resilience, a triumph over adversity, and the unwavering spirit of a woman determined to build a brighter future for herself and her family. At SWE, we witness firsthand the blossoming of confidence, the quiet pride in newfound skills, and the tangible shift from dependence to self-reliance. These are not just women learning a trade; they are women reclaiming their lives, one carefully crafted piece, one empowered step at a time.

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No of women trained/mobilized and microfinance