Women For Women
Nepal (WFWN) is a sole proprietor social business company founded by Dr. Astha
Prabha Tuladhar. It was registered under the government of Nepal in the year
2012. Its main objective is to promote and market handmade products by Nepali
women within Nepal and abroad. Most products are Fair Trade products and some
products are created by Women groups and individuals who cannot yet registered
their trade.
The need for registration was felt
necessary while promoting “Ban the plastic bag” campaign run by NGO Free Himalaya
of Plastic Waste (Freemalaya). As an option to plastic bags, it was necessary
to produce Eco bags. Therefore some women groups were trained to stitch
carefully designed Eco bags. At first WFWN was registered to retail eco bags
but after 5 years, it retails various kinds of handicraft items from 40
different NGOs and fair trade groups and makes direct and indirect impact on
the income of more than 3000 women.
Since
2013, WFWN has conducted various activities in collaboration with Japanese
NGOs. It has displayed and retailed Nepali handicraft in various international
festivals and events held chiefly in Nagoya, Japan.
To
promote Nepali handicraft in Japan, WFWN creates an opportunity to visit Nepali
handicraft producers by organizing study tours to Nepal. It has already
conducted 6 study tours during which more than 25 Japanese individuals have
visited factories, retail shop owners and handicraft producers.
So
far, WFWN has organized and sponsored 3 annual international art exhibitions in
Kathmandu titled- “Art Without Borders” involving Japanese and Nepali artists.
Such art exhibition is important to promote Nepali artists and their
creativity. In the year 2018, we are planning to organize an art exhibition for
Nepali artists in Japan.
Since
2015, WFWN has participated in the monthly Fair Trade Marche organized by Fair
Trade Town Nagoya (FTTN). Nagoya is the second fair trade town in Japan after
Kumamoto. Participating in this monthly bazaar, WFWN has introduced the skill
and quality of Nepali handicraft producers in the Japanese market.
Since
2017, in collaboration with Nepali Curry Restaurants in Nagoya, WFWN is
organizing a monthly cultural event called “Nepal Daisuki, Momo night” which
has been supported by Nagoya Metropolitan City Office. It is a monthly event to
introduce and taste the popular Nepali original cuisine “Momo.” During this
event Nepali students and professionals are invited to give a talk and Dr.
Tuladhar gives a slide show presentation of Nepal this way promoting Nepali
culture in Nagoya.
Recently,
WFWN participated in a biannual event called “Handmade Korea- Summer.” It aims
to promote Nepali handicraft and creativity in other Asian countries in near
future.
As a social business, WFWN aims to
promote women’s skill and ability in improving their lifestyle by increasing
their financial income, this way ending poverty and protecting the rights of
women themselves and their children. In future, WFWN aims to spread to areas
other than handicraft, especially agriculture and green industry.
