A short introduction of WFWN

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.