Nepali Girls ROCK!

Introducing: EWN, Empowering Women of Nepal, EWN along with 3 Sisters Trekking trains disadvantaged rural women of Nepal to be female trekking guides – the first of their kind!

Nepal is 70% rural. In rural western Nepal the literacy rate for women is 7%. By offering education and skilled training in guiding adventure trekking, a male-dominated field in Nepal, EWN wants to encourage the development of self-supporting, independent and decisive women. Female trainees go through an intensive four-week program with a curriculum that includes conversational English; first aid; the history, geography and culture of Nepal; leadership skills; women's rights; trekking instruction; health and hygiene; and waste management. This is followed by a five-month paid apprenticeship program. Further, EWN focuses on mobile training and rural community development in West Nepal through eco-tourism. A mobile team from EWN travels to remote areas of Nepal to provide intensive training in health, leadership, hygiene and sanitation, food hygiene and women's health issues. EWN has also established a home for girls who've been rescued from child labor and exploitation. The girls are provided with food, shelter, education and support from all over Nepal.

I am the founder of MeaningfulTrips - a unique social enterprise that combines tours with learning about and supporting global development issues such as women's empowerment, education, health, poverty alleviation and social justice. I just returned from 2 months in Nepal and India meeting truly amazing and inspiring women. I look forward to sharing more here at World Pulse. And... hey... World Pulse... you are AMAZING and INSPIRING too !

Joe Staiano