According to the latest World Bank report, 'social norms allow women's work in Nepal, but small neighbourhood jobs soon give way to the roles of mothers and housewives, powerless in the face of barriers such as limited access to resources, networking opportunities and careers'.
Yet, more and more girls are raising a soft revolution without undoing social norms. Out of love for nature and the culture of their country, they are launching themselves into innovative, indeed unique professions: they study and then become mountain guides or naturalists for those who want to walk the trails, bridges for isolated tribes, interpreters for elderly grandmothers, in suburbs, villages and the Himalayas. They are undoing stereotypes even at the cost of leading the way, unknowingly breaking the screens that prevent them from accessing information on the possibilities of moving, farming and developing a business.

In little more than a decade, dozens of associations and organisations have sprung up to help the population with original initiatives, and women are increasingly in the limelight: from the Three Sisters, the historic first guides on the mountains, who had to literally defend a place in the shelters when the men made them sleep outside on the ground. To young Brinda who makes rural girls practice speaking in videos, to emphasise gender empowerment, public speaking and to raise awareness of rights among young people. Sajane's psychologists, social workers and lawyers have reintroduced trafficked women, placed them back home and created 317 jobs, trained 117 surviving girls, received 4900 tourists. They have reduced migration from local communities by 20 per cent, reduced trafficking of women in 11 rural communities by 22 per cent, increased cohort-based tourism by 2 per cent, and increased the efficiency of health facilities by 13 per cent.
The Apeiron association defends and protects the most unfortunate who flee from cases of violence, <<Through projects of economic empowerment, combating gender violence and fighting stereotypes, we walk side by side with women and the younger generations to build together a fairer and more inclusive society>> says ofndatrice Barbara Moachesi. One of the biggest is the Community Home Stay, which spreads in dozens of regions the idea of hosting in homes, cooking, guiding and telling about traditions: today Aayusha Prasain, CEO, coordinates 900 women in dozens of groups of 12 people, talks with local governments to build sustainable opportunities and responsible destinations, <<It is very important for us that we earn money to strengthen ourselves, because in Nepal there is a very strong gender gap and men subtract as soon as women, facilitated by governments to open businesses, start earning money. So we explain to them to keep a bank account>>. And so you meet dozens of guides who really know the traditions and can take visitors to meet the families, strong guides like Sajane who opened a small Adventure Hub and now coordinates and trains dozens of girls as a true exemplary leader. Or like Poonam, Coomunity Homestay Operator, who began by teaching English to her grandmother and now runs tours in dozens of historic cities. Or Brinda, a retired teacher who still trains girls in her neighbourhood.

THIS IS A SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLE THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE ITALIAN MAGAZINE ALTRECONOMIA

 

 

 

Tags: women in tourism, Nepal , women guides