TenThousandVillagesArtisanStoriesVol1_Shyam_NepalKnotcraft.mov

Ten Thousand Villages Artisan Contact: Shyam Badan Shrestha
Location: Lalitpur (a suburb of Kathmandu), Nepal
Artisan Group: Nepal Knotcraft Centre

A number of years ago, Shyam Badan Shrestha noticed that more and more young women were finding it very difficult to find work and ended up leaving school and working for very low wages. They fell into grinding poverty with little hope of ever escaping. Shyam was interested in handicrafts like handloom weaving and had developed some skills herself so she decided to recruit some young, unemployed women in her neighborhood and began to teach them some basic craft skills. This developed into the Nepal Knotcraft Centre which today provides training, work and income for young women who otherwise would not be able to find decent paying work. Many of the women use the income they earn to help complete their high school education and even go on to college. In addition, they are able to make a significant contribution to their families income and, consequently, their families now enjoy better housing, school for their younger brothers and sisters and medical care when someone gets sick in the family.

It is fairly unusual for a woman to be a business owner and leader in Nepal. Shyam has become a successful business person and one of her main objectives is to empower other women, both socially and economically, through Nepal Knotcraft Centre.

About Ten Thousand Villages
For more than 60 years, Ten Thousand Villages has been establishing long-term buying relationships in places where skilled artisans lack opportunities for stable income. Founded in 1946, the company has grown from the trunk of founder Edna Ruth Byler's car to a network of more than 75 retail outlets throughout the United States. Ten Thousand Villages is an exceptional source for unique handmade gifts, jewelry, home décor, art & sculpture and personal accessories made by artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. One of the world's largest fair trade organizations and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization, the company strives to improve the livelihood of tens of thousands of disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries. Product sales help pay for food, education, healthcare and housing for artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. For more information, visit www.tenthousandvillages.com.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Fair Trade
• Ten Thousand Villages
• Nepal Knotcraft Centre
• Nepal
• knotcraft
• Women's Empowerment
• doll
• angel
• yak
• Gift-Bearing Yak Ornament
• 5907060
• Shyam Badan Shrestha
• Lalitpur

[fun21st]

thanks for the post,i really respect shyam badan mam..i was working in Nepal Knotcraft before 4 years ,now i am in abroad for my further study.love and mis all of the staff and would love to be part of Nepal Knotcraft again...