WELNepal - an introduction

“One Bagmara woman said that after learning to read and write, she felt more confident
when communicating with others, introducing herself to people, and was able to write
letters and keep records in her home.”
∼ David Walton

In 1996, David Walton, a former photographer from Toronto, encountered a small group of women who shared a common ambition — to learn to read. At that point, the scope of the mission (which wasn’t quite a mission yet) was small. People wanted help, and he felt he could assist them. David was grabbed by the spirit of the women, and has said that their desires — not his presence — were the catalysts for change. The change began with a small group of women, and their desire to educate themselves snowballed into what's now known as WELNepal (Women’s Education and Literacy in Nepal).

The goal of the charity is simple: teach women of all ages to read and write. However, the seeds of literacy, once planted, sprout more than just trees. An education can give a person strength, confidence and ambition. It doesn’t just open doors, it obliterates barriers. In the past, a woman could neither read a road sign or count change. Today, she can learn to read and educate herself about her health, her country, and her options. Education allows people to join together and share knowledge, assistance and experience. Education helps break down caste barriers.

In the past 10 years, WELNepal has funded literacy classes run by women for women. It provides libraries, as well as lectures on women’s health, wellness, rights and empowerment. It also provides lectures on ecology. The charity also provides education on new farming methods, a crucial tool for rural Nepali women. WELNepal is also assisting in creating income generating programs for the women’s groups.

It's important to note WELNepal was not created to convince Nepali women that their country or culture was inferior. It was created to give women the choice to obtain an education. It has given women the resources to learn, and to take from their learning what they will and apply it, if they choose, to their own lives and culture. The goal is not intellectual colonization. The goal is empowerment.