What the women say...

I asked the women if they were satisfied with the way things were as far as the difference between the lives of men and women in their village. “Is everything okay the way it is” I asked. The women responded with “MATHI”, which in Nepali means “up” — “We want to go up”.

More than half of the women at the meeting were alone because their husbands were working in another country.

Manju said that now women are helping other women in the village.

And those who volunteered their time to create this site:

Ashley Newport
– writing
ashley.newport@gmail.com

Anneli West
– design and website
www.fourcorners.ca

Who we are

WELNepal is a newly formed charitable organization, but its founders have been raising money to support adult literacy classes in Nepal for the past eight years. In 2010 WELNepal is now funding 15 “Basic Literacy Classes”, 15 “Advanced Literacy Classes”, 35 Remedial Supplimentary courses plus numerous lectures on health, ecology and farming. Thus far we have educated or are educating more than 3,500 women. We have only two or three million more women to go. WELNepal’s board members receive no salaries and pay for their own travel costs and living expenses while in Nepal. Less than 5 percent of the funds WELNepal collects is spent on administration.

In Toronto

David Walton, Founder & President

David worked for 25 years as a commercial photographer in Toronto. He left his profession in 1992 to see the world. Since his first visit to Nepal in 1996, David has had no desire to go anywhere else but Nepal, where he spends three months each year in the country’s lowland area. Since 1997 he has taught English conversation in Nepali government schools and helped to build village libraries. In 1999 he began raising funds for the education of Nepali adult women. Through his charitable organization he hopes to continue the work he has been doing in Nepal for many years to come.

Diane Hanson, Treasurer

Diane has been a jeweller, designer, and manufacturer in Toronto since 1983. As a former member of other nonprofit organizations, most recently of the Toronto Board of the Canadian Hearing Society, she has acquired a wealth of fundraising experience and an understanding of charities in Canada. Since 1999 Diane has devoted much time and energy to the education and welfare of women in Nepal. She has generously donated from her own resources and organized several benefits for that cause.

 

Chris McArthur, Secretary

Chris owns and runs a construction company in Ottawa and met David while traveling in Nepal in 2004. After introductions from David, Chris spent a couple of weeks in Chitwan, the work area of WELNepal, volunteering and participating in some of WELNepal projects with the local computer school, primary school, women’s groups and more then a few impromptu language classes, all of which were quite memorable. Since that time Chris has actively participated in WELNepal efforts and hopes to return to Nepal in the near future.

 

In Nepal

Harimaya Bhandari, Project Coordinator

Harimaya, (right) a lifelong resident of our target area, brought her enthusiasm and experience to WELNepal five years ago, and we’ve relied on her expertise ever since. With our expanded workload, Harimaya helped out in two ways. Firstly, she met Rabeeta Mahato, (left) a young woman with a bachelor’s degree at one of our training seminars, and decided that an educated woman — one much respected by her peers — would be an excellent addition to the WELNepal family. We were fortunate that Rabeeta decided that helping women was what she would love to do and agreed. Secondly, Harimaya met, married and recruited her husband Raj Kapri (behind) to join her in WELNepal’s work. We are very fortunate to have Harimaya, Rabeeta and Raj working in Nepal with us.

Kumma Raj (Kamal) Subedi, Educator

Kamal is a educator who teaches in a government school in a village in WELNepal’s target area. Two years ago we asked Kamal to create a remedial course for those women who had completed their two years of literacy. Kamal took such a great interest in the project that, not only did he create courses for the women but also he is working with the teachers in new training techniques and is visiting the classes to see if these methods are working. We at WELNepal are very appreciative of Kamal's interest and input.