Women's Center
Empowering vulnerable and marginalized women in Surkhet and Karnali Province through vocational education, business incubation, psychosocial empowerment
1,200+
Women Trained & Empowered
150+
Micro-Enterprises & Co-op Members
95%+
Financial Independence Rate
500+
Psychosocial & Rights Workshops
What The Department Does
Core Operations
1. Vocational Skills & Technical Training
Equipping women with market-driven artisanal trades and technical skills to secure dignified and sustainable livelihoods.
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Intensive courses in advanced tailoring, sewing, and pattern cutting.
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Handloom weaving and traditional artisanal craft fabrication.
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Culinary arts, baking, and commercial food production courses.
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Technical certifications linked with recognized national skill standards.
2. Kopila Valley Women's Cooperative
Operating a registered, member-owned social enterprise providing ethical employment, fair wages, and retail avenues.
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Production of student uniforms, school bags, and institution merchandise.
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Fair-trade storefront showcase at campus farmers markets and local fairs.
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Commercial bulk orders for local schools, NGOs, and corporate partners.
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Collective profit-sharing, emergency lending, and member dividend distribution.
3. Financial Literacy & Business Incubation
Transforming trained graduates into self-reliant micro-entrepreneurs through financial management and startup incubation.
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Step-by-step business planning, bookkeeping, and cash flow management.
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Household budgeting workshops ("Crack the Pot" savings exercise) for guardians.
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Seed capital grants and micro-credit linkages for enterprise launch.
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One-on-one mentorship for business registry, taxation, and market linkages.
4. Psychosocial Support & Mental Wellbeing
Fostering emotional recovery, resilience, and confidence in a safe, judgment-free space for women facing hardship.
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Trauma-informed individual counseling and psychosocial triage.
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Safe listening circles and peer-support healing groups for survivors.
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Stress management, mindfulness, and self-care workshops for caregivers.
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Close referral coordination with the Health & Wellness counseling team.
5. Legal Rights, Equality & GBV Advocacy
Leading grassroots mobilization against gender-based violence, early child marriage, and systemic discrimination.
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Annual 16 Days of Activism against GBV street dramas, rallies, and candle vigils.
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Education on property rights, citizenship, marital rights, and domestic abuse laws.
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Joint community roundtables with District Police Women's Cells and ward offices.
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Protection protocols, case management, and safe haven shelter referrals.
6. Dignified Menstruation & Product Fabrication
Championing menstrual health rights while producing sustainable, reusable hygiene solutions locally.
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In-house production of reusable eco-friendly cloth sanitary pads and period panties.
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Collaborative distributions of WUKA reusable period underwear and menstrual discs.
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Sensitization workshops dispelling taboos, stigma, and harmful isolation practices.
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Awareness sessions addressing perimenopause, menopause, and uterine health.
Key Department Accomplishments
Major Milestones
Institutional Partnerships
Signed MOU with Karnali Care Hospital and established operational Community Information Centers with Birendranagar Wards 1 and 2.
Establishment of Women's Cooperative
Successfully transitioned vocational graduates into an independent, legally registered fair-trade cooperative owned and led entirely by local women.
Institutional Partnerships
Signed MOU with Karnali Care Hospital and established operational Community Information Centers with Birendranagar Wards 1 and 2.
Institutional Partnerships
Signed MOU with Karnali Care Hospital and established operational Community Information Centers with Birendranagar Wards 1 and 2.
Local School Uniform Production
Manufactured and delivered hundreds of complete uniform sets and school bags for Kopila Valley School and partner rural government schools.
Grassroots Entrepreneur Incubation
Mentored over 150 women into sustainable micro-enterprises including beekeeping, tailoring boutiques, and urban grocery outlets.
Integrated Financial Literacy Outreach
Trained over 200 mothers and guardians across Birendranagar in personal budget planning, formal banking, and debt-free saving strategies.
Institutional Partnerships
Signed MOU with Karnali Care Hospital and established operational Community Information Centers with Birendranagar Wards 1 and 2.
Institutional Partnerships
Signed MOU with Karnali Care Hospital and established operational Community Information Centers with Birendranagar Wards 1 and 2.
Safe Healing Circles for Survivors
Established dedicated trauma recovery spaces and peer listening groups supporting single mothers and survivors of domestic violence.
Institutional Partnerships
Signed MOU with Karnali Care Hospital and established operational Community Information Centers with Birendranagar Wards 1 and 2.
Sustainable Dignified Product Line
Piloted local manufacturing of eco-friendly menstrual pads and period wear, eliminating single-use plastic waste across rural schools.
Investing in Women
Many women in Surkhet struggle with unsafe living environments, lack of access to education, and little economic opportunities. The women entering our programs are reflective of our community.
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94% have experienced domestic or gender-based violence.
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32% have had no access to schooling.
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97% report little or no knowledge of their legal rights.
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51% were married before the age of 19.
Behind each of these numbers is a vulnerable yet resilient woman with powerful potential. The magic of the center lies in the strength and determination of women.
Programs
We provide vocational training to
meet women’s technical interests
and the changing market in our
region. Training has included
sewing and tailoring, traditional
weaving, and cosmetology as well
as non-traditional fields: electrical
work, farming, and earth brick
making. Through these programs,
graduates can seek dignified
careers, find higher-paying jobs,
and pursue new economic
opportunities. Independent women
build stronger families and
communities.
We provide individual and group
counseling, mediation, legal
support, and general stress and
trauma care.
Empowerment courses help with
basic education, build confidence
and self-advocacy skills, learn
about health and wellness, and
understand women’s rights.
Impact
Women are finding independence
and taking control of their livelihoods as they enter new jobs and start their own businesses!
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391 women have graduated from vocational and empowerment training
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75% of recent graduates reported an increase in monthly or yearly income
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Over 1000 women have participated in community empowerment workshops.
Past graduates are leading the
way, mentoring current trainees,
and setting an example for girls in
the community.
Target Demography
Admissions for programs invites all female guardians and community members who demonstrate a socio-economic need. Historically, we specifically targeted women who experienced domestic abuse. With time we learned that in some cases such criteria led to women falsely reporting abuse during admissions in order to qualify. We will instead continue to prioritize women with the most economic need. Most programs are designed to be accessible to everyone regardless of educational attainment. However, in some cases the coursework requires the participant to be able to read and write in which case their educational attainment is considered for admission. Finally, women are selected based on perceived motivation and ability to successfully complete the course and use their new technical skills to advance themselves. This is vetted through the admissions process.
