What the women say...

Manju says that she is proud of herself and wants to learn more things.
Nepal woman

Ramsori says that she is happy to come to the library and read because she did not go to school when she was young.
Two Nepal students using the library

Facts and Figures

 

WELNepal's achievements to date (spring 2016):

LITERACY (Women learning to read and write in their language for the first time)

Literacy Classes: Both Basic and Advanced (Two year course) — 178

The total number of women involved in our literacy course — more than 5,000 

Remedial Classes — 62 

EDUCATION (After literacy the women are ready to become educated)

Number of Libraries built and expanded — 21

Health Training groups — 26

Ecology Training (3 day and 7 day) — 25

INCOME GENERATING (All the women want to make money to help their families)

Organic Farming: Renting land for women's groups to grow organic produce for commercial sales — 18 groups

Mushroom Production: Growing mushrooms for local use and sales — 24 groups

Candle Making: Our newest income generating project — 10 groups

New Additions:
Soap Manufacturing — 7 groups
Incense — 3 groups
Sewing Machine — 4 groups

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Number of female students who are scholastically inclined but come from impoverished families  — 24 young women

Over the years more than 40 young women have received scholarships

 

Nepal Statistics:

  • Only 34.9 per cent of Nepali women can read and write. In rural areas this is significantly lower; estimated as low as 10 per cent.
  • The average life expectancy of a Nepali woman is 67. The life expectancy of the average Canadian woman is 84.
  • Almost a third of Nepal’s population lives on less than a dollar a day.
  • A Nepali person’s annual income is roughly equivalent to $240 USD (2003 estimate).
  • Maternal mortality rates in Nepal are among the highest in Asia.
  • Over 60 per cent of women deliver babies at home, with only a little over 15 per cent delivering in a hospital.
  • Nepal’s infant mortality rate is 44.54 deaths/1,000 live births (CIA World Factbook estimate, 2011).
  • Though the average Nepali woman has 2.47 children in her lifetime, she often has many more pregnancies. Infants don’t always survive.