Supporting women and the conservation of endangered species around the world

“Dear Friends,
I have just returned to Kathmandu from a two week trek in Mustang with friends. Many of the most beautiful things I buy for World Women Work are made here. The medieval feeling of Mustang creates a sense of other-worldliness, but the modern world is infringing upon this as the Chinese are about to build a road from the border of Tibet to Jomsom in Nepal. We met with the Mother’s Group in Jomson. They are a strong group of women who do much to make the environment they live in better and World Women Work is supporting a project with them. (Please see the project section for details). We are all worried about the Maoists, who are trying to overthrow the Nepalese government and are a constant source of friction here. Before we left for Mustang I did a lot of buying so it is always exciting to come back and see the results as much has been made in that time. I love trying on the beautiful pashmina jackets and seeing the jewelry that we have designed. This trip I have branched out into Tibetan rugs as our leader in Mustang has a rug factory where beautiful ones are made by women.
Nepal is very special to me; it is in fact where the idea for World Women Work was born.
I was on a World Wildlife Fund trek on Kanchenjunga in 1998, and as I was walking along one day I suddenly realized that I simply had to do something hands-on to help women and the environment – to help them be self-sufficient, preserve their culture, and combat the globalization of so many areas of the world that I love. I decided the best way I could do this was by buying beautiful things made by women, which would support and empower them economically.
It takes such a small amount to make a huge difference. I love to say that for the cost of a very good bottle of olive oil you can send a young girl to school in Bardia! I hoped by selling these beautiful things to people who have so much, and then returning the profits to educational and conservation programs in these same areas, that I could awaken others to the needs of women, to the necessity of preserving these cultures and wild places – and to make them care as much as I do.
Warm wishes, SingerNote: For more information on Education for Girls: Bardia National Park, Nepal, please see the Projects section