features

Art and the empowerment of women in Nepal

BY YAP PIK KUAN
January 16, 2016

These striking photos are just some of the pictures taken by Mazlim Husim, available for sale at Ambiance in G Village. – The Malaysian Insider pic, January 16, 2016.A black, rugged mountain ridge stands silhouetted against a white sky. This stark landscape could easily be mistaken as an alien world, but it's actually a photo taken by Malaysian photographer Mazlim Husim on one of his travels to Nepal.

The print is part of a series of photographs that Mazlim is selling at home decor shop, Ambiance, in G Village for charity.

All profits will be given to WONDERWorks, an organisation aimed at empowering women in Nepal.

WONDERWorks itself will be selling handcrafted Nepalese items at the shop as a means to raise money.

We recently caught up with co-founder Chulie Davey, to talk about her charity over a spot of afternoon tea.

Helping the exploited women of Nepal

When Davey first visited Nepal seven years ago, it was to work with not-for-profit organisation Himalayan Light Foundation, installing solar panels to provide electricity to rural communities.

Having fallen in love with the country, Davey decided to pursue charity work and founded WONDERWorks along with her friend, Maxine Savidge. Today, they have 10 committee members scattered across different countries.

An acronym for "Women of Nepal: Dignity, Empowerment, Reintegration", WONDERWorks operates mainly in Kathmandu and targets exploited women working in the entertainment industry.

"They're mainly women who've been trafficked into the cities. Many of them are single mothers abandoned by their husbands or their parents have sold them, so they end up in the entertainment industry," Davey said.

"They work in the dance bars, cabin restaurants and massage parlours."

To help these women gain independence, WONDERWorks runs several programmes aimed at providing them with a means of survival.

"Most of what we do involves setting up the ladies with small businesses or helping them learn new skills," Davey said.

Women who are interested in running a business are interviewed before being chosen to attend a six-week workshop, she said. After starting their business, WONDERWorks will follow up with the women for another 18 months, providing extra guidance.

Davey says their business grants are different from microfinancing, where a lump sum of money is given to those who apply. WONDERWorks goes with the ladies to buy any equipment or goods needed and to pay the rent.On their many visits to and from Nepal, WONDERWorks will bring back items handcrafted by the women they help, like dressing gowns, to sell. – The Malaysian Insider pic, January 16, 2016.

The women are asked to donate 15% of the cost of setting up the business only if they have enough profit to do so. This sum can be paid in instalments over a period of time. However, should their business be struggling, the donation is waived, said Chulie.

To date, WONDERWorks has helped close to 50 women set up about 40 businesses that include anything from shoe shops and beauty parlours to spice carts and kirana pasals (sundry shops).

'All-round help'

Davey, along with other members of WONDERWorks, constantly travels to and from Nepal for work. She stresses that they do this on their own expense so that all the funds they've raised are channelled to the charity.

"At the moment we work through other NGOs which means we don't spend as much," she said, adding that WONDERWorks also funds a nurse at organisation, Change Nepal.

She said the organisation hopes to set up a support centre which offers counselling, self-defence lessons, a safehouse and a clinic.

To meet the amazing ladies behind WONDERWorks, head to Ambiance at G Village where you'll also find Mazlim's photos on exhibition and sale, from 10am to 7pm today.

You can also find out more about the charity organisation at www.wonderworksasia.org or www.facebook.com/wonderworksasia. – January 16, 2016.