Empowerment Collective

EMPOWERMENT COLLECTIVE IS A US-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS TO EMPOWER WOMEN AND GIRLS IN DISADVANTAGED AND VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN NEPAL AND INDIA.

HEALTH AND MENSTRUATION PROGRAM: THE CONCEPT OF HEALTH CARE IS UNHEARD OF FOR THE MOST MARGINALIZED. MENSTRUATING WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PARTICIPATING IN NORMAL ACTIVITIES BECAUSE SOCIETY CONSIDERS THEM "IMPURE". BECAUSE OF THIS, GIRLS ARE HELD BACK, AND MISS OUT ON THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION. WE CREATED A ONE-DAY WORKSHOP WITH LOCAL LEADERS AND NURSES, USING AN ILLUSTRATED COMIC BOOK THAT SHOWS THE BENEFITS OF MENSTRUATION HYGIENE. REUSABLE, ANTIBACTERIAL, ANTI-FUNGAL, AND WATERPROOF, SANITARY PADS ARE MADE BY LOCAL WOMEN AND DONATED SO NEPALI AND INDIAN WOMEN CAN EXPERIENCE THEIR PERIODS WITH COMFORT AND FREEDOM. IN 2022, WE REACHED 1,200 SCHOOL-AGE GIRLS IN NEPAL AND INDIA THROUGH OUR HEALTH AND MENSTRUATION PROGRAM.

EDUCATION PROGRAM: RURAL SCHOOLS OF STUDENTS IN NEPAL AND INDIA ARE RECEIVING SUBSTANDARD EDUCATION IN DILAPIDATED CLASSROOMS FROM UNTRAINED AND UNMOTIVATED TEACHERS WITH VERY LITTLE TO NO RESOURCES. STUDENTS DON'T HAVE ACCESS PROPER BACKPACKS, ENOUGH NOTEBOOKS, PENS, PENCILS AND ALL THE OTHER STATIONERY THAT STUDENT NEED TO GO TO SCHOOL. ACADEMIC RESULTS SUFFER, ATTENDANCE LEVELS ARE LOW, AND GRADUATION LEVELS ARE EVEN LOWER. ENHANCEMENT OF QUALITY EDUCATION IS CRUCIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOCIETY, COUNTRY AND THE ENTIRE GLOBE AS A WHOLE. IT IS A KEY TO CREATING AWARE AND RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS. WE HAVE DESIGNED EDUCATIONAL CREATIVE PACKAGE FOR STUDENTS, GIVING THEM EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO STUDY FOR 1 YEAR. IN 2022, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER 500 PACKAGES OF SUPPLIES TO SCHOOL CHILDREN.

SKILLS TRAINING AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM: THE FAST FASHION INDUSTRY SUPPORTS INHUMANE WORKING CONDITIONS. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE AFFECTED ARE WOMEN, WHO LABOR FOR LONG HOURS WITHOUT A FAIR WAGE. IN SWEATSHOPS, WOMEN ARE LIMITED TO SEWING ONLY ONE PART OF A GARMENT, WHEN THEY ARE CAPABLE OF SO MUCH MORE. WE PROVIDE MARGINALIZED WOMEN WITH EDUCATION AND CREATIVE SKILLS TRAINING TO BECOME PROFESSIONAL FASHION DESIGNERS, SEAMSTRESSES, EMBROIDERERS, WEAVERS, AND JEWELRY DESIGNERS. SINCE OUR INCEPTION, WE HAVE TRAINED OVER 5,000 WOMEN THROUGH OUR SKILLS AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM.