HOW WE GOT HERE . . .

Logistics

We are traveling with Ashwin to four villages across Nepal. We hired a driver with a car to help with transportation as some of the locations we are visiting are remote and we are bringing supplies with us. We purchased materials such as sewing machines, cloth, scissors, thread, and needles in Pokhara. We are purchasing enough materials for each community to make approximately 600 pads. 

At each location we will spend the first few days with Ashwin leading discussion groups and talks meant to empower women and destigmatize periods. We will then encourage a group of interested women to learn Ashwin’s model of making cloth pads. We would like each community to sell the pads that they produce. We are also planning on paying a 2-4 month advance on rent for a pad making space in each location. Ultimately we hope for each group of women to be self sustainable in their efforts, paying their own rent and purchasing materials to create more pads to sell.

Side note about cars in Nepal: Due to high taxes and transportation costs, cars in Nepal are extremely expensive. While the average earnings are $800 per year, the cheapest car costs upwards of $10,000. For a comparison, in the neighboring country of India, the cheapest car costs just $1000. This renders cars in Nepal as clear sign of luxury and most families can only dream of owning one. Motorcycles, however, are more affordable, starting around $1000, and are a more popular means of transportation.