a. Deaf Women from marginalised rural communities in south Nepal. In a very patriarchal society, they have few options in life beyond child marriage and a continuation of the cycle of poverty. Such women are at risk of gender-based violence and trafficking. b. Employment opportunities for able-bodied people are very limited in Nepal; for deaf people they are non-existent. They also experience extreme stigmatisation, nicknamed “lato” – “stupid”. They remain at the margins of society.

Through a new social enterprise in Kathmandu, Lily’s Leaves, we empower women through residential training in vocational skills that lead to a gainful income or formal employment. Current skills are in tailoring and silver jewellery manufacture, although in future (post-COVID) we will develop forest products such as natural fibres, leaves and essential oils. In parallel, we operate a workshop that manufactures goods for sale, contributing towards the sustainability of the enterprise.