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Goal
Goal
To promote gender perspective in sustainable development, enhance social and economic status of women and marginalize people through fair trade and put them in the forefront of human development.
WHAT MANUSHI AIM TO DO
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Create off-farm employment opportunities for poor women |
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Develop entrepreneurial skills in women |
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Support women's enterprises and fair trade practices at grassroots levels
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Promote traditional and indigenous handicrafts and skills |
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Provide micro-credit for poor, disadvantaged and marginalized women |
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Consolidate data and information on women in Nepal |
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Undertake gender sensitization and gender analysis for target groups
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Encourage partnership, collaboration and joint action with environment and development NGOs and community groups at local and national levels
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FIVE CORE AREA MANUSHI ARTS AND CRAFTS
Manushi has a firm belief that the promotion of arts and crafts not only helps the poor and disadvantaged women to earn a decent living but also preserves the glorious culture, tradition and heritage of Nepal. Starting with a humble beginning, Manushi has now benefited about 300 producers, 80 percent of whom are women. Among the widely appreciated Manushi products are beach wrap, shawls, baskets, cushion covers, table cloths, mats, saris, slippers and the most sought after beads-products of different designs and styles. Manushi has also endeavored to revive several of the almost extinct traditional crafts across the country by reaching these communities and encouraging them to resume production. Such activities as the dyes, weavings and patterns that reflect the cultural beliefs and rhythms of indigenous communities and life styles have greatly benefited the disadvantaged and low income families as well as helped the communities to glorify their tradition. Manushi supports the cause of eco-friendly development. Natural dye on cotton textiles is promoted and, in the mean time, sustainable resource management has been facilitated through the use of natural resource-based products namely allo/hemp, handmade Nepali paper, bamboo products, etc.
MICRO CREDIT FOR WOMEN
Manushi's micro-credit programme commenced in April 1996, in collaboration with different development and financial institutions. This programme is fully guided by the principles of the micro credit summit campaign such as reaching the poorest, reaching and empowering women, building financially self-sufficient institutions and ensuring positive and measurable impact on the lives of clients and their families. Manushi is currently partnering with Rural Microfinance Development Centre for micro-credit activities. In recognition of its success in inspiring and promoting the poor women in the world of gainful work, the Micro- Summit Campaign honored Manushi With a 'Certificate of Appreciation' in 2001
ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT & CAREER ENHANCEMENT
With a view to opening up new venues of exploration and instilling confidence and enterprising attitude among the poor and disadvantaged people specially women, Manushi provides entrepreneurship and career development training. This program has helped them to involve in gainful employment. Again by providing fair trade assistant to small enterprises we create opportunities for sustainability. By offering quality instruction to producers and trainees Manushi facilities technology transfer to adopt new skills, concepts, attitude and behaviors that will make them reach their full potential.
LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN
As a regular programme to promote livelihood opportunities for the poor women, Manushi conducts in-house skill development and management training courses in handicrafts, business management and financial management. During the initial years (1991-1994), this programme was supported by ICMOP. Manushi has also been carrying out community-based primary health care training for mothers and adolescent girls in rural areas. Highly sensitive and viable Manushi has played Keen role on production and productivity of producers and services are provided to enhance the capacity of producers.
GENDER EMPOWERMENT
General prospective is an integral part of Manushi long term goals.
Improvement and empowerment of women has always been the core concern of Manushi. With a view to supporting women's sustainable livelihood and their mainstreaming in development, needs assessment, studies and training workshops have been regularly carriedout. Manushi always believes in women's power to lead the process of economic development and social progress.
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