Encourage women travellers in Nepal
Solo Travel is a journey of creativity, courage, curiosity, and contemplation.
This year, in 2018, the Solo Woman Travel Challenge, or SWO-YATRA in short, is supporting and mentoring 14 women travellers who will take on solo journeys in Nepal. This group of women is defying narratives of a society where free movement of women is limited. This group of women include teenagers and a grandmother, and they inspire thousands of women to find motivation in their everyday lives.
In 2018, we are providing 14 fully-funded travel grants and mentorship support that includes Wilderness First Aid training, Self Defense workshops, Risk Management strategies, and hours of peer-to-peer interaction on itinerary building, budget planning, etc. During the travels, the travellers are supported by a communication team in case of emergencies.
Besides providing grants and travel support, we use our platform to bring forth discourses on travel, gender, and risks. Be a part of this incredible conversation!
Video: Our 2016 Grantees share their experiences of traveling solo and share how people perceived them.
* WHY SOLO WOMAN TRAVEL CHALLENGE?
It is challenging for most Nepalis to Travel!
It is difficult for most Nepali Women to Travel!!
It is rare for most Nepali Women to Travel SOLO!!!
Nepali women receive less equity of opportunities, which negatively affect life experiences and accomplishments in homes and workplaces. This discrimination further trap most women from making bold decisions and creating independent ambitions.
To break this trap, we need visible role models who push social conventions and live a life of intention and adventure in all types of careers. This is why, with Solo Woman Travel Challenge, we support STRONG, DYNAMIC, and CHARISMATIC WOMEN TO DEFY THE NORM and SET THEIR OWN STANDARDS. In a society, and largely the world, that tells young girls that they cannot, we want to champion women who believe THEY CAN.
Our approach for such empowerment is SOLO TRAVEL - an introspective, experiential journey of courage and discovery. We believe that wisdom cannot be learnt; it has to be gained from personal experiences of triumphs and misadventures. Solo Travel inspires confidence and builds character. Solo Travel enhances ability to create, curate, and connect.
Since 2015, we have supported 28 Nepali women in their solo travels of discovery within Nepal. These women have travelled to almost every renowned destinations in Nepal and explored several regions that are not yet in the popular imagination.
We are the only platform in Nepal that provides travel grants for solo woman travel! We wish there were more.
* 2018 GRANTEES
Shanti Kala Rai, 27
95 days, Everest Base Camp - Dharan - Bardiya - Khaptad - Rara - Sinja - Phoksundo - Lo Manthang - Palpa
Prajwola Karmacharya, 31
30 days, Kangchenjunga - Yalung Base Camp - Eastern Terai
Menuka Gurung, 23
20 days, Taplejung - Kanchenjunga - Ilam - Dharan
Eka Kumari Basnet, 49
15 days, Ilam - Panchthar - Dhankuta - Dharan
Anupama Pithakote, 23
18 days, Tumlingtar - Arun Valley Trek - Namche - Salleri
Pooja Rijal, 22
30 days, Jiri - Junbesi - Gokyo - Everest Base Camp
Rejina Tamang, 20
19 days, Tsho Rolpa - Kalinchowk - Patalekhet
Sudixa Malla, 21
15 days, Syabrubesi - Langtang - Gosainkunda
Anugya Pradhan, 20
21 days, Nar phu - Tilicho - Muktinath - Pokhara
Gauri Malakar, 44
19 days, Annapurna Circuit Trek - Tilicho - Thorong La
Rukshana Kapali, 19
15 days, Upper Mustang Trek - Lo Manthang
Mamata Maharjan, 23
22 days, Rara - Khaptad - Bardiya - Butwal
Sweta Shrestha, 23
18 days, Khaptad National Park - cycle across West Terai
Nima Sherpa, 21
19 days, Darchula - Baitadi - Dadeldhura - Bardiya
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Prasuna (in the video below) was one of the 18 women travellers who travelled solo across different parts of Nepal last year. Over 22 days, she traversed through the width of the country to get to Himalayan communities and mountain passes that barely see much travellers. She was empowered, and she inspired. Ever since her rugged travels to Dolpo, she has been receiving messages from other Nepali women who have looked up to her and set forth on their own journeys of discovery.
