Female Trekking Guide Training Program

More about Female Trekking Guide Training Program

Women in Nepal lead a difficult life, particularly in rural, mountain communities where a patriarchal society and ignorance of the law hinders progress towards gender equality. Although things have been improving for urban girls and women, Nepalese women are still expected to act subserviently, given inferior education relative to their male counterparts and are forced to work without pay or less pay. They are often abused, emotionally and physically, which further contributes to their negative self-image and low personal expectations. Given a chance to better their lives through education and training, women can find self-confidence and begin to shift attitudes about their place in Nepalese society. EWN’s programme offers women from the remotest regions an alternative future.

By training to become trekking guides, these women are reaching past the constraints that society placed on them at birth. They can go on to work and earn a living for themselves, defying the stereotypes that only men can be guides. For many trainees it is also about self-discovery and using available resources to improve themselves and their lives. The training shows the girls that they can do things they hadn’t thought possible.