Edifying and uplifting young women in Nepal to realize their dreams and bring about economic and social change in their country and society.
Empowering Young Women in Nepal
Located in the region of the world with the tallest points on earth, Nepal gazes out over the rest of the earth with its majesty and beauty. It is filled with rich culture, delicious cuisine, beautiful landscapes, energizing music, and wonderful people. However, interwoven in the beauty of its culture and landscapes are harmful paradigms of gender inequality and a lingering caste system. Women are often placed in the position of being secondhand citizens in many ways. From continual issues of sexual violence to unfair laws and legislation, women struggle to have a voice in their own society.
The good news is that recently change is occurring and big shifts are on the horizon for gender equality and the dissolving of the caste system. Women are protesting and demanding equality and rights. Women are participating more and more in the public and private sectors. Raksha Ascent is riding these waves of change. Our mission is to empower underprivileged young women with the confidence and resilience they need to realize themselves as people and professionals in order to lead their society to a bright future.
Raksha Ascent is an organization that partners with local organizations working with underprivileged and exploited women and girls. The project consists of an annual trekking expedition that pairs experience design with personal and professional development trainings. The purpose is to instill leadership, self-development, relationship building, professional readiness, and personal resilience in underprivileged Nepali women. As they pass through this personal discovery process we hope they will carry their confidence and new skillsets into life-long learning. We train and encourage them to take leadership roles in the workforce and education. This will enact economic, political, and social change through whichever capacity they choose to engage.
Photography courtesy of Nicholas Ewing.
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” - Muir
“Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.” - Woolf
“To prepare for the mountains develop mind, body, will and spirit as strong as a sword, soft as a pillow and fluid as water.” - Rasley
