Renu and Kamala visit Switzerland | 27 Dec 11

Changemakers from Zürich (www.changemaker.ch) have invited Renu and Kamala, founders of Women’s Foundation of Nepal (WFN), to come to Switzerland to present WFN’s activities to their customers. For several years now Changemakers shops have been selling products from Maheela, WFN weaving cooperative, with a growing success. Maheela was launched 10 years ago with two objectives : first to give employment to women who had been victims of  violence and second to generate funding for WFN activities.

Dil Se started a partnership with WFN in 2010. Dil Se has presently committed to collaborate actively in the purchase of a plot of land and the construction of a multi-purpose building that will host a screen-print workshop, a psycho-social counselling center and a training center. The plot of land was bought in July and the construction started in December. A member of Dil Se Swiss Committee, Stan Bornand, has just arrived after 13 000 km with his van in Katmandu and will spend 5 months with WFN in 2012, then again in 2013 and 2014 to help with developping the international sales network.

 

Renu and Kamal’s purpose visiting the Lausanne area was to meet as many people as possible who are interested in their activities (sponsors, customers, volunteers…) as well as to raise funds to finish the construction of the building. Our November call ‘140 000 bricks need sponsor’ has allowed us to raise more than 9000 CHF and last week’s activities 5000 CHF. Thanks to all who got involved. We still need your generosity…

 

Last week we took part in the Solidarity market at Pôle Sud in Lausanne. This market gathers every year about thirty NGOs active all over the world. Our stand had on offer a range of the magnificent weaving products made by WFN. They were very succesful. What fun to work in a network and meet so many people with a deep interest in solidarity in action. Renu and Kamala were overwhelmed with pleasure !

 

We also organised an event at the Great escape in Lausanne and a speech at a bookshop in Geneva, ‘Le vent des routes’, where we had been invited by Inge (www.labeletoffe.ch).

 

Every day we were invited to eat by a different family and we have met many customers and sponsors as well as visited projects ; in a nutshell, plenty of exchanges, ideas, solidarity…Renu and Kamala went back home with a heart full of emotions, inspirations and hope. A big thank you to all of you !!

Marina Racine