Seven Women 1.39

About the Founder/ History of the Organisation:

Steph Woollard is the founder of Seven Women, a fair trade wholesale and retail business that sells handmade felt and knitted items as part of a grassroots development project that empowers women through income generation.

During a trip to Nepal, Steph met seven women with disabilities who were operating out of a tin shed and experiencing harsh discrimination. Having witnessed the stark contrast between her quality of life and that of many women living in the impoverished country, she felt she had to do something to make a difference. Together with the seven women, a women's skills training centre was built with the profits from sales back here in Australia. This centre was a place for the women to live with dignity and learn skills that empower them economically.

Fast forward to today and the initial seven women have now taken on managerial roles at the centre, which now employs over 5000 women, and are keen to pass on their skills to others.

We hope to effect positive change in many communities in the future by applying the same principles of empowerment that we used with Seven Women. In the meantime, we are establishing a wholesale business to create more demand for the products the women make.

This project has become as successful as it has today because of the input and time donated by many. We have had a huge team of volunteers who have worked tirelessly and with passion and enthusiasm to make a difference in the lives of women in Nepal.

Please see our website www.sevenwomen.org for ways to support this project and help it continue to grow.

For more information on our Hands on Development Tours click here: http://handsondevelopment.com.au/