Urban Poverty in Kathmandu

While only 17% of the Nepalese population lives in urban centers, cities such as Kathmandu are particularly prone to high levels of poverty because urbanization is occuring faster than economic growth. The result is an ever-widening gap between rich and poor compounded by high levels of unemployment (nearly half of the Nepalese population is unemployed) and inflation. Nepal is one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia because it lacks infrastructure, and those services that are available are often too expensive. Families in urban areas have great difficulty affording food, education, and health care. The poor quality of life in cities is exacerbated, for women in particular, by human trafficking; every year, thousands of girls are illegally transported to neighboring countries such as India. To address these issues, Friends Handicrafts provides families with increased access to education as well as improved social and economic security.

Artisan Voices

Sujitha Shrestha, Artisan Manager: “My sister introduced me to Friends Handicrafts. I basically manage the work of other artisans. I have become very independent after being associated with Friends Handicrafts. I have gained a lot of confidence and leadership skills. Working here has helped me upgrade my financial status. I am proud to be associated with this company because it focuses on women's empowerment and upgrading the standard of living of women. It has helped lots of families improve their financial status by training women.”

Nepalese Felting

Felt is the oldest man-made textile known, predating knit and woven cloth; in fact, archaeologists have found fragments of felt in Asia dating back to the Bronze Age. It is made by wetting layers of wool with soap and water and agitating the fibers so that they form a dense fabric. This can then be stretched into all sorts of items, including shoes, socks, bags, coats, and even shelters. Today, the art of felting is mainly found in the “Felt Belt,” which runs through Central Asia, and is a particular specialty of Nepal.

Region: Southern Asia

Capital: Kathmandu

Population: 28,951,852 (2010)

Size: Slightly larger than Arkansas

Languages: Nepali, Maithali, Bhojpuri, various other regional dialects

Major religion(s): Hindu (81%), Buddhist, Muslim, others

Literacy: Total 49%; Male 63%; Female 35%

Urban population: 17% of total population

Unemployment rate: 46% (10th highest in the world)

Inflation rate: 13.2% (12th highest in the world)

Human trafficking: 5,000-7,000 girls are trafficked annually to neighboring countries

Did You Know: Kathmandu was typically the last destination on the Hippie Trail, the name used to describe the eastbound journeys of hippies in the 1960s and 1970s. In fact, one road, Jochen Tole, still has the nickname “Freak Street” in memory of the many thousands of hippies who passed through.

All statistics from CIA World Factbook 2010

Nepal lies between India and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. Prior to the establishment of a constitutional republic in 2008, it was ruled by a monarchy. Despite its rich cultural, religious, and physical beauty, Nepal is one of the poorest nations in the world, with a long history of political instability. A ten-year civil war starting in 1996 displaced nearly 250,000 people. These internally displaced communities are just now beginning the difficult return home. Unfortunately, Nepal continues to suffer from occasional bombings, general strikes and ongoing political volatility within its borders.

Violence Against Women

Nepal's civil war was marked by well-documented human rights abuses, including sexual violence against women, forced abortions to decrease the number of female children, female infanticide, and trafficking of women into prostitution. Girls were also forcibly recruited into rebel armies. Even now, after the end of the civil war, there are more than 118 legal provisions as well as customs, rituals, and practices that directly discriminate against Nepalese women. Child marriage and child labor are a continuing problem, as is human trafficking. Educational differences also contribute to the low status of women—only 35% of Nepalese women are considered literate compared to 63% of men.

Economy

Nepal’s topography has made it difficult to develop consistent access to roads and markets, compounding the poverty found throughout the country. The UN estimates that about 40% of Nepalis live in poverty. Most of the population depends on agriculture, cultivating rice, corn, sugarcane, and tobacco. Many of these crops are profitable in small-scale production, but are becoming less sustainable as deforestation takes its toll on the environment. Foreign aid is vital to the economy, and Nepal is also heavily dependent on trade with neighboring India. Nepal's ethnic groups have a rich heritage, which has been a source of income for communities seeking entrance into the tourism industry. Most Nepalis, however, live in remote and hard-to-reach regions, where it can take two or three days on arduous mountain paths just to reach public transport.