Dynamic, Extrovert, Confident
Meet Kopila Pudasaini (28) – Means Blooming Flower (Flower Bud).

Kopila doesn’t recall when she came to Kathmandu from her native village, but it was a long time ago. She has been married to a grocery shop keeper for seven years, and has no children.

Kopila has been working in the factory for five years. Over the years, she gained a lot of experience in the scarf making process. She started in the weaving area, then moved to the mending section, and is currently working in quality control, which is the final stage of the process.

She never had the opportunity to go to school, and never learned to read or write. “I only know how to write my name”. Her dream, given the chance, would be to make some extra income to afford going to night school to improve her circumstances.

Introvert, Hesitant, Soft Spoken
Meet Manisha Tamang (26) - Means “thought” and “wisdom” in Sanskrit. Manisha was not aware of this meaning, but said that she liked her name.

Manisha moved to Kathmandu from her native village of Usputin seven years ago. She attended school until the age of 14, and got married at 16. Sadly, her husband left her many years ago and married someone else. Their nine-year-old daughter currently lives with him.

Manisha has been working in the factory for two years. After rotating through all areas of the production process, she is now in the Mending Section, which she found to be her favourite task. “I have many dreams.  I want to be able to pay for my daughter’s education. I have not yet been able to achieve that yet”, says Manisha.

The situation with her husband and the separation from her daughter weigh heavily on her, leaving her feeling weak and unwell. Any extra income would go towards her daughter’s education and improving her well-being.

Quiet, Reserved, Wise

Meet Rama Ghimire (39) – means “Pleasing” in Sanskrit

Rama moved to Kathmandu from her village in the Sinduli District after getting married 10 years ago. Sadly, she barely sees her husband, who is currently serving in the army. Together, they have two daughters and one son, ranging in age from 5 to 9 years old. Rama is proud that all her children are attending school, since she left school when she was 16 years old.
                                     
After getting married, Rama initially did not want to work, preferring to take care of her children. However, as her husband’s salary barely covers the basics, she had to seek work and took the job in the factory. For four years, she has been employed in the Mending Section, which she says is her favorite part of the production process. Her responsibility lies in fixing minor production flaws in the shawls/scarves.

“Unfortunately, I was young when I had to leave school. My dream is to provide my children with higher education. I know how important this is for their future”.On a personal level, Rama would like to improve her skills, in the hope that this may open up more work opportunities for her and ultimately improve her income.

Sweet, Fun-loving, Lively

Meet Swarti Adhikari (20) – named after the God of Starting.

Originally from the Nuakot District, Swarti left her village for Kathmandu three years ago, seeking a better life for herself. She is currently living with her sister, whose husband provides additional income for both through the little salary he sends home from working abroad.

Swarti has been at the factory for one year, after having graduated high school. She works in the dyeing section, where she measures the colours and dyes each scarf individually by hand – a very labor-intensive task which requires much patience and knowledge in mixing colours.

Swarti’s work at the factory goes beyond improving her income. “I am very proud of my work. If I can improve my skills, I dream of opening my own business and discovering new colours for pashmina scarves.”