Powerful Economic Empowerment Models: Beni
In Kathmandu, Nepal, a woman named Beni decided to take matters into her own hands. Although Beni has survived much hardship in her life, she hasn’t given up hope and now spends her time helping other women earn an income. This industrious woman came up with the idea to turn recycled material into handmade items. The women in the program collect potato chip, chocolate, cookie and noodle wrappings off the streets, from school playgrounds, cinemas and along the mountain trails of Nepal, synthetic rice bags from hotels and restaurants and rubber inner tubes from garages. Beni then teaches the women how to make these recycled materials into baskets, Christmas ornaments, purses and other fun items. Most of the women in the program have been forced to move from the outlying hill districts of Nepal into Kathmandu to try to survive. Because Beni’s production system allows for “home based” manufacturing, many of the women can return to their villages and families.
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