Strength in Sisterhood
By EMILEE WESSEL and REGEENA REGMI
Photographs by NARENDRA SHRESTHA
Strength defines Nepal's rural life. This statement rings especially true in Chhatre Deurali, where, historically, women have been put to the test by a deeply entrenched, patriarchal backdrop.
"Women in Nepal live in a very male-dominated society," said Regeena Regmi, communications officer for Heifer Nepal. "Decision-making is largely in the hands of men, while women are confined to domestic responsibilities from dawn to dusk."
From birth, girls in Nepal learn a self-limiting narrative: they are less valuable than boys. This inhibits their dreams and clips the wings of their potential. According to the World Bank, only 28.6 percent of Nepali women participated in the labor force in 2022. Many were stuck in informal or vulnerable jobs such as domestic work or service-oriented roles, which do not provide a stable income or job security.
Despite laws designed to increase women’s political presence in recent years, they also have little representation in the higher ranks of Nepal’s political parties. Only 13.9 percent of senior and middle management positions in Nepal are held by women, placing it among countries ranking lowest in female leadership globally.
The barriers are even more formidable for Dalit women, who belong to the lowest caste in Nepal's Hindu social hierarchy. Discrimination based on caste compounds their struggles, limiting their access to essential services like quality healthcare, schooling and employment.
Both societal norms and women's own self-doubt contribute to this cycle of inequality because limited beliefs persist about what women can do.
Despite this, women living in Chhatre Deurali, like Shanti Tamang and her close-knit circle of "sisters," are challenging the status quo, proving that they too can be leaders, entrepreneurs and agents of change.
The Cornerstones Impact
Seven years ago, Shanti, a primary school teacher, made a life-altering decision. She traded in her classroom to lead a budding all-women agricultural cooperative. It was a risky move that didn’t guarantee a paid salary but one that eventually offered her and her community a path to empowerment.
Today, Shanti manages the flourishing enterprise known as Chhatre Deurali Social Entrepreneur Women’s Cooperative (SEWC) — an ode to the collective strength and shared aspirations of all the women involved. Established in 2012, the co-op started with just 11 self-help groups. They were lifelines for women, offering a financial safety net and agricultural know-how in a community where women had few economic prospects or social support systems.
Heifer’s Passing on the Gift® initiative fueled the evolution of this when it inspired original members of the group to share their wisdom and resources with 46 more groups. Central to this expansion was its Cornerstones training, which involves workshops — with exercises to help change people’s views on gender equality — and encourages the growth of practical skills.
“It is not like the old times, where ... a woman's place is in the kitchen, and they are unable to do anything else," Shanti said. “[Now] there are a lot of people … treating their daughters and sons equally and not participating in discrimination.”
These teachings are highly effective at the grassroots level because they break down mental barriers and shift the mindset of both genders, added Regeena. Post-training, women begin to find their voice, taking a more active role in politics. “We've seen more than 600 women from across our projects in Nepal participate in general elections, with a significant number of them winning seats,” she said.
As men begin to understand that gender issues impact not just individual households but the entire community, they take on domestic responsibilities and advocate for women in leadership roles, she explained.
"For women, they come to recognize their own self-worth and break their own glass ceilings."
Shanti Tamang, manager of Chhatre Deurali Social Entrepreneur Women’s Cooperative, gathers fresh vegetables.
Shanti Tamang, manager of Chhatre Deurali Social Entrepreneur Women’s Cooperative, gathers fresh vegetables.
"When we work as a group, actually, there is really nothing at all that we can't do."
Members of the Chhatre Deurali Social Entrepreneur Women’s Cooperative harvest their crops for market delivery in Dhading, Nepal.
Members of the Chhatre Deurali Social Entrepreneur Women’s Cooperative harvest their crops for market delivery in Dhading, Nepal.
Sisterhood and Success
Since its formal registration in 2015, Chhatre Deurali SEWC has been on a remarkable upward trajectory.
Its proper registration served as a watershed moment, legitimizing the cooperative and unlocking access to grants and local government support.
As of 2023, SEWC offers a diverse range of services that include savings, loans and agricultural assistance to 1,172 members.
Starting with modest, initial monthly savings of just 10 to 100 Nepalese rupees, less than $1, from each of its members, the women have significantly grown their cooperative's capital fund. It now stands at an impressive 70 million rupees, of which 69 million has been invested in various businesses, ranging from goat farming to vegetable production.
The cooperative can lend its members money for children's education and women-led businesses, as well as help them in emergencies. Repayment is flexible and can be made in installments.
The cooperative has also broadened its services, offering logistical support, facilitating animal vaccinations and making fertilizers affordable for local farmers. Its infrastructure has grown, with the construction of both a new office and a collection center for the co-op.
Shanti assists with unloading farmers' produce from the cooperative's agri-transport vehicle.
Shanti assists with unloading farmers' produce from the cooperative's agri-transport vehicle.
"Everything [about the Cornerstones training] was good," Shanti reflected. "But the most important [lesson] was this idea that whether it's a meeting or any other work, it should be held with the full participation of everyone in the group.” Alone, the tasks may seem insurmountable, but when we unite as a group — be it 15-, 20- or 25- strong — there's nothing we can't achieve, she said.
This unity extends far beyond financial matters, manifesting in social capital and a strong sense of community. “Once we are part of a group, if any other member… is celebrating something, like a wedding or a Bratabandha, members of her group go there to help out with the preparations,” Shanti said, referring to a Hindu coming-of-age ceremony.
Similarly, she said, when someone was sick or having a baby, members of their group have stepped in to take them to the health post or the hospital.
"Chhatre Deurali has become like my family,” she said.
Shanti, second from right, and members from the Chhatre Deurali Women’s Cooperative stand together outside their office in Dhading, Nepal.
Shanti, second from right, and members from the Chhatre Deurali Women’s Cooperative stand together outside their office in Dhading, Nepal.
For Shanti, the journey to fulfillment is still far from over. By eliminating the role of market intermediaries, she aims to secure higher profits for members, elevating these smallholder women farmers into seasoned professionals. And with the backing of a committed sisterhood and a community changing its views, her vision is becoming a reality.
"When we work as a group," she said, "actually, there is really nothing at all that we can't do.”
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