NAMASTE
You are not wrong, the time is, so just have faith in yourself (old nepalese saying)
Weaving for Life is a non-govermental, non-profit women’s aid project based in Pokhara, Nepal.
It focuses on women and girls who are socially or economically neglected. These include widowed, disabled or abused women.
In our different programmes we provide education, access to health care and a safe space to discuss taboo topics, such as menstruation, sexual abuse or the trafficking of girls.
We are a purely humanitarian organisation and do not pursue economic or religious interests.
Our Story
Weaving for Life was founded by Tara, a nepali mother of three. After a surgery she was sent to the countryside to recover. There, Tara learned the almost forgotten art of weaving and brought it back to the city. Her first project CHETANA was founded in 2008 in Pokhara.
All this happened against her husband’s will. But Tara prevailed and sold tea on the street to earn enough money to train the first woman in weaving. Little by little, she had the financial security to open her own shop, where she sold the hand-made goods.
In 2018 Pabita, Taras daughter, took over the project as well as the shop and founded the Sahayatra Health Awareness Programme.
Our visions are growing and there is still a lot to do to achieve gender equity. But we aren't giving up and with your help we can achieve our goal together.
Meet The Team
Tara Timilsina
Tara is the founder of Weaving for Life and she started her first programme CHETAN in Pokhara in 2008.
Since she was young, she fought against the prevailing prejudices against women in society and with this project, she realised a lifelong dream of empowering women, especially from the lower casts.
She is retired now but she still supports her daughter Pabita with her years of experience in the leading the programme, while also offering her emotional support.
Pabita Timilsina
Pabita was born 1990 in Nepal. After obtaining her diploma in nursing in Kathmandu, she started working there as an emergency nurse.
In 2013, Pabita went to Great Britain to get her bachelor’s degree in nursing. After five years abroad she returned to Pokhara after the passing of her dad. She supported her grieving mother and took over the Weaving for Life project.
With a new perspective on the society she grew up in, she started the Sahayatra Health Awareness Programme in 2018.
Merit Röhl
Merit visited Nepal for the first time in 2018. After finishing school, she worked in a children's home for half a year. During her stay, she met Pabita and her family and learnt more about the gendergap and prejudices against women in Nepal.
Now she studies medicine in Switzerland. Together with Pabita she founded the women's shelter and this website in the beginning of 2020.