Microfinance – sustainable projects by Sapana Lodge in Chitwan Nepal

Microfinance is providing small scale loans to local people to set up small businesses. To date Sapana Village Lodge has given microfinance support to Sapana Women Skill Development Project, two candle factories and some small local businesses like a tailor, a fruit and vegetable shop, a constructor and a carpenter.

Sapana Women Skill Development Project
Sapana Women Skill Development Project started in August 2007.
Since many women in Nepal are uneducated and illiterate they are not able to support themselves. This makes them highly dependent on men and therefore vulnerable. This project aims to teach the women skills that can help them provide for themselves. The women produce all sorts of home decorations for some Dutch fair-trade companies and the local Nepali market. All products are fair-trade, which means the women get a fair prices for their labour and products.

Another success story: The candle factory
At the end of 2008 a group of women from a neighbouring village got microfinance through Sapana Village lodge to start a candle factory. The deal was they would pay back the money with interest within a year. The factory soon became very successful. As a matter of fact, they were so successful they paid back the loan within 6 months and are now completely self-supported. One of the reasons for their success is because many hotels in Sauraha now buy the candles from this factory.

A local chicken farm
Sapana has given microfinance to a group of 16 women to start a chicken farm. The farm will be animal friendly and will help the women provide for themselves and their families.

A tailorshop
With microfinance from Sapana, 4 women and 1 (handicapped) man started a tailor shop. Their first assignment is to make school uniforms for the local primary school. The school dresses are also sponsored through Sapana. After this assignment they will work both for the local people and for tourists.

NEPAL - Chitwan National Park, Tharu people