The initiative taken by 3 sisters is highly appreciable.Empowering women and their upliftment is a great challenge in a country like Nepal.Nepal is a male dominating country where women are only considered to look after households.Moreover the employment opportunities are limited for women.By training women as trekkers and mountaineers can be a major boost for the tourism industry besides making the women self dependent financially ,reaching to a more stronger women status.

Dear Sisters and Staff, I was so delighted to see that you rightfully won this important competition. It was even more fun to find out since Dicky was just here with me and we were awaiting the results together. She has told me so much about all your hard work, your inspirational father and mother, and your close relationships with your staff, clients and community. You truly all deserve this honor.
Looking forward to seeing you in October in beautiful Pokhara.
Love, Heidi
Pacific Grove, CA, USA

Dear Lucky, I was so happy when Stephanie from World Expedition sent me a email to announce to me that you won the GeoTourism Challenge. Yesterday night, around the table for the dinner, you were in my thoughts, me and my family have celebrated this great honor. You deserve it so much!
For the people reading this, I'm journalist and one of the participants of the Women's Trek for Peace and Development organized last March by CECI Nepal(international canadian ngo) to promote the voices of Nepali women living in mountains. We were 10 sisters, nepalese and canadians, in West Nepal,Jumla and Mugu for 10 days'trek, meeting women's groups and women's leaders in their community and giving them basic health workshop. We trek with 3 Sisters, and 5 young ladies, assistant guides and trainees, Dhurga, Radika, Laxmi and Sushila. Five young women determined to take their place in society, determine to change the route that nepali society has traced for women for centuries. Lucky and her 2 sisters open the eyes of Nepali society, no progress will happen without half of the population, women, kept in silence and traditions, uneducated, sick and dependant financially of their husband.
We gonna trek together again next year in the West, because World Expedition in Canada decide to organize the Second Edition of Womens'Trek in 2009!
I'm looking forward to trek with you sisters again!
Dominique Jutras, Montréal,Quebec, Canada

Congratulations, Luckyji, for getting this award...

3 Sisters totally deserves it, and we are very very glad that a Nepali organization won this award.

Raj Gyawali
www.socialtreks.com

On May 28, 2008, the judges reviewed the entries for the Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge” and would like to pass on this feedback for your entry. Thank you for applying and for your hard work in the field. We are excited to archive your entry to serve as a leading solution for the worldwide community of sustainable tourism innovators. We wish you continued luck with your sustainable, innovative, and socially impactful initiatives.

All the best, The Changemakers Team

“This program has built on the widespread initiatives involving ecology and conservation with a unique concept—the role of women. The women’s empowerment dimension of this program and its impact on families is very attractive. The impact on these households is quite transformative, and the scope seems to continually grow. They’ve now trained over 600 women to work in the tourist industry.”

-Changemakers Geotourism Judges: National Geographic Society, Past President the Ford Foundation, whl.travel - World Hotel Link, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth.

I think 3 Sisters Adventure has a great initiative. The women of Nepal do most of the work anyway, so let them now profit from this too. Women can make great changes in Nepal and now it is slowly happening. The new government has a much greater number of women and they will be the advocates for equal rights and pay for women. Also in tourism in Nepal women should play a much greater role. Dicky and her group are making this happen.

I wish 3 Sisters all the best in this competition - they deserve to win!
I just returned from spending 7 months in Nepal, working as a volunteer with Empowering Women of Nepal. During my time in Pokhara I never ceased to be amazed by the sisters' dedication to their work. I saw at first-hand the difference their work makes to the lives of the women in Nepal: teaching English on the women's trekking guide training program I got to know the trainees and hear their hopes for the future and watch them gain in confidence as the training progressed; teaching English on training courses (Women's Initiation in Ecotourism) in Dolpa and Mugu in west Nepal gave me the opportunity to see how poor these areas are and how EWN and 3 Sisters are helping; working in the EWN office showed me the endless work carried out behind the scenes to secure funding for their work, organise programs in west Nepal, welcome visitors interested in their work, help trekking staff with any family problems - the list is endless!
I also went trekking twice with 3 Sisters and can whole-heartedly recommend their trekking company to anyone. My first trek with a group at the start of my visit was the best group-trekking experience I've ever been on. The Himalayan scenery was wonderful, but what will always stand out in my mind was the chance to get to know the staff as we walked along the trail together. In March I went on another trek, this time with only a trainee guide for company - I'd recommend doing this to any women travellers who like the independence of choosing when, where and for how long to stop, but also want the companionship and support of someone along the way, not to mention the opportunity to spend time with a Nepali woman and learn how she came to be there and what she wants to do with her life.
Vote for 3 Sisters!
Catriona

This is to congratulate Luckyji and her sisters and all the amazing folks working for change through Empowerment of the Women of Nepal. But it's also a comment on how broadly they are affecting change beyond their community/

This organization is not just changing lives in their community, they are shifting entire country/cultural paradigms as far as gender and economics! I have seen it in person over the past 5 years and am humbled by Lucky, Dicky and Nicky's work. Their compassion, kindness and sense of humor combined with how well they know the adventure tourism industry has given many (including myself) access to a amazing adventures in the Himalayan region!

Keep an eye on Lucky - she is sure to garner a Nobel Peace Prize someday in the not too-distant future! Her vision accompanied by the work of the Three Sisters is changing not only women's lives but the future for their children - male and female. And it is also changing the face of poverty for Western Nepal, giving the people of that region some glimmers of the first hope they may have seen in their lifetime. Truly, 3 Sisters is offering a new alternative to the terrorism of the Maoist rebel forces. And this is peace-building at the grassroots level!

VOTE VOTE VOTE for 3 Sisters and contribute to these amazing agents of social change!

It is very good and inspring job for the young generation. We salut them from core of our heart.We wish u all the best for ur coming days.

with love eksh,dip,bj,cicil n pakku

I had an opportunity to use the services of 3 Sisters Trekking this past February (2008). I am in my late 60's and not exactly in top physical condition but found the experience to be one of the most rewarding vacations I have taken. Referred to the Three Sisters by a friend, I had originally planned to walk part of the Jomsom Trek and had mapped out an itinerary with 3 Sisters before I left Canada. When I arrived in Pokhara, I was pleased to find that all arrangements had been made as discussed.

There was one obstacle and that was weather. It turned out that February 2008 was one of the severest in recent years and for days there were no flights to Jomsom our starting point. Rather than stay in Pokhara at the teahouse, Shiva (my guide supplied by 3 Sisters) suggested some innovative ways to spend the time visiting local areas of interest. Shiva's excellent English combined with his knowledge of the region's various cultures and geography made the time pass quickly and in a very interesting fashion.

Taking the weather day-by-day, we also travelled through the many hills surrounding Pokhara which served as a bit of a conditioning exercise for me. Time was now becoming a factor as I had booked return flights to Canada. When it became obvious that the weather was not going to allow us enough time to travel to Jomsom and do any reasonable travelling in that area, I discussed alternatives with 3 Sisters. Their suggestion to visit Lumbini and the surrounding area turned out to be an excellent recommendation and brought a new dimension to my already rich experience in Nepal.

The qualities I enjoyed most about the 3 Sisters was their knowledge and friendly professionalism. I knew at each point in my trip what my alternatives were, how much time was involved, and what it was going to cost. Just as important I knew with confidence that they could deliver on what they promised.

I am looking forward to returning to Nepal im a year or so and the 3 Sisters will certainly be a major factor in planning and carrying out my trip.

Brian Wiley
USA
tracker@sentex.net

I would like to appreciate the efforts of 3 Sisters for the economic and social empowerment of women in Nepal through adventure tourism. We have also been doing homework on a similiar projects, where rural women living in the remote mountains nearby natural trails will be linked with tourists for marketing their traditional handicrafts and traditional food so that they will be economically and socially empowered.
Wish you all the best.

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3 Chhetri Sisters and their NGO EWN is helping our group to help a very poor Nepalese remote mountain village family we placed with them to get on their feet. The hard working mother is learning to feed and educate her children in a healthy way, taking professional sewing training to start such a business, developing new supportive friendships with other women, learning about city life, and enjoying the opportunity to develop as an independent woman.

My friends and I have had the pleasure of enjoying several days at their outstanding Pokhara Lakeside lodge. We were very comfortable in the clean attractive rooms and relished each attractively served delicious meal there.

I have been very fortunate to meet the 3 Sisters at their lodge and in their business. All the work they do has excellent results. They are helping us support a young woman with 2 children who is staying with them at this time. They are supporting her with great love and professionalism. Their niece Archana is studying here in the U.S. and will be a great asset to their organization when she returns to Nepal.
This is one of the few Nepali organizations helping other Nepalis. The 3 Sisters do this effectively and always with the welfare of other women in mind.
Their country is benefitting greatly to have them lead the way in Women's Empowerment in Nepal.

3 Sisters Trekking is very deserving of support. Anyone I tell about my March 2008 10-day Jomsom all-women trek is fascinated to hear about 3 Sisters Trekking and the work they are doing to empower Nepali women in the male-dominated trekking industry. My experience trekking was 100% positive: our guide and porters were first-rate. I often noticed the respectful recognition our guide and porters received when we stopped for the night at a teahouse or when we met other non-3 Sisters guides along the trail. I am especially enthusiastic about the recent addition by 3 Sisters of treks in the less-traveled West of Nepal and the benefits that should accrue to local people. I encourage 3 Sisters to continue to reach out to women trekkers of all ages and nationalities: the problems of women from post-industrial countries and rich developing countries may seem largely luxury problems in comparison to the problems of Nepali women, but there is enough shared experience for trekking to be empowering to any woman, especially those eager to fall in love...with a mountain!

First and foremost, I thank my guide and porters for the incredible journey. They made me realize how wonderful Nepali and Nepal are. Most of the male guides and porters we met on the trek also respect these brave and kind women. Indeed, 3 sisters gave them an opportunity to make a difference in their lives. However, my question is rather simple: how empowered are they?
This question started at the beginning of the trek when we met a former 3-sisters client who chose another agency this year. She was disappointed by 3 sisters because this agency failed to take care of their guides and porters in many different ways. We were puzzled by her comments at first. It then became evident. The following is a list of problems my trek mates and I identified. They put guides, porters and trekkers in jeopardy, and they deserve immediate attention.
1. Guides and porters did not always have suitable clothing in high altitude. We, the clients, had to lend warm clothes to ensure that they did not get sick. 2. When hiking boots are borrowed from the agency, there is no guarantee of a suitable pair. One of our porters had an old blister that did not seem to heal ever. 3. Since there is a shortage of guides at 3 sisters, guides do not get enough (if any) rest between treks. In contrast, there are a lot of porters or guide assistants, and they have to wait for 10-30 days for the next trek. Much can be discussed about this imbalance. For example: why not more trained guides years after the establishment of this agency? Is guide/porter a sustainable job for women? Certainly, I don’t have a definite answer here. 4. There is no doubt that these women earn more than the average Nepali. However, after comparing their wages with average male guides/porters’ on the trek, we are no longer sure if these women are empowered or exploited. If they endure the same hardship, why less income? Why the inability to buy adequate gears/clothing? I believe that the comparison has to be made with those from the same trade. If I paid the same or even higher fees to 3 sisters, I certainly felt outrageous to learn how little my porter/guide earned from me. I joined to support the ideal of women’s empowerment, but I felt owners are empowered the most. 5. When we were at the lodge, the male owner or staff (we did not really know his exact role) commented on how much their guides and porters have to learn and improve. I am not sure if this comment was made out of the Nepali humbleness or the continuation of male criticism/domination over women? I also learned that the male staff gets paid better. Again, this does not sound like women’s empowerment.
Empowering women is essential in making a better world. However, I am not sure if it can be adequately done by a private enterprise. Perhaps, co-op would be a better model. Overall, how much can we rely on corporate citizenship? I would love to go back trekking with these incredible women. However, the above observation my trek mates and I made deter us returning to 3 sisters.
I decide to write this email anonymously as I was told that revealing my identity would cause repercussion for my guide and porters. Direct confrontation between 3 sisters and clients was at the cost of porters’ future jobs. I welcome any comments

Hello Lucky,
I would like to draw your attention to another trekking/tourism entry from Nepal - "Treks-to-Build Health, Community and Hope in the ‘Hidden Himalayas’." http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/7581
Perhaps you could collaborate and/or share ideas and experiences. Keep up the great work!
Dana Frasz
Ashoka's Changemakers

That is a great Vision! How I wish you could extend it to Africa.

David

Hello Lucky,
Its great to have your entry in the competition. I love the photos! The work that you're doing to empower women is really incredible. Keep it up!

How many tours do you lead throughout the year? Its amazing that there is so much demand!

You mention that there is no official recognition of your program and that not having an official government trekking license could potentially cause some problems in the future. Is there anything that you can do to prepare for this? Have you tried to convince the government to allow EWN to give official licenses? If so, what was the response?

I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Dana Frasz
Changemakers

This is an impressive and exciting story. Before starting to trek in the Himalayas for several months every year I spent many years building new businesses, so I know all too well how hard it is to develop even a great idea into a viable business. Lucky and her sisters have succeeded and that's especially impressive because Nepali women are so marginalized. They manage the households (usually including the family finances) but, just as it used to be in the West, that's imagined to be easy and it's a trap. This is a great idea because Lucky and her sisters have set up a business that builds on the best aspects of the culture and frees women from one of its great negatives. At the same time as they're empowering women, they're also bringing revenue to the poorest areas and they're encouraging protection of the environment and the unique culture that make trekking in Nepal so rewarding. Congratulations!

Having trekked in Nepal I've seen first hand how male-dominated the tourism industry is as as well as the poverty of the Nepali people. This program is an impressive way to help boost the earning power of women, while helping to change a culture that presupposes women to be best suited for homebound duties. On my own trek we were privileged to have one (out of 6) of our guides be a Nepali woman who was learning the business. It was inspiring to hear how courageous she had had to be in order to break away from her family's expectations that she simply get married and live within the family structure. She wanted more freedom and adventure and the trekking business was the way for her to gain both. As a woman, a tourist and an entrepreneur, I'm in favor of this project because I feel its impact will be far greater than just empowering the women who are trained as mountaineering guides -- it will help change the attitudes and perceptions that are barriers to women's freedom and economic justice in Nepal so that far greater numbers of women will benefit.

I would like to add a short comment here in support of the '3 Nepali sisters' and also to say that I recently read an article about a company (I think in the US) tours for women and their daughters. The idea is that they travel to places like Africa to participate in community projects run by women. So why not Nepal. I dont remember the details or where the article was but will try to locate it. But I think you know what you are doing - good luck.