See life with Kalpana (she has a little advice about ambition, too)

Mother, artisan, head of household, inspiration

Of the more than 20,000 artisans Ten Thousand Villages supports, 60% of them are women. We create opportunities for them to earn sustainable income by bringing their products and stories to markets in the U.S.

This weekend we celebrate working moms around the world.

Get a glimpse into the life of Kalpana, mother of three and artisan with Association for Craft Producers (ACP) in Kathmandu, Nepal. Full of joy, determination, and resolve she shows us her craft, invites us into her home, and has a little advice about ambition.

From hobby to opportunity

At ACP, 90% of their nearly 1,000 artisans are women. In Nepal, stitching isn’t recognized as an official craft, but ACP is turning hobbies into economic opportunities and income generators for artisans like Kalpana.

Working from home is a crucial benefit for many artisans, like Kalpana, who enjoy the flexibility of caring for their family while earning income. Because of her steady income, she can give her kids the education opportunities that she didn’t have.

But these days working from home isn’t just a benefit, it’s essential.

Amid the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, the leaders at ACP assure us