HAG Report 10

Himalayan River Girls
Report 2010
2010 has been a very nice year of the development of our project. Although we have
been having a difficult time getting more girls employed, our core girls have become
stronger paddlers and have become more confident in their work and as instructors for
junior girls. As they, and other girls that approach us are interested in and need
encouragement and training in other adventure fields we this year decided to change
the name to Himalayan Adventure Girls. The Nepali ladies have now also registered
the club in this name in Kathmandu.
Background:
Nepal is one of the most famous countries in the world for white water kayaking
and rafting. Ask any well travelled global white water paddler and he or she will
agree. With the high Himalayas, guaranteed snow and rain feeding rivers in the
numerous and beautiful valleys, Nepal is a perfect playground for those that love to
explore a country by raft and those who just simply love the adventure of the sport of
kayaking.
There are currently over 100 rafting companies registered in Nepal. Some fifteen
years ago most of the river guides, kayak instructors and safety kayakers were
western. Since then, things have changed and Nepal has a considerable and proud
pool of professional river guides. The many challenging rivers in Nepal have made
Nepali river guides develop unusually competent skills. With this, they have gained
respect throughout the world and often get offered work in the rafting industry in
countries like Norway, Iceland, Japan and Bhutan. They also do very well competing
at the same level against western professional kayakers in the annual international
Peak UK White Water Challenge and have on a few occasions competed in world
championships.
100% of the Nepali river guides and kayak instructors in Nepal have until this
project started been male, reflecting the country’s out-of-date view on equality. After
the start of our project in 2008 – there is now opportunity for ladies to get
employment as river guides, although, it is still only a few companies willing to give
ladies a chance, and it is quite difficult for ladies, physically and culturally, to work in
this field.
Trekking is the main tourist activity in Nepal – and still very few Nepali women
work as trekking or mountaineering guides. Other adventure activities that are
becoming more and more popular in Nepal are mountain biking and paragliding –
fields still lacking female guides.
Vision:
For most women in Nepal a job as an adventure guide would be impossible as they
will marry young and need to live at home looking after the family. But for many
women in Nepal this kind of work is a good opportunity for an amazing change in
their life, perhaps a way out of misery, poverty or boredom. In particular this is a
chance for those who come from difficult backgrounds. Whatever their background
the dream of this project is to see the Nepali women teaching female tourists kayaking
and guiding groups on the beautiful rivers and mountains of Nepal. Ultimately we
would like to see Nepali women travelling the world, kayaking, raft-guiding and
competing in international kayaking events.
Project progress in 2010:
April: We sponsored Santosh Magar to go to Canoe Slalom Training Camp in China.
In return he came home with the newest canoe slalom knowledge that he shared with
our girls.
May: Two new girls were trained on the lake in Pokhara and we then had a week
long training camp on the Trisuli with Santosh Magar and Inka as coaches. Eights
“old” and “new” girls practised slalom skills, freestyle, rescue training, raft guiding
and English communication skills. We also did a Seti trip for two girls with the help
of Erin Galey who is planning to make a film about our project.
June: Ten girls joined a month long English language course.
Sep: Registration of the club Himalayan Adventure Girls was organized by the Nepali
girls themselves in Kathmandu and we visited Maiti Nepal to get involved in their
work to stop trafficking and learn more about womens rights. While in Kathmandu
we also planned the training of new girls.
October: After a selection from 20 girls we started a training of 6 new girls in
Pokhara that included swimming, communication skills in Engish, physical exercise
and kayaking. We then did a two day rafting trip that included raft guiding, swimming
in rapids, cooking on the beach and setting up camp. Inka and Radha Tamang were
instructing.
November: We held a week long training camp at the Trisuli with 10 girls. The girls
were a mix of new and the more experienced, and on the river the senior girls were
giving training to and rescuing the new girls. Inka and Molly McKeon were teaching
rescue techniques, aerobics and communication skills in English. A lot of the river
training was focused on training for the upcoming Himalayan Whitewater Challenge.
December: Five girls entered in the Himalayan Whitewater Challenge on the Trisuli
and did very well in freestyle, slalom and a down river race. Also, in December we
sponsored 4 girls through a WRT (Whitewater Rescue Techniques) course. At the
same time Radha Tamang made her first trip abroad – going to Thailand for a weeklong canoe slalom training with the International Canoe Federation. According to
coach Pierrick Gosseling she did extremely well in developing her own skills as well
as learning teaching skills necessary to teach the other girls in Nepal.
Active club members in 2010:
(if employed in 2010 - company name mentioned in brackets)
* new from 2010
Sita Thapa (Equator Expeditions)
Mina Gurung (Rapid Runner Expeditions)
Anu Shrestha (Ultimate Descents Nepal)
Kamala Magar (Equator Expeditions)
Radha Tamang (Ultimate Descents Nepal)
Kamala Chepang (training when free from school)
Rupa Tamang (office manager, Rapid Runner Exp.)
Goma Sunuwar (Lotus Waves)
Ritu Tamang (Adventure Aves)
Shanti Gurung (Rapid Runner Expeditions)
Sonam Dolma* (Alternative Nepal)
Shrijana Shrestha* (Himalayan RST Expedition)
Samjana Rai*
Babita Kumal*
Sabita Darai*
Yasoda Tripathi*
How does the club work?
•
Any Nepali woman who has a sincere interest to become a river guide or who
wants to practise the sport of kayaking can join.
•
The club organises around two training camps every year for all members to
get everyone together to share experiences and improve skills.
•
Inka and other volunteers as well as the senior Nepali female kayakers teach
new girls who want to work in the rafting field or who want to try the sport of
kayaking.
•
Any girl from the club who starts working for a rafting company will be lent a
set of equipment to use when she is working. The purpose of this is to make
sure she has proper, safe equipment while working. This also enhances the
chance for the girl to get an employment.
•
The club sponsors the girls with transport and entry fees in competitions such
as the yearly Himalayan Whitewater Challenge and the New Year kayak race
on the lake in Pokhara as well as international trainings and competitions.
•
The club will also at times support male kayakers in its aim to develop the
sport of white water kayaking in Nepal.
Economic Report 2010
IN (donations, work, rent etc)
Month
Jan
Feb
Feb
Feb
March
May
June
June
July
July
Aug
Nov
Dec
Dec
Dec
From
Result from 2009
Donation from Far Away Adventures
Sold pictures at Värdshuset, Floda
Malin B. Bought pictures
Donation PayPal Karin Trollsås
Ian Beecroft donation PayPal from presentation talk
Karin Trollsås donation
Inka sold kayaking pictures at Kajaktiv
Inka sold kayaking pictures at Kajaktiv
Prize money - Master of Water donated
Sold a pair of club drypants size XL
Rental kayaks (UD)
Kayak (Blisstick) sold
T-shirts sold at WWHC
Donation from Meta Lagerström PayPal
Amount
1334,00
1270,00
400
250
200,00
249,56
200,00
200,00
400,00
3400,00
1000,00
27658,00
22000,00
7200,00
482,70
Total IN amount:
Used
curr
USD
USD
SEK
SEK
SEK
USD
SEK
SEK
SEK
SEK
SEK
NRS
NRS
NRS
USD
USD
1334,00
1270,00
54,00
34,00
26,00
249,56
26,00
26,00
52,00
437,00
139,00
385,00
306,00
96,00
482,70
USD: 4917,26
OUT (costs)
Month
From
Amount
April
April
May
May
June
June
June
Sep
Oct
Oct
Oct
Nov
Nov
Nov
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Dec
Paid for Santosh flight ticket training camp China
Postal charge sending picture CDs to sponsors
Training camp in Fishling, Trisuli river
Printing picture CDs for girls
English language course Pokhara
Rent for classroom Pokhara
English language course Kathmandu
Meeting in Kathmandu with accomodation and food
Meeting in Kathmandu, selection of new girls
Training camp new girls in Pokhara / Seti
Training camp in Fishling, Trisuli river
Printing of t-shirts
Cost for Radha passport
Cost for Radhas flight ticket for training in Thailand
new logo design
Repair of 2 kayaks
Entry fee Himalayan Whitewater Challenge
Phone bill
Rent for club house Jan - Nov
Rent for club house Dec
Stamps
WRT
Total costs
49300,00
100,00
24865,00
700,00
5000,00
2500,00
8000,00
11600,00
9850,00
28000,00
39600,00
11800,00
6000,00
48734,00
2500,00
15000,00
10000,00
2600,00
49500,00
3000,00
100,00
42000,00
Result:
USD
Used
curr
NPR
SEK
NPR
NPR
NPR
NPR
NPR
NPR
NPR
NPR
NPR
NPR
NPR
NPR
SEK
NPR
NPR
NPR
NPR
NPR
SEK
NPR
USD
674,00
14,00
344,00
10,00
65,20
32,60
104,50
151,20
136,00
386,80
547,00
164,00
83,50
678,00
355,60
200,00
133,70
34,80
662,00
40,00
14,20
561,60
5392,70
-475,44
Sponsors and supporters 2010:
Special thanks to all of you who helped making the club successful in 2010.
Main sponsors 2010:
Far Away Adventures
International Canoe Federation
KAVU
Nookie
Fluid Kayaks
Silva
Master of Water
Meta Lagerström
Ian Beecroft
Sweden
International
U.S.A.
U.K.
South Africa
Sweden
Sweden
Sweden
U.K
Other sponsors / support 2010
Värdshuset i Dala-Floda
Rosa Matheson
Wilda Nilsson
Daz / Pure Land Expeditions
Peaceworks Sweden / Fokus Asien
Equator Expeditions
Himalayan Ecstasy
GRG´s Adventure Kayaking
Alternative Nepal
Molly McKeon
Karin Trollsås
Hooghuis Sportservice
Lotus Waves
Malin Bergman Lidberg
Paddle Nepal
Peak UK
Pierrick Gosselin
Rapid Runner Expeditions
Stefan Erdman
Ultimate Descents Nepal
Sweden
U.K.
Sweden
U.K.
Sweden
Nepal
Nepal
Nepal
Nepal
USA
Sweden
Holland
Nepal
Sweden
Nepal
U.K.
France
Nepal
Sweden
Nepal
Project Contacts:
For more information and pictures on the project / club please visit following sites:
http://www.farawayadventures.com/girls
Project coordinator: Inka Trollsås
Inka@farawayadventures.com / +46 (0)73 814 05 70 / +977 9841 347 977
Radha, Goma, Sita, Molly, Kamala and Anu att Himalayan Whitewater Challenge
Radha Tamang at Canoe Slalom Training Camp in Thailand