What this is all about - Scroll down for latest updates!!!
This blog is all about a kayaking project for Nepali girls and our adventure to get over there and help them out.We will keep you updated through this blog with how sponsorship and donations are going and hopefully while we are over there we can keep posting on here - Thanks for checking it out.
The aim of the project is to produce a group of female river guides to work on the rivers in Nepal as safety kayakers, raft guides and kayak instructors. It will be a perfect base for the women to start training and eventually work and support themselves as employees or free lance guides within the Nepal white-water industry.
If you would like to help out in any way with this project whether it's advice, sponsorship, gear, donations, idea's or anything else then please send us an email, give us a call or follow the donations link, it would be much appreciated. Cheers
Check out Inka Trollsas's website (she is the instigator of this awesome project), which has more info about the trip and how things are going from her end. http://www.farawayadventures.com/nepaligirlkayakers.php
For most women in Nepal a job in the rafting industry would be impossible as they will marry young and need to live at home looking after the family or will be committed to a less adventurous career. But for many women in Nepal this kind of work will be a good opportunity for an amazing change in their life, a way out of misery, poverty or boredom. In particular this would be a chance for those who come from difficult backgrounds having escaped from violent marriages or being widowed or homeless. For young adventurous women it might just be the dream career. Whatever their background the dream of this project is to see the Nepali women teaching tourists to kayak, to see them competing in international kayaking events and ultimately we would like to see Nepali women guiding groups of tourists on the beautiful rivers of Nepal as well as exploring rivers all over the world
Background
Nepal is one of the most famous countries in the world for white water kayaking and rafting. 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 boat and those who just simply love the adventure of kayaking.
There are currently over 100 rafting companies registered in Nepal. 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 very competent skills. With this, they have gained respect throughout the world
but ..........................................................................
100% of the Nepali river guides and kayak instructors are male and that is where this project comes in. It is a chance for the Nepali Women who want, to get into the white-water industry, and they will given support and training the whole way. These women will begin to path the way for other Nepali women in the near future.
If you would like to make a donation towards the trip that would be awesome, even a few dollars would be a big help as it all adds up. Donations will be used to purchase discounted gear for the Nepali Girls Kayak Club and towards the cost of the training programme for the Nepali Girls. We will keep you posted with how donations are going and exactly what your money has gone towards.
So far there are 7 of us Kiwi girls committed to this project. We are all great buddies and have spent a lot of time together on and off the river. We have all come through Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology where we studied Outdoor Education and Recreation in some form. Most of us spent last summer paddling and hanging out in Uganda on the White Nile where we had a blast. We are super excited about this trip to Nepal and the opportunity to be part of this amazing project.
What we are up to now ............................
Hester Hilbink
Hester has just finished her graduate diploma in secondary teaching, majoring in Outdoor Education. She spent last summer in Uganda paddling on the Nile with a crew of 10 Kiwi's and eating lots of avocado and tomato chapati's. After loving being immersed in the Ugandan culture for 7 weeks in 2007 she is looking forward to exploring the Nepali culture this summer. At the moment she is making the most of her days off work up the Mountain - brrrrrr!!!
Sophie Hoskins
The last few years for Sophie have included some exciting travel adventures and a bit of study. She's had a couple of great paddling trips to Africa over the last few years, getting to explore the Zambezi in Zambia and the White-Nile in Uganda. She loved being in Uganda and can't wait to go back there sometime soon to see the local people of Bujugali Falls. Now that Sophie has finished studying she can get a real job or 3 to save like crazy before heading over to Nepal.
Malaika Davies
Malaika has filled the last few years with heaps of traveling, working and exploring in countries all over the show. Malaysia, India, States, Ireland, Scotland, and generally getting into all kinds of exciting situations. She always has an exciting adventure brewing and can't wait to rock it with the Nepali women on the waters of Nepal. Malaika has just finished her teaching studies so is now stoked to be an Outdoor Education teacher, and is heading to OPC to save her pennies until the Nepal trip kicks off. Malaika has her NZOIA kayak one award and spent the summer of 2005 working for the NZ kayak school.
Laura Clayton
Laura has been working and adventuring around the world for the last few years; Skiing in Canada, Sailing in Malaysia, coffee drinking in Italy, Paddling in Uganda, Skiing in Austria, whilst exploring Europe and parts of Africa. She is stoked on upcoming climbing missions to Eastern Europe and China before meeting up with the crew in Nepal.
Anna White
Anna has been overseas since the start of last year nannying in the States, surfing in Mexico, paddling in Uganda and now is in London earning some pounds. She is heading back to NZ in August to get a bit of skiing in down south and some work on the farm before jamming her bags full of kayaking gear for the Nepali girls and hand delivering it to them.
Kelly Blayney
Kelly has also just finished studying teaching with Hester, Malaika and Sophie. She has only been paddling for a short time but is super keen to help out with the project. She's going to be training hard this winter so you might catch her on the river perfecting her roll. Other than that she's going to be in the North Island doing some Project K work and a bit of relieving.
Emi Earle
Emi is currently working for the 'Belfast Activity Centre' in Ireland, in between missions here and there. She's spent the last few years doing a bit of teaching at Kapiti college as well as lots of travelling all over the place, Mountains in Morroco, skiing in India, snowboarding in Europe, drinking lots of Guinness in Ireland and most recently climbing in Croatia. She is really looking forward to meeting up with the Kiwi crew in Nepal and helping out with this project.
Hayley Segal
At the moment Hayley is studying down in Christchurch. She has just decided to come on the trip and will be finishing of her studies before jumping on the plane to Nepal. She will be a great asset to the trip and is looking forward to getting on the rivers of Nepal with the Nepali ladies.
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