Destination Nepal

Vision

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.

Inka Trollsas - the girl behind all this

Inka is a female kayaker from Sweden and since the year 2000 has been running trips to Nepal through her company ‘Faraway Adventures’, bringing kayakers and trekkers over to explore the beautiful country she considers her second home. Inka has built many strong connections with the Nepali people and culture. After a lot of hard work she has managed to set up the Nepali Girls Kayak Club and is now organising this training programme for the girls. Her dream is to see Nepali women working and having fun on the waters of Nepal and the rest of the world.

The Trip

This five week training programme runs through November and December and 10 Nepali women from the Nepali Girls Kayak Club (set up by Inka) will be selected based on their interest to work as a river guide and their passion to pass on their skills to other Nepali women. These women will become role models to other women wanting to be part of the white-water industry in Nepal.

The aim of this training programme is to produce 8-10 female professional river guides to work on the rivers in the Nepali white-water industry as raft guides, safety kayakers and kayak instructors. During this 35-day programme the girls will acquire skills in:

- White-water kayaking on class III rivers

- White-water raft guiding on class III rivers

- River rescue

- First-aid

- Communication skills, including how to communicate professionally with colleagues and clients in both Nepali and English

- Cooking for large groups on the riverside

- Setting up camp with tents and shelters

- Planning and Preparation of commercial trips

- Leadership skills

- Equipment maintenance

- Kayaking competition rules and regulations

The main instructor Churamani Aryal is a certified river guide instructor from NOLS and will assess and certify the girls at the end of the programme. Two other professional river guides will be there to teach together with him as well as girls from all over world.

In the first part of the training the girls will be joined by a group of International female kayakers from all over the world. On the Sun Kosi all the women will work in teams, kayaking, cooking and setting up camp together, which will help with team-work and be a great chance for the Nepali women to practice their English skills which is an important part of working in the tourism industry in Nepali. The goal at the end of the trip is to have all the ladies competing in the Peak UK Himalayan White Water Challenge. This is a respected and prestigious International kayak competition with a lot of media coverage locally and internationally. It has taken place for more than 10 years but this year will be the first time ever Nepali women will be entering the competition.

On the second part of the programme the focus will be on developing raft-guiding and leadership skills. The team will spend a lot of time learning how to guide a raft and rescue clients on the river taking turns kayaking guiding the rafts. There will also be two full days of first-aid training with the Red Cross. This part of the programme will also include how to plan and prepare for a commercial trip, and by the end the girls will be planning, preparing and guiding a group of tourists on the lower Seti River with guidance and supervision from the instructors. The last day of the programme will be a kayaking trip on the upper Seti River where the girls will strut their stuff using the correct kayaking techniques and safety skills.

Equipment needed - Keep an eye on this to see how we go with getting all the gear needed

12 kayaks (2 have been sponsored by Far Away adventures, 2 donated by Canoe and Kayak, 2 donated from a Swedish company Kajaktiv)

12 spray-decks (3 sponsored by Fergs Kayaks in Wellington, 12 Sponsored by Skirt works - U.S.A)

12 paddles (1 has been donated by Emily Maynard, 5 donated by the Neilson Family, 2 donated by Fergs Kayaks in Wellington)

12 paddle jackets (1 donated by Anna White, 1 donated by Sophie Hoskins)

12 pairs of kayak shorts

12 wetsuits

12 buoyancy aids (2 donated by Fergs Kayaks in Wellington)

12 helmets (12 donated by PRO-TEC)

12 sets of thermals i.e. bra’s, tops, long-johns (Some donated by icebreaker)

12 dry bags 10 litre

12 dry bags 40 litre

12 throw bags (sponsored by northwater.com)

12 river knives

12 pairs of river shoes

All the equipment donated to this project will after the training be used by the Nepali Girls Kayaking club for training purposes, expeditions and working on commercial trips when rafting companies ca not provide the girls with gear.

Itinerary

Part 1

Main focus on: Kayaking skills, setting up camp, cooking, teamwork, communication.

November

15th- Sukute beach, upper Sun Kosi. Kayak training and preparation.

16th- Sukute beach, upper Sun Kosi. Kayak training and preparation.

17th- Sun Kosi ‘commercial’ trip with international girls kayak team.

18th- Sun Kosi as above.

19th- Sun Kosi as above.

20th- Sun Kosi as above.

21st- Sun Kosi as above.

22nd- Sun Kosi as above.

23rd- Sun Kosi as above.

24th- Sun Kosi as above.

25th- Sun Kosi. Arrive at take out. Drive overnight.

26th- Arrive as Trisuli Rive. Set up camp, dry and maintain equipment.

27th- Kayak training for event and briefing of competition rules and regulations.

28th- Slalom competition.

29th Freestyle competition.

30th- Down river race, prize giving. Interviews with media about the Nepali women.

Part 2

Main focus on: Raft guiding, rescue, first aid and leadership.

December

1st- Trisuli raft guide training.

2nd- Trisuli raft guide training.

3rd- Trisuli River rescue training.

4th- Trisuli River rescue training.

5th- Seti River raft guide training, leadership and rescue training.

6th- Seti River raft guide training, leadership and rescue training.

7th- Seti River raft guide training, leadership and rescue training.

8th- Seti River raft guide training, leadership and rescue training.

9th- First Aid course.

10th- First Aid course.

11th- Pokhara. Prepare for Kali Gandaki River trip. Food shopping and planning.

12th- Kali Gandaki River. Raft guide and rescue training on harder/bigger water.

13th- Kali Gandaki River. Raft guide and rescue training on harder/bigger water.

14th- Kali Gandaki River. Raft guide and rescue training on harder/bigger water.

15th- Pokhara. Rest day and planning for client trip.

16th- Seti. Rafting assessment for girls. Rafting and kayaking trip with clients.

17th- Seti. Rafting assessment for girls. Rafting and kayaking trip with clients.

18th- Seti. Rafting assessment for girls. Rafting and kayaking trip with clients.

19th- Kayaking on the upper Seti River. Girls kayaking skills assessed. Celebration meal and certificate giving ceremony.

Budget

Cost of the training programme: (14 November-19^th December)

Insurance for 10 girls: 150 USD

Nepali instructor salaries: 3800 USD

Food: 700 USD

Rental of rafting/camping gear: 3000 USD

Entry fee for girls in competition: 30 USD x 10 girls = 300 USD

Celebration meal and certificate giving ceremony: 125 USD

Total training programme cost: 8825 USD

Project Contacts

New Zealand: The Kiwi Crew
Email: nepaligirlskayaking@gmail.com
Phone: Sophie Hoskins 027 251 3504
Website: http://www.nepaligirlskayak.blogspot.com
Please call or email us if you have any idea’s, questions, sponsorship, donations or would like a copy of the proposal.

Project manager and instructor: Inka Trollsas, Far Away Adventures
Email: inka@farawayadventures.com
Phone: 46 (0)73 814 05 70 / +977 9841 347 977
Website: http://www.farawayadventures.com/nepaligirlkayakers.php

Training manager and head instructor: Churamani Aryal, Himalayan River Guide Association Nepal
Email: info@riverguide.org.np
Phone: +977 98030 104 82
The Himalayan River Guide Association Nepal (HRGAN) is a non profit organisation with an objective to support and train river guides working across Nepal.

Nepal Association of Rafting Agents: Contact person, Mahendra Sing Thapa
Email: nara@enet.com.np
Phone: +977 98510 276 20
The main purpose of NARA is to introduce and promote Nepal’s rafting industry in the national and international sector.