In 2006, Stephanie Woollard was 22 years old and working on a social enterprise when she encountered seven disabled women operating out of a tin shed. To help them break free of poverty cycles, Stephanie invested in training for these women so they could make products to sell locally and abroad.
The Story of Stephanie Woollard
Stephanie Woollard, then 22 years old and travelling around Nepal with her partner, encountered seven disabled women living in a tin shed who were struggling to make ends meet. These women faced discrimination daily and Stephanie resolved to help them. With her last $200 she hired two trainers and began teaching them how to craft products for sale - helping them turn a profit while providing employment for others.
In 2006, Stephanie founded the social enterprise Seven Women in Nepal to empower disabled women and create opportunities for them. Today, Seven Women is an internationally-recognized aid organisation that has enabled more than 5,000 Nepalese women gain employment, education and skills development.
Her mission is to establish a social enterprise that will offer marginalized women in Nepal an avenue to financial independence and independence from their families. Her work has resulted in several projects such as a cooking school, tour company (Hands On Development) and guesthouse.
Stephanie has persevered despite her obstacles in pursuit of her mission to improve the lives of Nepalese women. She has created a business model that provides sustainable, profitable income streams while simultaneously being socially responsible.
She has created a social enterprise that has enabled these women to achieve self-sufficiency and independence from their families, having an enormously positive effect on their lives.
In 2016, Stephanie was honored by the United Nations with a Rotary International Responsible Business Award for her remarkable work with disabled women in Nepal, recognized for its impact on humanitarian aid globally.
HerWit views Stephanie as an inspiring example of social entrepreneurship and a testament to the power of women’s voices in creating change. On Australia Day, she expressed her hope that her OAM would serve as motivation to other social entrepreneurs working towards making our world better.
Steph is a social entrepreneur and former Rotary Foundation Peace Scholar, as well as an active Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Melbourne. She founded international aid organisation ‘Seven Women’, tour company ‘Hands On Development’ and international training and hospitality initiative.
The Challenges Faced by Marginalized and Disabled Women in Nepal
Women living with disability (WLWDs) in Nepal face a range of barriers to their rights. These include poverty, lack of education, social isolation, discrimination and violence. Furthermore, due to their disabilities they may also experience poor physical and mental health conditions.
Nepal has made significant strides in many areas, but more work needs to be done. One particular concern is the discrimination experienced by women with disabilities when accessing justice and health care services they require. This can be a huge impediment to their capacity for healing from trauma, receiving appropriate redress, and reaching their full potential.
Recently, we used data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) [16] to explore whether there is a relationship between disability status and access to reproductive health services among Nepali women. This analysis compared distributions of social determinants, risk behaviors, and access to SRH between those with and without disabilities.
We observed that women with disabilities were more likely to face gender-based violence than their nondisabled peers. This trend was especially stark among younger individuals, those who needed permission from their husband or family to access healthcare facilities or join community organizations, and those who felt they had no right to refuse sexual activity with their partners.
These findings emphasize the need for increased advocacy and support for WLWDs in accessing redress and justice. This includes guaranteeing that service providers are held accountable for mandated services delivered within a respectful, rights-based environment, as well as guaranteeing equal access to such services for women with disability.
However, the root causes of violence against women with disabilities in Nepal remain complex and necessitate a comprehensive multi-sectoral response. To address these factors that make WLWDs particularly vulnerable to violence and discrimination, promote accountability within health and justice sectors, and educate communities about WLWDs’ rights, it is necessary to take an integrated approach.
WLWDs are especially vulnerable to violence during and after natural disasters and other emergency situations, often becoming the first victims of this type of adversity. This is especially true in communities where caste divisions and remoteness make it difficult for those with disabilities to receive support or evacuate safely.
The Importance of Education and Employment for Marginalized and Disabled Women in Nepal
In Nepal, the majority of women living with disabilities live in poverty due to a variety of reasons, such as lack of educational opportunities and inaccessibility to training programs (Lamichhane et al. 2012).
There is limited literature on the employment-related challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Kathmandu Valley (KV) of Nepal. This study sought to gain an understanding of these barriers, enablers, and solutions for employment for KV residents.
A qualitative phenomenological research design was utilized to conduct interviews with 43 individuals living in Kathmandu who had some employment participation experience. Participants were surveyed from June to July 2018.
Most participants stressed the significance of quality education and self-belief for employment. They stated that in order to secure the best jobs possible, they would require strong educational backgrounds as well as support from their families.
However, many participants had received either poor or mediocre education, making it difficult for them to find employment - particularly for those without a disability.
They reported having to compete with other candidates who had access to better education and jobs at lower salaries. These factors can negatively impact employment participation and, ultimately, their livelihoods.
Some participants believed that if they worked hard and gained experience in their employment field, it would lead to better jobs in the future. Furthermore, they desired more government, private companies, and external development partners (EDPs) to hire and empower people with disabilities.
From the interview, one recurring theme was the necessity for people with disabilities to have equal opportunities in order to remain employed once employed. This idea aligns with CRPD Article 27, which states that individuals living with disabilities should have access to the labour market.
Participants emphasized the need for Nepal’s government to establish employment support services, providing information, guidance, and other essential resources for people with disabilities. This is an essential step towards guaranteeing that those with disabilities have access to employment opportunities and can find jobs.
The Impact of Seven Women
Seven Women is a social enterprise that gives Nepalese women the tools to escape poverty through trade rather than aid. Additionally, they empower women with disabilities and eliminate workplace inequalities.
Nepal has long had a poor status for women. Females had limited access to educational, health and social services, with many times their rights being compromised as a result.
Over the past few decades, Nepal’s situation has drastically changed. Gender equality is now a legal right in the country and women are seen as equals on equal footing.
Women must have access to education and employment opportunities that will enable them to contribute to the development of a country. Seven Women is doing just this by offering educational support, training programs and employment opportunities to those who would otherwise remain trapped in poverty.
Bimala, 17 years old, used to work 16 hours a day washing dishes until her hands were raw. Now she has the opportunity of getting an education at Seven Women and dreams of owning her own tailor shop in the future.
Bimala’s story is not uncommon among the girls at this center. It illustrates the kind of transformation that takes place over time as women gain the skills and self-belief to overcome difficulties and reach their objectives.
Recently, researchers sought to assess the effect of informal hospitality training on marginalized Nepali women seeking employment in the hotel industry. This research focused on an NGO called Seven Women which offers these women opportunities to learn cooking and other life skills that can enhance their lives.
Our research revealed that, despite a small sample size, the training did have an impact on women’s confidence and ability to work in the hotel industry. Unfortunately, several factors prevented us from generalizing these results to other populations: time taken by some participants to complete their education, lack of formal qualifications required for entry into tourism, and inability for participants to transition directly into formal hospitality immediately after receiving training.
In Conclusion
Stephanie Woollard’s work with Seven Women has demonstrated the power of social entrepreneurship in empowering marginalized and disabled women in Nepal. Through education, training, and employment opportunities, Seven Women has helped thousands of women gain financial independence and improve their lives. However, there is still much work to be done to address the multiple barriers faced by women with disabilities in Nepal, particularly in accessing justice and healthcare services. It is essential that we continue to advocate for their rights and support initiatives like Seven Women that are working towards a more equitable future.
At the heart of Stephanie’s work is the belief that women must have access to education and employment opportunities in order to contribute to the development of their country. Her success with Seven Women serves as an inspiring example of the transformative power of empowering women. As we continue to work towards a more just and equitable world, we must remember the importance of investing in women’s education and economic empowerment, particularly for those who face additional barriers such as disability.
To find out more about Seven Women, visit their: