Sunsari Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dharan is organizing a skill development training for locals of Dharan. Women Entrepreneur Management is managing the training session that began on April 7. As many as 30 people—24 women and six men—are taking the skill development training. They are creating different handicraft items made of bamboo such as pen holder, photo frame, wall clock, make-up box, fan, tray among others.
One of the participants, Sunita Tamang from Patnali, Dharan-17 shared, “I am at the training for around four hours a day and learning to make handicraft items from bamboo. I am confident enough about the skills I learn here and will continue to make these items. I am optimistic because the organizer has promised to look for the market of the handmade products.” Likewise, Sabin Rai, another participant who is a security guard, is hopeful that the skills he learn here will be profitable in future. Moreover, President of Women Entrepreneur Management, Suvekshya Adhikari Shrestha promised to find a market for the participants so that they can utilize their skill as an income generating source. She also informed that Uha Organization is taking initiation to buy the homemade products with the coordination of Avinash Handicraft Industry, Eastern Handicraft Industry and others.
Addressing Critical Issues Facing Nepali Cooperatives
Khem Raj Shrestha from Udaypur is giving the training where he has the experience of 13 years in craft making. About his experience he shared, “I went to Saudi Arab for employment and I worked 12 hours a day for seven years. But I was unsatisfied there. Later I returned to Nepal and started to create handicraft items.”
According to Shrestha, the handicraft items are highly popular among tourists and if proper marketing is done one will not have to go abroad for employment. He added, “The committee will focus on marketing the products in the tourism sector. And tourists who visit Nepal usually buy handicrafts as a souvenir before returning to their own
country.”
