The early days were pretty difficult. The men in the outdoor industry tried to get in their way, mocking them, accusing them of not conforming to Nepalese culture, giving them bad publicity, sending the authorities to check their permits; the jealousy was strong, the competition fierce. Lucky and her sisters didn’t let this happen for long. The government could see that the organization complied with all the rules, and the mountain was big enough for everyone. They decided to go one step further and offer their sisters the opportunity to become trekking guides. Tourism is one of Nepal’s main economic sectors. For women who work in other fields, such as agriculture, or outside the major centers, it’s sometimes difficult to fulfill their potential and realize major projects. Empowering Women of Nepal was registered in 1999.  

To date, over 2,000 women have been trained by the organization. These women have pushed themselves to the limit, exploring and discovering their capabilities. Not only did they acquire technical skills, they also gained in dignity, power and confidence. During their training, the women receive a salary, take part in outdoor activities and receive quality training. What do these future guides learn? They take language courses, training in first aid, the environment, leadership development and much more. A complete training course takes two intense years. During this time, the women stay on site (the organization provides accommodation for a few months). As the training progresses, they can obtain jobs as assistant guides, then certified guides.