Life As A Woman In Nepal’s Remote Mountain Villages | SLICE | FULL DOC

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:01][music] Measuring 800 km long and 200 km wide, the small country of [music] Nepal has around 30 million inhabitants, consisting of 103 ethnic groups and is one of the 10 poorest [music] countries in the world.

[00:00:23]Although the cast system was formally abolished in 1963, it remains a key driver of social isolation. [music] The patriarchal system particularly affects women who are considered lower class.

[00:00:58]We start coming to mountain area since long time you know and every time when we come we see the women they are very strong they are they are working uh very hard you know and they are the main person [music] at their home to do you know take care of their whole family whole animals and all kettles and you know like um fields and everything but [music] they are they don't have decision power. So but anyway they are very happy and doing this all and we thought this kind of uh you know kind of challenge [music] or their overwork can be transformed into the opportunity.

[00:01:38]Every time when we come in the mountain we see women interested to [music] change you know for the change for the evolution they are fighting for that.

[00:01:58]Based in Pera, [music] the second largest town after Katmodu, the Cetri sisters who are members of the highest cast after the Bremens, created their company, empowering women of Nepal. They aim to promote women's participation in the development of ecourism in isolated regions where culture [music] is well preserved but living conditions are particularly difficult. [music] It is also a way of contributing towards the country's main industry trekking.

[00:02:28]>> Good afternoon.

[00:02:30][laughter] Good afternoon.

[00:02:33]>> Good afternoon.

[00:02:34]>> How are you?

[00:02:36]>> Thank you.

[00:02:37]>> I'm also very well. Where we are now?

[00:02:43]>> Is in here in the center almost right?

[00:02:59]fromu.

[00:03:01]Okay. Can you show me where is >> Okay. Thank you.

[00:03:23]Hotel.ch.

[00:04:05]That's for what you are doing gaining confidence.

[00:05:37]We are currently running um several projects. One is the female trekking guide training program where lot of uh women uh per year we have 80 trainee who are coming from all over Nepal um to take the training one month training course and during this one month training course um since this is training focused for women uh so that they can become guide in the future. So we talk about uh tracking, tourism but other subjects like you know uh women's health, women's um women's rights, leadership, team building, flora fa culture, religion, English, these kind of courses are also offered at the same time. Uh so during this time I meet a lot of women from all over Nepal especially age from 17 years old to 25 years old.

[00:06:33]for leadership.

[00:07:21]Okay.

[00:07:55]My name is >> uh when the mothers are going trekking then they are free to leave their children with us only girl child but um at least there is something for them.

[00:08:10]There were also some other like our staff children you know so we also contribute to their education and we have a children home and you know all the girls are supported to go to school.

[00:08:22]Yes both staff children and other children that we have taken.

[00:08:30]The three sisters traveled around all of Nepal's regions. They met young women living in extreme poverty. By offering them free training to become assistant guides and guides, the Chetri sisters are also helping these women learn about their country's cultural diversity.

[00:08:58]She was one of the chaos.

[00:09:20]Don't just [music] [music] uh it was my [music] grandfather's father and his wife and I think during that time many people were going to India because you know life was um difficult in the mountains. So there was this huge um migration you know many uh people from Nepal were going in search of uh new new life uh opportunities so that's when they also decide to leave the village and uh settle in India.

[00:10:13]Uh my parents were still in India but my aunts were all here. So that is why I decided to come with my grandmother. I have very very special relationship. Um when I was born and after 6 7 months then my mother had to go back to work and I was raised by my grandmother.

[00:10:38]um cast system >> our family is quite unique in a sense that I feel like women have more power you know than men um because of um my aunt's role in the house I think we have also got more say in different matters um our parents uh um like my father generation only my aunts got more education It will be good for women to work because they are the people who live always in the village also and other way the women they are always dominated and in the remote areas is more. So we have to help the woman and if the woman is educated she can educate whole family.

[00:11:39]I didn't know how people were living in the mountains and it was so fascinating for me to see how they were doing agriculture in the mountains, you know, how um children were going to school in the mountains, how women were living their life in the mountains. So after I [music] finished my education, I can um also contribute to uh the people uh of Nepal, >> you know. So I feel very proud to work with them and I also feel um grateful uh that I can also transfer some of my experience and knowledge and share with them so that um they can improve their lives in the future.

[00:12:30]>> [music] >> In 1994 we were in Pokara uh doing small lodge.

[00:12:50]At that time we start meeting uh different women coming from many different countries and they were trekking in the Himalayas and they were having uh travel with the men guide sometime. Immediately I thought the women who live in the mountain areas they can do. Then when I went back and I said okay we can do this job and we have to do and and at the end we realized training can bridge this you know issues and uh we started empowering women of Nepal in uh in 1999 and uh another thing is when I did another um like a field trip in Nepal in the western Nepal I see the women they work really hard and most of the men they used to go to the city and in India uh to find the job and normally women they stay behind there and they are responsible for everything and get nothing.

[00:14:04]Too lazy.

[00:14:59]English. English.

[00:15:36]Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech.

[00:15:48]foreign.

[00:16:13]Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech.

[00:16:43]when we come here. This is really eye opening for us also because in the city living there we have no idea what's the life in the rural area you know so it gives us really good idea for us the you know possibilities of uh things and the lot of things and when we see the girls who are working really hard in the mountain here and we realize okay these women are physically fit and mentally very strong what can we do to match their capacity you know their strength.

[00:17:18]So those women will be the ideal candidate for the you know adventurous thing. So if we can this uh challenges you know turn into the opportunity that will be great for them. So we are not giving them only the academic side but we are giving them more chances on um like adventure area also.

[00:18:41]Uh-huh.

[00:18:43]There are so many girls like Bishnu.

[00:18:45]Same person girls you know they have like this kind of life because they have responsibility when they grew up like even 3 4 years old to take care their siblings because they already have their parents' children. So they have to take care one day that she has to lead her own life [music] when we see the women's life in Nepal this is really pathetic then they have lots of you know desire they have lots of dream but they cannot do Because uh once they get married uh you know even the electrical engineer she has to give up everything and she has to you know stay at home and to uh you know work you know give service for whole family. It's not only for husband like whole their in-laws and everybody. So it's uh it's the time now the young people they are also realizing this and many uh young people they are going abroad and learning this kind of um education like uh uh things and coming back and they are also doing this [music] numerous foreign organizations have been set up in Nepal to contribute to its development.

[00:20:16]Peter Frier, an Australian [music] teacher, is confronted with traditions that are hard to break.

[00:20:24]>> So I think there's a lot of potential.

[00:20:26]We have to arrange for the women to go into [clears throat] to places for their own protection.

[00:20:31]>> Yes.

[00:20:32]>> Particularly if they come for refuge, they are already vulnerable.

[00:20:36]>> These are women who have been abused by their husbands. So have gone somewhere safe.

[00:20:40]>> Yeah. Okay.

[00:20:40]>> For instance, empowering women. If the women are empowered without the men as well being part of it, it doesn't work.

[00:20:47]>> Nowadays, young generation, they are trying their best to do a little bit uh differently. But you know, still the arranged marriage system is there.

[00:20:59]>> One of my colleagues, engineering colleagues came to me one day and said, "Look, Peter, he he had told me he only wanted to marry a girl that he knew. He didn't want just arranged marriage, but he was the oldest son and his younger brother wanted to get married.

[00:21:16]>> But being the oldest son, he had to get married first. So he left he he left >> on the Sunday. He met three girls on the Tuesday.

[00:21:25]>> He interviewed them, >> decided which ones were suitable.

[00:21:28]>> Mhm.

[00:21:29]>> On the Thursday, he was engaged, and by the Sunday, he was married.

[00:21:32]>> Wow. [laughter] And [panting] so I talked to him a bit because this is a very fast change of of lifestyle.

[00:21:42]>> When I was teaching at Capando University, >> I set a high standard.

[00:21:46]>> Mhm.

[00:21:46]>> So the students were doing extremely well >> and it upset the social structure because now they were becoming more experienced and better qualified than the senior professors.

[00:21:55]>> Okay.

[00:21:55]>> So they shut us down. And so when we make these changes like teaching women to be electricians, I don't know what will happen when those women earn more money than their husbands do.

[00:22:06]>> Yeah.

[00:22:07]>> It could be some difficulty >> and also people they don't have much idea I think because they haven't seen much.

[00:22:14]>> That's right.

[00:22:16]>> We are only skilled people will be here in Nepal. So we never you know do better. But um but that's why I'm saying like we need somebody to innovate here and uh and to give them really good skill uh so people they can you know feel proud on their work you know with the knowledge they acquired in the field and from foreign organizations the Cetri sisters carefully tailored their [music] programs to benefit the most remote communities. ities. Health conditions leave a lot to be desired in this country which has an infant mortality [music] rate of 47% compared to a birth rate of 32%.

[00:23:04]In this region [music] of Carnali, there are no roads or means of communication.

[00:23:09]The villagers [music] are sometimes completely unfamiliar with the rest of their country. For most of them, it is the first time they will see foreigners.

[00:23:19]It's also a [music] chance for the assistant guides to put their training into practice and participate in workshops.

[00:23:27]When they return [music] to their community, they will be able to help others eat better and take better [music] care of themselves.

[00:23:42]In 2009 we have organized one humanitarian trick for women and there were many women they were uh work as a porter with us.

[00:24:11]>> [music] >> when we were walking [music] on the on the road. So on on our tracking also we found so many other uh people [music] those who had some social problem or maybe some had some health problem also on the way we were talking to them [music] and it's it's my pleasure that many people though I talked to many people but at least four five people they were ready and they stopped they threw all their you know tobacco [music] materials in the so these are the role or you know responsibilities what I'm playing Why I'm here being a [music] woman and especially this woman tracking I'm also participating. Uh one thing is concerning to the u the general health of the women's [music] So these [music] are the you know work which three sister they are doing. So since last let's say maybe 11 years [music] I'm involving with the three sisters activities concerning to HIV AIDS or drug [music] addiction or um the empowering the women or maybe um women's health in Nepal. [music] We have four assistant guides. So these like um Laxmi, Dura, Pulaya and uh uh Promeila. So four of them uh are from this area. So these these were my student when they were having their um training.

[00:26:10]Many people they work really hard here and all the time they are carrying heavy loads and uh that is also damaging their development. But you know like there is no other option to do here but uh nowadays you know slowly like people they are realizing how their life is and what should be in different training and improving our training program. We are also giving less load you know to the girls and we are training them in first aid if uh you know something happen what how to take care not only in during the triggering but when they go back in their home in Nepal it means when somebody gets pregnancy means the both leg are on in a torm.

[00:27:05]>> This is true because in a day in two hour one Nepali woman is dying because of the complication of the pregnancy.

[00:27:14]Another thing is when they get married it's around you have seen many time that it's only teenage 12 13 14 years old and they they are married and we are telling uh and uh giving this awareness program to the country to the to all the women that women shouldn't get married before 20 and if they want to have babies they should be above 20 and most of the women they are very enemy so there are a lot of maternal health it's a high maternal Morbidity, mortality. [music] [music] [music] >> [music] >> In the mountain area [music] there were no hospital and also in the health course there was uh hardly any medicines like that you know. So the people if they have a small accident or something you know like a [music] small injury uh they have to come long way to the hospital. [music] So people they don't come and they are so busy and they are doing more uh you know [music] traditional healing and kind of thing and uh some of them they just tying very tight and it's become really no blood circulation and it was sink you know they are becoming disabled and some of them they are chopping their legs you know and um you know like it was just they just fell down and it was open fracture they could not take care and infection an infection and aesthetic >> the boy like we said I said >> they are [music] doing this really great job here uh on arthopatics that is great I'm really very happy [music] and optimistic for uh this place >> over the past few years, the government has equipped itself with the necessary tools to improve road access, [music] irrigation, portable water, education, and health. In 2011, the hospital in Jumla, a town of around 106 inhabitants, opened its doors to provide [music] health care to one of the country's most far-flung areas, which had previously been inaccessible.

[00:30:00]The three sisters train trekking guides, but it's also a way for them to help women develop their skills, [music] build self-esteem, and become leaders in their community.

[00:30:11]A hospital in this region also gives locals [music] the opportunity to study healthcare, and learn how to look after themselves.

[00:30:22]I'm now here to tell her exercises in a position where she can move because if she do not move nothing it's can can't go better she get medicine but she should also do her exercises not okay she is saying she moved all the time and when she moved lot then her body will be very you know. Yeah. So you know >> yes she carry the lords also.

[00:30:57]>> So difficult if she says only pay.

[00:31:01]>> Yeah.

[00:31:02]>> Oh she's jumping from the bed.

[00:31:04]>> Yeah. [laughter] >> Interesting.

[00:31:07]>> Yeah.

[00:31:09]They they have because they're working so hard they have the generation that's normally. Yeah. N good boy.

[00:31:19]>> Bre.

[00:31:20]>> Now this is >> what had happened is he fell down.

[00:31:23]>> Uh-huh. Okay.

[00:31:24]>> And he had an dislocation of the elbow.

[00:31:27]>> Yes.

[00:31:27]>> So his x-ray was like this.

[00:31:29]>> You see?

[00:31:30]>> It should be here.

[00:31:32]>> But it has come out.

[00:31:33]>> Okay.

[00:31:33]>> So he was straight like this.

[00:31:35]>> Yes. Okay.

[00:31:35]>> For one month he was straight his hand.

[00:31:37]>> Uhhuh.

[00:31:38]>> No.

[00:31:38]>> So we did surgery. We went back. We released. It was a big surgery. One and a half hours. So these kind of things is quite uh common in the mountain or what?

[00:31:47]>> Yes, it is common in the mountain. But this is a very if he had been treated properly immediately. This is a very simple thing. You just have to pull and it'll come back.

[00:31:55]>> Ah okay.

[00:31:56]>> But even if you can treat one of this patient like this I mean the purpose of us coming here is done. No.

[00:32:02]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:32:07]>> The problem I think in this part of the world is because of the fact that uh it is hilly.

[00:32:13]>> Yes. No.

[00:32:14]>> And most of the people also have not good shoes.

[00:32:17]>> Yes.

[00:32:18]>> They don't have they don't carry a stick >> and probably they have to carry weight.

[00:32:22]>> They have to carry the children, >> the food or anything like that. So the balance is not right.

[00:32:28]>> Yes.

[00:32:28]>> So and again it is steep.

[00:32:30]>> Yes.

[00:32:31]>> So it's what do you call stones and pebbles and all that. So it's easier to fall down.

[00:32:37]No.

[00:32:38]>> So that is one of the cause of these injuries that that happened over here.

[00:32:42]It's pretty to see but it's so good to you are here that many people they're getting this advantage you know.

[00:32:50]>> Yeah. Having this eye it's really great but >> Oh he's he's the director of this this Karnali Health Institute. He's Dr. Zave Khan. Lucky >> my name is Lucky >> Lucky Jag.

[00:33:04]>> It seems good like I have been here many times. I haven't seen like hospital like >> so this is a good one. So I'm sure with the with the establishment of this thing the especially these sort of emergency accident traumas that can be avoided because you will have before when I worked 27 years ago it was rare to have one doctor even know at one time now there are six seven doctors here and they are recruiting more doctors. So definitely the people of this region will will be benefited by this. So nursing school we were planning to start very soon.

[00:33:43]>> We are trying to keep the fee structure very low >> so that more and more people will come get admission and we have got a reservation of 45% for the people of the backward region.

[00:33:56]We have a plan to build a hospital of 300 beds.

[00:34:01]>> Yes more and more. Yes. Because they here.

[00:34:15]>> So you birth at home. This was probably during birth some birth problems. So this is these are also very >> yeah mentally and and physically also he cannot speak. The main thing is the damage has already been done.

[00:34:31]>> Okay.

[00:34:31]>> Damage in the brain >> has already been done. So if if probably if he was in a better center if he was if he was given birth in a hospital then what happens is the brain requires oxygen.

[00:34:46]>> So during that time when during the delivery time if there is lack of oxygen in the brain >> you are alive but your brain gets damaged. Our health system is getting better because government are is encouraging people to uh have uh the baby's birth at a hospital.

[00:35:10]>> So whenever they come to the hospital they get money.

[00:35:13]>> So they get like for prenatal checkup also and antiatal checkup also. So they they get money and they get money to get delivery at home at the hospital. So by that I think you can prevent these sort of uh difficulties.

[00:35:28]>> Yeah. Before when we were tracking in the remote areas we were giving that you know the kid you know >> kit. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. For the umbilical cord to cut. Yeah. Just because of that also you can get infection and [music] when she come to our program. The first time we train, Pulmmya had class 4 education [music] and she was a totally uh girls from the mountain.

[00:36:16]>> Little brother, angel [music] brother.

[00:36:18]>> Yes, he's a jumbla to India. Oh >> when she came in pra and she realized she was the only one has a le education like a class 4 education then she realized education is very important and she stayed 10 months in pokra and uh she did tracking also don't >> she has a good relationship with her husband and she's still very uh you know enthusiastic to learn more and she's she did us like when the children is grown up and she will come back to poker again and see to continue her job and the corner other side she he also joined in our jumbla and that time also she was he was sharing his experiences different things and now I have seen he is changed a lot they are very very progressive and uh in I I'm sure that their future will be really good foreign.

[00:37:55]like Okay.

[00:38:33]foreign.

[00:38:54]Speech. Speech. Speech.

[00:39:13]years ago.

[00:39:35]Kulmaya and their whole family. They are also very happy now to see her granddaughter-in-law.

[00:39:42]At the beginning it was very difficult for her. Nobody was supporting her. But now when she is in that state, everybody is very happy with her. And we are uh you know trying our best to um raising awareness to the mother that don't discriminate between girl your daughter and your daughter-in-law because they are same you know what do you think about your daughters if she get married and she has a life like your daughter-in-law. So if you want a better life to your daughters so you should treat your daughter-in-law also better.

[00:40:51]Blackberry. very few people maybe they are very traditional and old or maybe they didn't get any education. These people are very uh typical kind of you know very cultural things but we have seen many men they are changing. Now it is very important uh to empower men also or pass the message to the men also to you know empower women you know like we cannot say like a women you do this and that but unless and until the men should be convinced you know so we have to convince convince men first then men realize because they also like to have the women who can help them in equally in every level.

[00:42:05]I Yeah.

[00:42:30]Okay.

[00:42:33]In case Yeah, just a few Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech.

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[00:43:54]foreign.

[00:44:29]Miss forid.

[00:45:22]foreign.

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[00:46:33]in my life anymore.

[00:46:49]>> [music] >> foreign [clears throat] Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech.

[00:47:29][laughter] for you.

[00:48:20]I think uh visitors um if they come is um it's not only to see the poorness or our property but if they come to contribute their ideas or of their skill or their knowledge to the local people that will be great you know and um [music] uh this is what they need. It's not something like we cannot give money, we cannot feed them a meal or some things. But if we can give them skill or knowledge that will help them.

[00:48:53][music] When I come here every time in the mountain area, I feel so happy and I feel so alive and I very touch and close to the mountain of women.

[00:49:09]I like to share with them you know and also they I like to listen to them and you know at least to give them hope you know it's really great so I belong to this mountain [music] play [music] [music] yet woman of the mountains you walk with grace pride and dignity Though you have nothing, you tend to give everything [music] to your loved ones or to the strangers passing by.

[00:49:48]Your face reflects stories, stories of pride, happiness, and [music] hardship.

[00:49:53]Woman of the mountains, you are pure, beautiful, strong, [music] intelligent, and authentic in and out.

[00:50:05]Heat.

[00:50:18]Heat.

[00:50:45]>> [music]