EN Contact us
Member
  1. World Nomads
  2. Create
  3. Scholarships
  4. Photography
  5. 2019
  6. Applications
  7. Hard To Reach Livelihood Opportunities For Women In The Himalaya

Hard to reach - Livelihood opportunities for women in the Himalaya

by Sara Plassnig (Norway)

India

Shares
An elderly women is sitting on compressed soil in the entrance of her dark stone house, weaving wool by hand. It is not easy to get by in the small mountain village Skiu, situated 3500 metres above sea level, in the North Indian stone dessert.
An elderly women is sitting on compressed soil in the entrance of her dark stone house, weaving wool by hand. It is not easy to get by in the small mountain village Skiu, situated 3500 metres above sea level, in the North Indian stone dessert.
The neighbouring building was once a women’s café, where local women served hot tea and sold their handicrafts. That was before a huge mudslide buried half of it under the ground, and with it one of the few livelihood opportunities in the remote and hostile area of the Himalayan mountains.
The neighbouring building was once a women’s café, where local women served hot tea and sold their handicrafts. That was before a huge mudslide buried half of it under the ground, and with it one of the few livelihood opportunities in the remote and hostile area of the Himalayan mountains.
The framed Buddha looks down on plastic chairs protruding from the mud like relicts from a better time. For the past year, the women’s café has been filled with hardened mud. Locals couldn’t afford the reparations, so they moved to the neighbouring village Kaya.
The framed Buddha looks down on plastic chairs protruding from the mud like relicts from a better time. For the past year, the women’s café has been filled with hardened mud. Locals couldn’t afford the reparations, so they moved to the neighbouring village Kaya.
Skiu and Kaya are divided by a river. The landslide has washed away the bridge, making each crossing to an adventure for foreign hikers. Locals have gotten used to it and only visit neighbours in the morning. In later hours, more melting water will flush down mountains, making crossings dangerous.
Skiu and Kaya are divided by a river. The landslide has washed away the bridge, making each crossing to an adventure for foreign hikers. Locals have gotten used to it and only visit neighbours in the morning. In later hours, more melting water will flush down mountains, making crossings dangerous.
Padma Yangdol (left) grew up here in Markha Valley. She runs the new women’s café in Kaya during summer: “Together with tourism, the café is the only source of income in the region and an opportunity for rural women to gain more independency.” Padma wants to work as a trekking guide one day.
Padma Yangdol (left) grew up here in Markha Valley. She runs the new women’s café in Kaya during summer: “Together with tourism, the café is the only source of income in the region and an opportunity for rural women to gain more independency.” Padma wants to work as a trekking guide one day.

View other applications

View all