“Our goal is to help women know they are valuable and loved by God. We also want to raise awareness and educate women about menstruation, and let them know it’s not a sin.” says Hannah Badi, founder of HER (Himalayan Entrepreneurial Resources).
Hannah started HER, in partnership with Venture, to create opportunities for women at the bottom of society in Nepal – women who are born into low caste groups, like the Badi people.
Hannah explains that Badi women are treated worse than dogs in Nepal. Dogs in Nepal are allowed to wander the streets, begging for food, entering public places and even places of worship at will. Badi people, however, are refused entry to public spaces and may be beaten if they violate society’s norms. Badi women are taught that they are born for the pleasure of others, and many are trafficked to India and sold to brothels even before they are 16 years of age.
In addition to the cultural challenges that women from low castes face, when a woman has her period, she is often not able to attend school, work, or participate in society. She may be asked to live outside of the house, in a shack, or in the jungle. This limits the opportunities even for higher caste women in Nepal who already face many challenges in a patriarchal society.
For a Badi woman, the gospel is good news. The Bible tells them they are daughters of God. They are loved, and they have value despite what culture tells them.
“We want women to be confident with their own body and have strength to speak up when something wrong is going on – to fight injustice.”
Hannah Badi
In the past few months HER has visited several villages to teach women about health and hygiene and distribute hygiene kits. They have already distributed 2,500 hygiene kits, and hope to match that by the end of this year. The hygiene kits allow the women to maintain regular routine in life and participate in society. The hygiene trainings provide an opportunity for HER staff to share the gospel with Nepali women and let them know they are valuable daughters of God.
“I love HER because it helps women feel valuable and helps to break the chains of this culture when it comes to period and blood,” says Aashma Badi, HER employee. “Through health and hygiene awareness we are able to share gospel.”