WHY WE DO IT

Unatti programs work as preventative measures, addressing the root of the harmful, perpetuating cycle of sexism, poverty, and trafficking. By empowering girls and women through education, arts and music, and community programs, the Unatti Foundation seeks to create long term changes for women and prepare them with tools for greater uplift.

The Problem

Nepal is home to part of the highest rates of poverty in the world. With over fifty percent of its population living below the poverty line—and on less than $1.25 per day—most families struggle to survive. Children are often sent to work from an early age instead of school, and child labor laws are mostly neglected by law enforcement. Those who do not find jobs instead beg for money on the streets. Many children, even those with families, are often underfed, undereducated, and unable to just partake of the joys of being children.

Compounded with this poverty is discrimination against women. Girls are taken out of school earlier and more frequently than boys, be it to care for their families or marry. Their lack of education leaves them vulnerable to being taken advantage of in abusive relationships and marriages, and particularly susceptible to being taken from the streets into the sex industry. Domestic violence and sex trafficking are two of the gravest problems plaguing Nepali society.

Our Approach

Educating boys reportedly is less productive for societies such as Nepal. Often, young men who have been educated will leave for greener pastures elsewhere. Educating girls pays direct dividends in traditional societies and these payoffs are seen quickly. Girls are more likely to remain in their home communities, a phenomenon which produces such immediate effects as lower birthrates, less poverty, more self-reliance, more cooperative policies, and higher educational rates among subsequent generations.

Educating girls and women empowers them with knowledge and confidence. It directly addresses the roots of sex trafficking. Educated women understand their legal rights. They have greater opportunities for better employment and understanding of financial and family management. The Unatti Foundation believes that educating girls reaps high dividends and combats of poverty, sexism, and sex trafficking at their core.