The great news is that all of them have been able to set up tailoring businesses in their local communities. This is a terrific outcome for individuals who had not, previously, been able to work independently.

I thought I had seen it all but then we arrived in Birtamod and met the women at the Samunnat refuge, I was overwhelmed with feelings. I didn't know at that moment that the rest of my life would change.

The ladies felt the similarities of pain and violence in their own lives. The discrimination between boys and girls are the same. Special values and priorities are given to sons. Girls are meant to get married, have babies and depend on their husband.

A couple of years ago, Janice Laurent, a dear Australian friend of the Samunnat ladies, travelled to Nepal (twice) to share her sewing skills. She taught the group of ladies who were learning about tailoring how to sew gorgeous bags, clothing items, reusable nappies and reusable pads

I said that it would never work. ‘The worst thing you can be here is a well-meaning westerner with another failed project.’

There is a special story attached to this beautiful mala …the Nepali word for necklace. A story about a special person called Lindly Haunani. Many years ago, Lindly came up with a design for a beautiful rainbow coloured necklace; a joyful riot of colourful petals. In the early days of Samunnat Nepal, the young women who were learning about making polymer jewellery fell in love with this design.

Not every bead that we make is perfect! Sometimes beads crack slightly in the oven. Sometimes the beads look lovely but lack the consistency in colour or size required by our buyers. What do the Samunnat ladies do with these beads?

The women of Samunnat, like people all over the world, are adjusting to life with the ever present threat of COVID-19. Vulnerable women are even more vulnerable in a pandemic.

I haven’t been to Nepal since March 2019. There is a real ache of sadness about not being there.