Together We Can Change The World
ABOUT US
The Small World is a not-for-profit charitable organisation supporting locally driven sustainable community development projects. These projects help to provide education for children, especially young girls at risk for exploitation, women’s empowerment, and opportunities for local communities to break the cycle of poverty.
Our Mission
Our mission is very simple to educate, inspire and empower people to change the world.
Karma Sherpa
Executive Director and Co-Founder
OUR VISION
Our motto of "together we can change the world” comes from our belief that we are all global citizens, and though we live in a world that is huge in comparison to each of us individually, we envision that if we work together, we can change the world, through The Small World, for the better.
WHY LOCAL IS BEST
The Small World is a locally run non-profit organisation responding directly to community needs by implementing initiatives through your donations directly and efficiently. Your support also helps us to build capacity at the local level and to provide sustainable community development and support for the long term.
OUR APPROACH
On the local level, we strive for a very close relationship with every community we work with; we accomplish this by getting to know them, listening to their problems, needs and ideas, finding solutions, and working together as part of an extended family. The Small World does not approach projects like must large aid organisations; our goal is to create very long lasting relationships among everyone involved, and the extended family includes ourselves, the community members, the donors, and the volunteers. Working together as a small family among a global citizenry, we can effect change in the larger world through The Small World.
THE CHALLENGES FACING NEPAL
Almost half of Nepal’s young female population is married before they are 18 years old, and it is estimated that every year, from 15,000-20,000 Nepalese girls (42% of which are minors) are trafficked into the international sex slavery industry.
Nepal is renowned for its natural beauty, spectacular scenery and cultural landmarks. With Mount Everest on the northern border, and the birthplace of Buddha to the south, Nepal is undoubtedly a charming and exotic destination. However, many people are unaware that Nepal is also the poorest country in Asia with a high percentage of the population living an abject poverty.
Nepal has the lowest literacy rate in Asia and one of the highest child mortality rates in the world. Infrastructure is not only highly inadequate, but also nonexistent in remote mountain villages where people live an ancient lifestyle without benefit of roads, electricity, telephones, sanitation, running water, hospitals, or schools.
Namaste from Hope Girls, TSW girls education project
OUR STRATEGY
At The Small World, our strategy involves:
listening to local about their needs
Identifying real community needs
Sharing local ideas and resources
Working together with community members and volunteers
We believe that education is key to solving the majority of these challenges. To accomplish this, we feel that we have a unique vision and direction. Rather than impose solutions, we work with communities over many years to strengthen their own efforts to improve and eradicate these social problems.
We are constantly seeking new solutions and ask ourselves how we can make the greatest impact with our resources. In addition to our home for at risk girls in Kathmandu, we make the most of our skills and abilities while working at remote Himalayan villages in the District of Solukhumbu.