One Summer in Nepal, a Lifetime of Change: Mika Ishiguro’s Story
From traveler to changemaker: Mika Ishiguro embraces the children of The Small World, turning a summer journey into a mission to empower girls in Nepal.
Namaste and Happy Holidays from Nepal.
Girls supported by The Small World walking to school in Solukhumbu, Nepal — empowering education for girls in the Himalayan region.
A Tribute To George Phillips
Remembering George Phillips, ambassador and supporter of The Small World. Explore his legacy, travels to Nepal, and impact on girls’ education, healthcare, and community empowerment.
A Year Carried by Kindness: Reflections from The Small World
This year, The Small World transformed the lives of over 26,000 people across Nepal. From education and healthcare to women’s empowerment, see how your support made a difference—and how you can continue the impact in 2025
Sadness to Smiles: How Sonia and Sophiya Found Hope and a New Home
Their future looked uncertain — until The Small World Nepal, a local nonprofit dedicated to girls’ education and empowerment, stepped in to help.
Stand With Nepal’s Girls This International Girls’ Day
the world is celebrating International Girls’ Day (October 11) -yet in Nepal, millions of girls are still denied their basic right to education and the freedom to choose their own future.-
First-ever menstrual hygiene campaign in Solukhumbu to reach 1000 women
Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Campaign in Solukhumbu, Nepal
Menstrual hygiene remains one of the most overlooked barriers to girls’ education and women’s health in rural Nepal. In Solukhumbu, harmful myths and silence around menstruation have long caused girls to miss school, women to feel ashamed, and families to lack accurate health information.
To address this, The Small World launched Solukhumbu’s first-ever menstrual hygiene awareness campaign in Salleri, the district headquarters, in early May 2024. This landmark initiative brought together girls, women, teachers, community leaders, and local government representatives to openly discuss menstruation, challenge stigma, and promote healthy practices.
Breaking Menstrual Myths and Taboos
Before the campaign, many participants believed deeply rooted misconceptions—such as menstruating women causing crops to rot, bringing bad luck to men, or being unsafe to touch or even look at. These myths have contributed to isolation, poor health, and school absenteeism among girls.
Through interactive sessions, The Small World provided accurate menstrual health education, reusable cloth sanitary pads, and easy-to-understand information booklets. The discussions created safe spaces where girls and women could ask questions, share experiences, and gain confidence in understanding their bodies.
Empowering Girls as Menstrual Hygiene Ambassadors
Fifty girls from diverse castes, ethnic groups, and villages across Solukhumbu participated in the day-long program. Each girl was challenged to become a Menstrual Hygiene Ambassador, committed to sharing what she learned with at least 20 people in her home, school, and community.
This ripple-effect approach means the campaign has already reached more than 1,000 women and girls, with awareness now continuing at the community, school, and family levels. Participants also led a public awareness rally in Salleri wearing T-shirts with messages like “Let’s Talk Periods” and “Normalize Periods,” helping bring menstrual health into public conversation.
Impact on Girls’ Education and Women’s Health
Early feedback shows that the campaign is helping:
Increase girls’ confidence and self-esteem
Improve menstrual hygiene practices
Reduce school absenteeism during menstruation
Encourage open discussion within families and schools
By addressing menstrual health openly, The Small World is helping more girls stay in school and supporting healthier, more informed communities across Solukhumbu.
Creating Long-Term Change in Rural Nepal
The menstrual hygiene campaign is part of The Small World’s broader mission to empower girls through education and health in the Himalayan region. By combining knowledge, leadership development, and community engagement, the program is creating lasting change—one conversation at a time.
Thank YOU for helping us change over 12,500 lives
Happy Thanksgiving, Friend! We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support for the children in most need, educating girls, and empowering local communities.
Meet Dechhen: Happy Father's Day
What! Michelle Obama’s shared on her social media a head of #fatherday.
We hope you’ll support girls like Dechhen Sherpa so they may always have the benefits of education and an advantageous future.
Meet Shanti: Small World ’s nurse helping 1000s in Solukhumbu
Shanti’s journey reflects the wider impact of The Small World’s girls’ education programs across the Himalayan region. Today, hundreds of girls supported by The Small World have graduated and gone on to become teachers, media professionals, bankers, trekking guides, small business owners, tea house operators, community leaders, and entrepreneurs. Many are now role models in their villages—challenging traditional norms and creating new opportunities for the next generation of girls.
This long-term, community-driven impact has been nationally and internationally recognized. The Small World has received awards from the Government of Nepal for its successful work in the Himalayan region, as well as a prestigious global recognition from the Obama Foundation—affirming that investing in girls’ education creates lasting change for families, communities, and entire regions.
Mahakulung: a far-flung Himalayan village in educational crisis
The Small World Child Education Sponsorship Program is deeply rooted within and bonded to the child's family, school, and community. This framework ensures a positive and supportive background that ripples throughout children’s lives, benefiting them as well as those closest to them.
Travelers experience Solukhumbu life first-hand with TSW
Every year The Small World’s (TSW) Travel With Purpose program invites enthusiastic, open-minded travelers to witness our groundbreaking work first-hand while enjoying in-depth experiences of Nepal.
Mandira's Story Shows That Education Is A Powerful Tool That Can Transform
This Women's Day, let Mandira's story inspire you to support and empower women to pursue their dreams. Let's work together to create a world where every woman has access to education and the opportunity to fulfill her potential. With determination and support, every woman can overcome the challenges she faces and make a difference in the world.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
Happy Father’s Day – the impact of your generosity and kindness will last for the rest of their lives!
The Arhaus Children’s Home in Solukhumbu
The Arhaus Children’s Home project is the first project of its kind in the Solukhumbu region and enjoys a deep connection with the local culture and communities.
Thank you for standing together with us
Dear Friends and Supporters, Happy New Year !
As we put the finishing touches on another year, our team is grateful for your dedication during this most challenging year of 2021.
Trek Relief-Nepal Covid Relief support
The Small World would like to express our deepest gratitude to Candice Young, Founder of Trek Relief, all the generous supporters of the Trek Relief Nepal Covid Campaign, and the entire Trek Relief family for working so hard to make this very important fundraising successful.
Please ! consider making an investment on our important work.
Here at The Small World, we very much hope that you are all doing well and in good health!
We wanted to update you on what we’ve been doing. To start with during this Covid crisis, our immediate response has been to provide hot and nutritious Dhal Bhat meals (rice, lentil, curry, salads and meat) every day to thousands of vulnerable people, including children, women, and daily wage workers.
It's a tough time in Nepal, but still reasons to smile & hope for the future.
With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting everyday life, we thank you for your continued support and wish you, your family, friends, and your community health and peace. Right now, we are also facing challenges of incessant rains since Monday that have triggered floods and landslides in several Himalayan districts as well as in Kathmandu.