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.

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

Their future looked uncertain — until The Small World Nepal, a local nonprofit dedicated to girls’ education and empowerment, stepped in to help.

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.-

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.

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.

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.

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.