Our Mission
We are a non-for-profit organization that provides equal quality educational opportunity to at risk children primarily within the carpet industry: irrespective of family income, social class/culture, parents’ education status and other factors.
The carpet industry still remains an important source of livelihood for thousands of people in Nepal. In economically disadvantaged, often rural areas, carpet weaving is one of the few ways to earn a living, especially for women. Many weavers come from poor socially economic classes with limited access to education.
At present, 95 % of the carpet production is concentrated within the Kathmandu Valley. It is still one of the highest industrial employment generator, particularly to the rural people who are illiterate or who are deprived of education, as well as the major foreign hard currency earner. Despite the labor costs in Nepal, currently being one of the highest of any South Asian country, Weavers in Nepal still do not make enough money due to intricate supply chains with many subcontractors and middle me
“In order to have a long term and meaningful impact in the industry the changes must be made from within. By investing in the weaver’s children you create a catalyst for both factories and weavers to voluntarily make positive changes”
— Samten Dorje, Director
Weaving primarily takes place in small workshops and factories. Written employment contracts, social security and labor legislation rarely exist. Supply chains for the producers are often complex and fragmented which include various channels such as subcontractors and numerous middlemen that employ weavers.
Although, the carpet industry has taken many strives in making changes to combat child labor through various certification standards. Weaving Dreams aims to address the root causes of child labor by not only providing educational opportunities to at risk children but by also promoting other fundamental human rights in the work place thereby creating a positive impact on the weaver’s working condition and the carpet industry as a whole.
Weaving dream envisions a day when every child has access to equal opportunity education, and the rights to a childhood. By creating an environment that demands these things, human rights will be essential and intrinsic, first in the rug industry and then in other industries where at risk children exist due to poor economic circumstances.