Transforming Nepal through Freedom Business
Written By Mary Haegeland, Founder Five14 Nepal
Known for its stunning landscapes, rich culture and hospitable people, Nepal is an adventurer’s paradise. Over one million tourists come annually to see the beauty of the Himalayas and experience the hospitality of the people. Yet most are unaware of the reality of exploitation that exists here.
Because of a lack of jobs, every year over 600,000 Nepalis leave their country to find work abroad.1 Some are trafficked into bonded labor or sex slavery, while others go willingly, only to discover that they’ve been duped into a life of exploitation with no control over their passport, forced to work in sub-human conditions in contracts that continue to accumulate debt.
Five14 was birthed with the goal of addressing these injustices. With the root cause of exploitation in Nepal being abject poverty, an economic solution had to be identified. People needed jobs. But the jobs had to be available where the the most vulnerable lived — at the village level. Five14 started an adventure company, bringing tourists “off the beaten path” and developed responsible tourism in areas that were known for extreme poverty and exploitation.
Five14 Nepal is a group of freedom businesses working together to prevent exploitation through tourism jobs. Aiming to provide quality service from the time tourists enter the country, until the day that they depart, Five14 runs an adventure and travel company, two guest houses, a full service restaurant and a catering company in Nepal. For every tourist that visits Nepal, at least three jobs are created or sustained.
The first area that Five14 started working in was once known as a “place to buy a girl.” In 2010, there were no marriageable women left; they had all been trafficked out. Two years after Five14 trained the villagers to host tourists, and then brought tourist groups into the area, the villagers declared themselves a “No Trafficking Zone” and helped to have traffickers arrested and prosecuted.2
The first area that Five14 started working in was once known as a ‘place to buy a girl.’ In 2010, there were no marriageable women left; they had all been trafficked out.”
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Want to support the transformative work Five14 Nepal is doing and embark on the adventure of a lifetime?
1. More Nepalis going abroad for employment. (2017) Kathmandu Post (Kathmandu, Nepal), 2017-09-18.
2. The missing half. (2011). The Nepali Times (Kathmandu, Nepal), pp. The Nepali Times (Kathmandu, Nepal), 2011-09-16.
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