03 December 2024

GoodWeave Certification Nepal had the privilege of welcoming Mr. Jon Jacoby, CEO of GoodWeave International (GWI), during his visit to Nepal from December 3–7, 2024. Throughout his visit, Mr. Jacoby engaged in several strategic meetings with the executive committees of GoodWeave Certification Nepal and Nepal GoodWeave Foundation, as well as program discussions with respective teams. He also met with the Nepal Carpet and Manufacturer Association and visited two GoodWeave-licensed exporters—The Rug Art Nepal and The Himalayan Weave—where they discussed current challenges faced by the Nepalese carpet industry and explored opportunities to promote Nepalese carpets in both local and international markets. Additionally, Mr. Jacoby dedicated time to external meetings with embassy representatives from the Swiss Embassy and the US Embassy, alongside key development partners such as CARE Nepal, ILO Nepal, Child Rescue Nepal, Give2Asia, and New Era. He highlighted the impactful efforts of GoodWeave in combating child, forced, and bonded labor while promoting decent working conditions within Nepal’s carpet industry. This visit marks another step toward promoting ethical business practices and advancing Nepal’s carpet industry on the global stage.

31 July 2024

GoodWeave Certification Nepal and Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology signed a Memorandum of Understanding on July 31, 2024, to conduct free eye screening clinics for carpet weavers associated with GoodWeave licensed factories. As part of this initiative, GoodWeave Certification Nepal will conduct four eye screening clinics throughout the fiscal year 2081/82. At these clinics, workers will receive free eye screenings, medicines, and spectacles. Also the workers diagnosed with cataract and other eye problems will be provided treatment at free/subsidized costs. The first clinic is scheduled for Shrawan 19, 2081 (August 3, 2024), at Chamunda Higher Secondary School, Narayantar, Jorpati, Kathmandu. We extend our sincere thanks to Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology for their technical support in this initiative. Together, we aim to improve the eye health of carpet weavers, thereby enhancing carpet production and supporting ethical business practices in the industry.

10 June 2024

To facilitate cross-sharing of program activities between the India and Nepal teams, GoodWeave International (GWI) supported the visit of Nepal team to observe the social programs implemented by GoodWeave Certification Private Limited (GWCPL) India. Executive Director Ms. Samjhana Pradhan and Inspection, Monitoring, and Certification Head Mr. Umesh Kuinkel visited India to learn about the social programs in different regions, including Panipat and Jaipur. 1. Panipat Visit:   In Panipat, Ms. Pradhan and Mr. Kuinkel visited Motivation and Learning Centers (MLCs) at three Child Friendly Communities (CFCs) located at Jatal Road, Floral Road, and Krishna Gali. Mr. Ajit Roy, a member of the remediation program of GWCPL, coordinated the visit. Key observations and interactions from the visit include: CFCs' Impact: The Nepal team observed how the CFCs assist out-of-school children or those at risk of dropping out. The primary focus is on reintegrating these children back into the formal educational system supported by the program. Community Demographics: Most communities visited consist of migrant families, predominantly from Muslim castes, engaged in family businesses. MLCs' Role: The MLCs which operate after school hours, have significantly helped children adjust to learning and build their confidence. This is one of the most impactful programs run by GWCPL India in these communities. Young Workers' Insights: Interactions with young workers provided insights into their willingness to return to school if given the necessary support. Various needs specific to young workers in these communities were discussed. 2. Jaipur Visit: In Jaipur, Mr. Ram Swaroop Gurjar, Remediation Manager of GWCPL India, coordinated the Nepal team's visit to different communities, including: Child Parliament: Interactions with members of the child parliament in the Chack community revealed their experiences in addressing safety and security issues and advocating for their rights. The child parliament is an effective platform for children to address issues concerning them. Girls' Group: Interactions with the girls' group highlighted the impact of different modules delivered to them, which have helped build their confidence and empowered them to advocate for change within their families and communities. MLCs and Home-Based Workers: Unlike Panipat, Jaipur's MLC children come from home-based worker families. The team also visited home-based workers, gaining a deeper understanding of their working conditions and challenges. 3. Workshop Participation in Noida:   The Nepal team also participated in a young workers' remediation workshop in Noida with GWCPL India colleagues. During the workshop, both the Nepal and India teams identified challenges in young workers' remediation and discussed possible strategies. Based on these discussions, GWI will develop a detailed remediation strategy to be piloted by both teams. Regular follow-up communication will be conducted to refine the strategy. photo credit: © GoodWeave Certification Nepal

30 March 2024

For the past 30 years, GoodWeave Certification Nepal has been addressing the issue of child and forced/bonded labor within Nepal's carpet industries, all while advocating for the rights and welfare of carpet workers. In addition to these efforts, we've been actively organizing health camps to prioritize the well-being of workers in the carpet industry. Recognizing the critical importance of health check-ups for workers in Dakshindho and Thali, Kathmandu, GoodWeave Certification Nepal, with technical support from Nepal Medical College, Attarkhel, recently conducted a one-day free health camp on Saturday, 17th Chaitra, at the premises of the Children Welfare and Rural Development Services (CWARDS). During this health camp, a dedicated team comprising gynecologists, obstetricians, pediatricians, and general physicians provided free health services and medications to 226 workers and their children from 17 different carpet factories affiliated with 10 exporter factories under GoodWeave Certification Nepal. The health camp offered comprehensive check-ups, including measurements of weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, as well as a thorough examination of overall health. Doctors also conducted counseling sessions on lifestyle modifications, diet, and exercise. Several health issues were identified, including poor health and hygiene practices among carpet workers, lack of health education and awareness, and excessive use of alcohol and tobacco. Gynecologists diagnosed female workers with various gynecological issues such as menstrual irregularities, uterine prolapse, discharge syndrome, and pelvic pain, providing appropriate treatment and medication. Pediatric specialists addressed problems observed in children like scabies and other skin-related issues, and provided education to parents on personal hygiene and treatment for skin-related issues. Workers expressed deep appreciation for the health camp, emphasizing its significant benefits in providing early awareness of their health status and enabling them to maintain good health. GoodWeave Certification Nepal remains committed to organizing more such health camps in the future to ensure regular health check-ups for carpet workers.

28 March 2024

We're thrilled to announce some exciting news! An article featuring Dolma, titled "A Day in the Life of a Carpet Worker," was published on the website of COVER magazine. We invite you to explore Dolma's story and gain insight into the world of carpet workers. You can read the article here: https://www.cover-magazine.com/2024/03/28/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-carpet-worker/

27 February 2024

From February 27th to 29th, the RVO representative, Mrs. Marloes Philippo and Mrs Silvia Mera, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy from GoodWeave International (GWI) visited Nepal. They toured "Rainbow Collection Nepal," an exporter factory linked with the RVO project. During the visit, they observed the work processes inside the factory and engaged in discussions with the factory owner/management regarding how the RVO project has assisted the carpet factories in meeting the child labour due diligence requirements set by the Dutch government. The also visited one of the supplier of Rainbow Collection Nepal and witnessed GoodWeave Certification Nepal's monitoring efforts to address child labor in the supply chain units. Additionally, they also observed one of our day care centers, toured the transit home "Hamro Ghar" for rescued children and participated in a visit to the long-term remediation program at the secondary school "Lab School".

13 January 2024

On January 13th, in Hanover, our Executive Director, Samjhana Pradhan, participated as a panelist in the Nepal Session at DOMOTEX 2024. This event spotlighted the rug industry in Nepal, exploring its craftsmanship, business aspects, and socio-economic implications. The discussion emphasized the industry's profound impact on the livelihoods of women and children, with a focus on eradicating child labor. It underscored the importance of sustainable practices and highlighted efforts to ensure ethical standards throughout the rug-making process.

30 August 2023

GoodWeave Certification Nepal had the honor of hosting a learning tour for a delegation from the US Congress, accompanied by the CARE USA team, on August 30, 2023. GoodWeave Certification Nepal led the US Congress delegation and CARE USA team to the GoodWeave transit home “Hamro Ghar” for rescued children. During the visit to the transit home, the US congress delegations had the opportunity to explore the facilities, engage with the staff and children, and gain insights into the comprehensive services provided to children at the transit home. The interactive session promoted a deeper understanding of GoodWeave's commitment to creating a positive impact on the lives of children. Later that day, a dedicated learning tour was organized for the delegation to visit one of GoodWeave licensed members. This vist aimed to showcase the significant impact of GoodWeave's work in the carpet sector. Over the course of 25 years, GWCN have been dedicated to providing educational opportunities for children in Nepal.

12 June 2023

On June 12th, in a special event of World Day Against Child Labour, GoodWeave organized a kiln recognition ceremony in Gorusinghe, Kapilvastu. The recognition ceremony was graced by distinguished guests, including the Chair of Buddhabhumi Municipality, who served as the chief guest, and a senior labour inspector from the Labour and Employment Office Butwal, who was invited as a special guest. Notable attendees also included officials from the Education Department, Women, Children, and Senior Citizen Department of Buddhabhumi Municipality, Ward Chairs representing various wards, kiln owners, media personnel, and representatives from FNBI Kapilvastu. During the ceremony, the chief guest and the special guest presented recognition certificates to eight kiln owners. These kiln owners, namely Siddhartha Itta Bhatta Udhyog, Sona Itta Udhyog, Seven Star Itta Udhyog, New Seven Star Itta Udhyog, Lucky Itta Udhyog, Supa Deurali Itta Udhyog, New Supa Deaura Itta Udhyog, and Apolo Itta Udhyog, were found to be free from child labour during the inspections conducted by the Labour and Employment Office Butwal. Additionally, twelve kiln owners, including Siddharth Brick Factory, Jaiswal Itta Udhyog, Jyoti Itta Udhyog, New Jyoti Itta Udhyog, BBS Itta Udhyog, HM Itta Udhyog, SR Itta Udhyog, Sunrise Itta Udhyog, Himal Itta Udhog, Surya Itta Udhyog, Trishakti Itta Udhyog, and others, were presented with appreciation certificates recognizing the exceptional efforts and commitment of the kiln owners. The ceremony was a collaborative event between the Humanity United funded Better Brick Nepal (BBN) programme and ILO programme, which acknowledged the participating kiln owners. They each demonstrated remarkable success in addressing child labour through their longstanding partnerships with the BBN programme, as well as their recent engagement with the ILO programme. The certificates presented during the event served as a reminder of the collective effort required to address child labour from the brick kiln industry.