Didi HQs final renovation is near completion. The third floor was funded by UNHCR Nepal and on the third floor will house the new and modern beauty and sewing school. The top floor has the office and advanced sewing school which has electric machines.
Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, H.E. Felicity Volk’s and Embassy representative Krishna Karki officially visited Didi Foundation Headquarters in Mulpani Kathmandu. H.E. Felicity Volk and Krishna Hari Thapa, Mayor of Kageshwori Manohara Municipality viewed firsthand the Didi Vocational Center, Didi Saving and Credit Co-Operative, Didi Swing Cafe and Didi’s Bakery. Our Didi team feels extremely proud to demonstrate how a not-for-profit organization can operate as a sustainable model.
Thank you H.E. Felicity and Krishna Karki for appreciating Didi’s work and its model for empowering women and children in Nepal.
Ambassador viewing Didi Bakery
Inspecting beauty training centre
Ambassador viewing new sewing room
With some of the graduates
Farewell photo
We wish to thank Brisbane Water Rotary Club for sponsoring a Rotary District 9685 Matching Grant to re-furbish our computer lab. This entailed purchasing new tables, chairs and 15 new computers, a data projector and a whiteboard.
We had 315 women apply for computer skills training, of which only 15 could be selected. In the 3-month training program, they will develop skills in computer technology and the use of various software programs such as word, excel, graphic design, and social media. Such skills will empower these women to undertake employment in the business sector.
In alignment with the UN Sustainability Goals, the Didi Foundation created its own strategic plan to become a financially self-sustaining entity. To do this a modern and contemporary designed café was created to complement Didi’s Bakery Café.
The Didi Swing Café provides a meeting place for women and locals to have tea and cake, socialise, have a conversation and make community connections. A Mono street food cart also provides for takeaway or eat in delicious traditional Momo’s.
Once a month Didi HQ runs personal development courses for women. As part of our community engagement program, all participants are provided tea and biscuit at Didi Swing Café.
The Swing Café is proving to be a unique café to visit in Kathmandu and more importantly providing a modern service to our community of Mulpani. https://www.facebook.com/didi.swing.cafe
All profits from the Didi Swing Café go to empowering women through education at Didi Vocational Centre.
https://www.facebook.com/didi.swing.cafe
Didi Swing Cafe
Didi Swing Cafe
Didi CEO Supid Koirala and Mayor Krishna Hari Thapa
Momo’s traditional Nepalese food
The seed had been planted to expand Didi HQ to cater to the growing need of women seeking to become independent through vocational education. The Didi Foundation was growing its reputation of being a safe and welcoming place for women of all caste and religions to learn skills. By 2017 we had definitely outgrown our rented three downstairs rooms of a house in Kageshwori.
With the support of wonderful supporters, we were able to secure land in Mulpani Kathmandu and raise the funds to build our own purpose-built building. Mulpani had very few community services for women. Therefore it was the ideal place to establish Didi Headquarters.
Stage 1
Construction started in January, 2018 and complied with all local regulations and was built to be earthquake-proof.
January 2018 – Construction started
2018 April and a first floor added
2018 September -Stage 1 completed
Stage two
Construction commenced adding a second floor with the support of an Australian Aid Friendship Grant
2019 June – Second-floor constructions
2019 August – Second floor completed
Stage 3
A Pre-fabricated class room was added to the 3rd floor
2021 December – Sewing room