PROJECTS OF NWAB

The NWAB has implemented many projects for women's development including vocational training and credit and savings schemes for rural women. In the area of health, it has run leadership-training programme for women on health and development issues. The association has also been instrumental in initiating the smoke-free stove project in rural areas, making a major contribution to reducing indoor air pollution that mostly affects women and also reduces pressure on the forests.

In 1990 the NWAB took over the National Handloom Development Project in Khaling, Trashigang, from the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The project trains rural weavers, supplies yarns on credit and buys back the finished products that are sold through the National Handicraft Emporium in Thimphu. Weaving continues to be one of the most important sources of rural income for women in Bhutan with NWAB helping women to use traditional weaving practices to create products for the international market.

The association also offered a year long program to young rural women at the Pemagatshel Weaving Training Centre which is now clubbed with the Handloom Development Project in Khaling. The center trained approximately 30 women every year in traditional weaving techniques and product design. Non-formwal education classes were conducted to supplement this training program. Trainees were given small, interest free loans to help them establish small business ventures. Weaving yarn and wool were distributed to approximately 20,000 women.

With support from WWF Bhutan Program, NWAB established a community development project in Panbang in Zhemgang District. The project sought to relieve human pressure on the forest resources through alternative, income generating activities such as traditional cane basket weaving (Bangchung & Zem) Kitchen Garden, a rural credit and savings scheme and non-formal education.

With assistance from the IFAD, a rural credit and savings scheme has been established in Trashigang to cover the six districts of eastern Bhutan. The scheme provides small loans and encourages women to work together to establish savings. More than 1500 women have benefitted from this scheme.

A training center established in Thimphu with funding from RAVAC, Japan, provides courses on tailoring, knitting, home management and other income generating activities for women.

The National Handloom Development Project was established in 1986 with a view to promote and uphold the age old tradition of weaving.  The center carried out various activities to provide the poor weavers an avenue for income-generation.  One of the concerns was to develop designs and color combination to keep up with the growing market trend for the sustainability of the handloom.

Handloom weaving is an important component of income generation for the women of Bhutan.  It has always been an occupation through which augmented the family income.

Women in the villages normally weave during the lean period when they have less work in the field.