Nepalese women weave new futures with professor’s help

Karen Wolfe, left, executive aide in MTSU's Department of Geosciences, and senior criminal-justice major Danielle Jackson model Maheela scarves made by Nepalese women. More of the scarves, which are on sale now, are shown in a display case behind the women in Kirskey Old Main. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Humans in Crisis International is selling beautiful scarves and pashminas in MTSU’s Kirksey Old Main, just in time for the winter holidays, to raise funds for a domestic-violence shelter in Nepal.

The silk scarves and waterproof pashminas, which are on display on the KOM’s third floor, are available in solid colors and patterns at $14 to $25 each. They are woven by Nepalese women who have sought refuge from their abusers at a shelter funded by the Women’s Foundation of Nepal.

The weavers receive 20 percent of net profits from sales to add to their wages. Eighty percent of the proceeds go to the year-round programs operated by the foundation, including education, farming, counseling, health care and medicines, legal aid and skills training.

Dr. Hari Garbharran

Humans in Crisis International, which is partnering with the Women’s Foundation of Nepal for this project, is a 501c3 nonprofit organization co-founded by Dr. Hari Garbharran, a professor of geosciences at MTSU, and his wife, Heena.

The group works to empower communities through education and innovation, emphasizing skills training, health-worker training and building the capacities of organizations.

To purchase a scarf at Kirksey Old Main, visit Karen Wolfe in Room 325B of KOM, or contact her at 615-898-2726 or kwolfe@mtsu.edu.

Scarves and pashminas are also available in Nashville at The Front Porch at the Scarritt-Bennett Center, located at 1008 19th Ave. S. Prices there may vary; for more information, contact Lorraine Hough at 615-532-5947 or Theresa McCoy at 615-636-8109.