Scholarship Program: Investing in the Next Generation
Since 2013, we’ve funded full school tuition for the children of our artisan partners in Nepal. A portion of our profits continues to support this program each year.
While access to education remains a challenge—especially for women in rural areas—progress is happening. As more women find work in the handicraft industry, families are increasingly able to send their children to school.
Today, The Winding Road employs over 200 women artisans in Nepal, and all of their children attend school full-time.
From just 2% literacy in the 1950s to 94% among youth today, Nepal has come a long way—and we’re proud to support this ongoing transformation.
Worker Well-being, Health & Wellness
As part of our commitment to supporting the communities we work with, we recently sponsored a free onsite health clinic at one of our supplier locations in Kathmandu.
The clinic was open not only to employees, but also to their families and members of the surrounding community. Attendees received health screenings and access to wellness education, with the goal of promoting long-term well-being and preventive care.
By investing in worker health and supporting broader community wellness, we aim to foster a healthier, more resilient supply chain—rooted in respect, dignity, and care.
Earthquake relief
In April 2015, just two days after we returned from a buying trip in Kathmandu, a devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal—claiming nearly 9,000 lives and displacing over 2.8 million people.
In the aftermath, we raised funds and donated a portion of our profits to Nyano Sansar, a trusted local organization that quickly mobilized to provide emergency relief. With the help of trekking guides, helicopter pilots, and adventure leaders, they delivered critical supplies—food, clean water, blankets, and tents—to remote villages that were otherwise inaccessible.
Their grassroots team also relayed GPS data, medical needs, and population info to the Red Cross, helping coordinate broader relief efforts. In the months that followed, they continued supporting recovery by providing materials for families to begin rebuilding.
We’re incredibly grateful for our partners in Nepal, whose resilience and swift action helped bring hope in a time of deep crisis.
