A nine-day waste-to-handicraft training program has been successfully completed in Tangting village of Kaski district, empowering local women while promoting waste reduction and wildlife conservation. The training involved 15 women from economically vulnerable and marginalized communities.
The program trained participants to convert plastic waste into useful household items and souvenir products. According to trainer Shobha Kumal, the women learned to create items that can be sold to tourists visiting Tangting, helping them earn income from recycled materials.
Local representative Hima B.K. said the training mainly focused on women who are not involved in hotels or homestays. This has opened alternative livelihood opportunities while supporting sustainable tourism in the village.
Sudarshan Parajuli, an officer at Friends of Nature (FON) Nepal, said a souvenir shop will feature the handmade handicrafts along with local products such as grains and vegetables. This will provide trained women a direct market to sell their products to visitors.
Guman Dhoj Gurung, Chairperson of the Conservation Area Management Committee, said the initiative helps protect forests and the environment by reusing plastic waste. He added that, with support from FON Nepal, a souvenir house will be established to make it easier for tourists to purchase locally made items.
The project has received international recognition after being selected through the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA)’s global public voting process. It was recognized for its contribution to community livelihoods, wildlife habitat improvement, and sustainable tourism.
As part of the project, 250 kilograms of plastic waste were collected from forests around Tangting, an area that is home to rare wildlife such as Wild Dogs (Dhole), Clouded Leopards, Goral, Himalayan black bears, Musk Deer, and wild boars. After proper cleaning, the waste was transformed into handicrafts including baskets, tea coasters, pen holders, mats, shopping bags, and purses.
Implemented by Friends of Nature (FON) Nepal with support from EOCA, the project demonstrates how innovative ideas can turn waste into income while protecting nature and endangered species like the Whistling Hunter (Wild Dog).
