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Relationships are important to us here at Douée and none more so than the now great friendship we have with Ishwor Devkota, his wife Radhika and their family.
Lisa first met Ishwor approximately 16 years ago when visiting Nepal working for our charity, The Charitable Foundation for the Education of Nepalese Children, she wandered into a store in which at the time, he was working.
Ishwor’s story is of a self made man with very humble beginnings.
As a young man with Radhika, they left their village in Gorkha, West Nepal and made their way to Kathmandu as do many people who leave the rural villages in the hope of making a home and a life for themselves and their families in the capital. With literally the equivalent of £10!
He took employment within a small store in the Thamel district of Kathmandu and spent the next few years learning his trade and the craft of felt wool making.
Once confident in his knowledge, in 2005 he set up his own business on the outskirts of Kathmandu, employing at first a handful of ladies to help him and Radhika. Through sheer hard work, dedication and self belief, they have together built up their business now employing more than 40 talented artisans, including ‘differently abled’ people and women from marginalised communities that have together made the business the great success story that it is. All of their products are 100% made by hand using pure lambs wool, non-allergenic and non-toxic.
Not enough to have his own business, the health and welfare of his employees has always been important to Ishwor. He himself when he could least afford to do so, would supply a hot meal to his employees, indeed supporting the education of some of their children too. In their current establishment Ishwor and Radhika have provided their employees with an equipped ‘sick’ room, a
dining area and a fully equipped kitchen. Those who work with Ishwor and Radhika especially in the creation of products are learning valuable craft techniques, they are also earning a fair wage and especially for the ladies employed, they gain financial and personal independence allowing them to feed, clothe and educate their children and look after their families.
From humble beginnings with one small workshop to three buildings now, creating and crafting a diverse array of products all wool based; it has been our joy over the years to watch Ishwor & Radhika grow and their family too, they now have two children.
Ishwor is absolutely one of the kindest, most humble and gentlest of people we have had the pleasure to meet and our lives are all the richer for knowing him, his family and those in the larger ‘Devchakra family’ business. When you purchase one of his products from us, you too are helping support the good work that he is doing to help others.
